Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-07

day ana night hardened her very soul
What mattered it that she had worldly goods
and wealth beyond what her simple living
required. It was no recompense to the
ashes of her life, childless and unloved.
The defendant was born in Ohio, where
she married Alexander G. Psase, and thirty
six years ago moved to Oregon. They made
home in Hillsboro, that state. and resided
there eighteen years. They returned to the
states and after few years residencein Illi-
nois moved to Kansas, and for the last twelve
years have resided in this county.
They had valuable farms and city prop
erty, and were in independent circumstan-
ces. It is said by all Who know them that
they were quArrelsome. The old man was
dissipated and kept bad company, gambled
and did other things that followed in the
wake of these. The old woman scolded,
threatened fought and fretted until life was
burthen. At last death-a violent death
took one from the scene A deadly poi
son was administered by the hand of the
other that forever separated the i'll matched
pair after the turmoils of more than forty
years. In vain does the survivor protest
that she gave the carbolic acid in mistake
for whisky. She is arrested after coroner's
jury returned a verdict that the deceased
came to his death at her hands Intentionally,
wilfully and feloniously. sH
~ THE INVESTIGATION.
After the case was called the court, coun-
sci and stenogapher and the prisoner took
the places allotted to them an d the first wit;
ness called.
W. S. Brown testified ia suhst ,ncr that
be lived near deceased and knew him and
defendant six years. Was ut deceased,
house day previous to his death; substance
of conversation was about property in Wich-
ita and Oregon. There was much dissention
between them and the defendant remarked
that the deceased was always getting drunk
and that she hoped he would drink himself
to death, and that she hoped his next drinh
would be his last; heard hei
quarrel and make threats toward
him often before; l was there after
his death Sabbath morning. This witness
was very dull and rigid cross examination
failed to add more to the facts than that the
quarrels were of the usual occurrences.
Mrs. N. L. Doyle was the next witness and
she testified to the facts that the defendant
had frequently complained of her husbands
drinking and that it was the burden Of her
complaint; that she was at the house few
minutes after he died Sunday morning hav-
ing been called by the boy who
was sent by the defendant to
bring the neighbors, saying that
he had died from dose of carbolic acid.
She went at once and when she got there
was told by the defendant that she, the de-
PENDANT had given him the fatal dose of car
bolic acid but said she did not intend to do
it. She related to witness how deceased had
got up with the asthma and put on his
clothes. She had asked him if she should
build fire and smoke him as she had been
in the habit Of doing. This he declined and
called for whisky, when she said she went
where she supposed the whisky was and
poured out Of the bottle the
carbolic acid. Witness saw the
bottle OF carboiic acid it looked like three
tablcspoonfuls had been taken out Of it.
When witness went into the house Pease
was dead; his mouth was blistered and red
streak ran down his mouth. The bottle
was setting on the sewing machine at the
foot Of his bed; a large number of bottles
were in the room in many places on shelves
and in closets; bottle of whisky with lit
tie whisky in it. Defendant had showed
the witness where she got the whisky off the
shelf in the pantry. She said some
one had removed the bottle. Wit
ness heard her say that she
would call him back If she could, that he
might tell who changed the bottles. She
kept talking to him, notwithstanding his
being dead, and said to him, 'are you hap
py'" She did not hear her say she was glad
be was dead. The label had been torn of
the bottle and witness looked for it. The
witness was put to cross-examination, but
no additional facts were elected, but reit-
Grafton Of the large number of bottles in the
room and closets, some Of the same size as
the fatal vial.
j. N. Dotey, next witness, testified in sub
stance to the preceding witness, only addi-
tionally stating that the defendant stated to
him few months after his death that she
he'd said she had given the fatal dose, but
she could not help it. 1t was Henry's fault.
he had moved the bottles. She told in sub
stance the same account of his getting up
and asking for whiskey. Tho cross-exami-
nation Of this witness was searching, and
many things were explained away that at
first appeared very dark for the prisoner
One thing brought out was an exclamation
over his dead body, "Alec, i'll only knew
you were happy" That he was troubled
with asthma, and giving the same account
of the circumstance of his death as related
by previous witnesses.
Mr.. J. w. Doty's testimony was about the |
same and developed no new point.
Francis Henrian, storekeeper and drug
gist at Clearwater, testified Is 10 the pur-
chasing BY deceased and defendant bottle |
Of whisky and other things and nothing
poisonous. The cross-examination of this |
witness put him on nettles and when rigidly
questioned about the drugs including car
bolic acid became very much ratified.
Mrs. Caroline Winters was up and testi-
ded to threats made BY prisoner nearly three
years ago against deceased, during family
row, tie substance of which was that de-
fendsnt had said she would poison her hus-
band.
Lizzie Burchbacker came up TO testify TO
something that was ruled out, on grounds of
.be length of time elapsed since threats were
made.
w. Z. Winter testified to the most
violent threats on the part of the
two years ego, in which she said
he would poison Pease, bis hired men and
he stock and burn up the place. Cross-ex-
failed to discover animus on the
,art of the witness, other than desire TO
ell al he knew, and the fact that at that
lime the family was very much divided on
lccount Of nephew of Pease who. was the
,ause Of temporary separation.
The most Sentimental witness Of the day
vas that of Flora @. Pascal, who testified
hat she lives On River street. She testified
hat shs bad lived with the Peases aud that
h had hsnrd than nnsrr~1 oAon. k~d !,