The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-11-05
DAYLIGHT ON THE WALRUP
TRIAL.

To the Editor OF the NEWS.
Having spent few days in your city
and becoming somewhat interested in
the Walkup trial, have given it con-
siderable thought, and with your kind
permission would like to ask few Ques-
tions. Many others are interested in this
remarkable case which in some respects,
think, passes the bounds of the most
ingenious tales of fiction and prompts
the thoughtful mind to many inquiries.
Let us epitomIZe this case Mr.. Editor,
and see whether there are not many
singular queries that will suggest
themselves as we proceed: A man dies
suddenly, II is alleged from the effects
of arsenioal poisoning, and a careful
analysis by an expert chemist of the con-
tents of his stomach and internal organs
brings to light large quantities of at.
senic, which nearly all the physicians OF
your city testify 10 having been the i'm
mediate cause of death. His wife is
charged with administering the poison
GUS drug. The cause of suspicion
against her is based upon the fact that
she had, previous to. and during his
fatal Illness, purchased arsenic in con-
siderable quantities. She had also, Just
previous to his being taken sick, pur-
chased strychnins which she alleged to
be for certain use. Strangely enough,
the strychnine disappears in an unac-
countable manner, and on the Sabbath, a
few days prior to his death, she sends
the servant girl TO purchase more strych-
nine. but the druggist refuses
to setl it. Finding herself unable by
the aid OF the servant girl TO procure the
strychnine to mix with urine TO cleanse
her silk dress, as she alleges, she rushes
down town herself 10 the broiling heat
of the August sun, and procures a large
dose OF arsenic which she alleges was for
her complexion, having, it seems, aban-
doned the idea of cleaning her dress at
that time. StrychulDe would not do for
the complexion, nor would arsenic do to
cleanse the dress Strangely enough her
husband chances to notice the blotches
on her face for the first time
sick as he was-and she
hastened to tell him that she could
remove them with arsenic. He was
willing for her to use 1t if she could do |
80 without danger. The husband, 1t |
was alleged, was an old arsenic eater
a man who could not live without it,
and who was supposed to have kept |
large quantities of It on hand; but he |
does not appear to have parted with any |
of his stock to his dear little wife, nor |
did he instruct her in its use, as he !
probably aid not want TO give her the
benefit of his experience. The great !
query now arises. where did Walkup |
procure the arsenic that he was alleged |
to be in the habit of eating in such
large quantities? 1t in this city, of |
whom did he purchase it, If else
where, there must be some record of il. |
1t is we'll known fact that
people who have acquired the habit of |
eating arsenic must keep it on hand tor |
constant use. The quantity alleged to
have been used by Walkup may have |
Induced him 10 purchase il at wholesale |
nom some eastern drug firm. Why not |
examine the books of the various ex-
press lines aud see If he ever received
packages from any drug houses ia the |
east or elsewhere. Is it not a strange
coincidence. to say the least, that two |
parties who were such good Gus
toners for the purchase of
arsenic should have been brought
togethers The unfortunate occurrence
of splitting the arsenic. Mrs. Walkup adj
mits, was purely accidentally, but who |
can tell? This strange freak can hardly |
be relieved by the peculiarly remarkable |
circumstance of the old guardian who,
as though inspired, stepped into Walk |
ups office just in the nick of time to be |
reminded OF the fact that Walkup had |
just taken his regular dose OF arsenic.
The hand OF an intervening providence
could scarcely have done more 10 promote |
the cause of justice. DAYLIGHT