Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-11-12
NOT GUILTY,
That IL the verd ct of tho jury In the
Walkup Case-A Thrilling Scene-Bfiel

the suspense is over, and the jury in the
great Walkup murder case have rendered a
verdict of acquittal. At $3.50 p. m. Judge
Graves announced that a verdict had Leeii
reached, and ordered the defendant brought
into court. Sheriff White had gone into
Mrs. Walkup's cell to prepare her to re-
ceive the good news On being told by
him that the verdict was mot guilty." she
exclaimed, "My God, is that true?' and
then sank into chair, but by superhuman
effort she rallied and did not faint She
soon entered the court room and the
jury filed in. After being called the YER
dict was read, Not guilty." when those
present broke forth in applause. The scene
was exciting as the defendant shook hands
with the Jury, and congratulations were
showered upon her. Her mother thanked
the Judge, jury and all present, and when
Mrs. Walkup and her mother left in car
riage cheer after cheer greeted them from
the crowds that had collected.
Brief Review of the Case.
The Kansas City Times lately gave q
brief history of the case as follows:
Walkup met the Wallace family in New
Orleans in December. 1884, while on visit
to the Exposition. He made two trips to
New Orleans after that one in March and
the other in April. Mrs. Wallace and her
daughter went to Emporia in July, and
after remaining short time went to Ohio,
and from there to Covington, KY, where
Walkup and the girl were married July %.
The bride and groom arrived at Emporia
about July 26. On August IL Walkup left
EmpOria for Topeka. He went to Atchison
and arrived home August Is. That day,
which was Saturday, he transacted business,
and while some conflict of testimony exists
as to his health on that day, he was not too
sick to attend to his work as usual.
On August IA Mrs. Walkup bought ten
grains of strychnine from NJ. II. Bates, an
EmpOria druggist. On Saturday night
about midnight Walkup was taken severely
ill and doctor was called. He prescribed
for acute Indigestion, but the symptoms
were similar to those caused by strychnine
poisoning. Mrs. Walkup telepbOned the
doctor in the morning that Walkup was so
much better that it was not necessary for
him to come. Sunday morning after break
fast Mrs. Walkup sent her cO,Ored girl
down TO the drug store for more strychnine,
but the druggist would not sell it because
the girl could not tell him what it
was wanted for. Walkup that day
improved so much he went out driving,
and Monday evening he attended Council
meeting. He was at that time Council
man and Acting Mayor. He appeared to
be very we'll then and Tuesday morning he
drove six miles into the country to pur-
chase some wood.
While Walkup was out riding Sunday
night Mrs. Walkup went to Kelly's drug
store and bought fifteen cents worth OF
arsenic. Tuesday afternoon Walkup had
another attack of illness, which to the doc
tors who called Tuesday evening presented
symptoms of arsenical poisoning. Walkup
suffered until Wednesday evening, when he
began to feel better, and Thursday morning
he was so well DR.. Jacobs said it was not
necessary for him to call again, and as an
extra session of the Council was very much
desired, Wakup sent word that he would
meet the Council Friday morning.
Thursday noon Walkup ate dinner ct
cove oysters and after dinner his wife went
down town to buy some pop he had asked
for and while down town she bought
twenty-iv cents worth OF arsenic from B.
Wheldon. On returning home she gave
him the pop, and in about the time
described by physicians as usual for
arsenic to have effect upon the human sys-
TEN, Walkup was taken violently i'll with
pronounced symptoms of arSenical poison.
He continued to grow worse, and Friday a
state of collapse ensued. 1t then began to
be noised about that Walkup's wife had
made numerous purchases of arsenic and
strychnine. Walkup grew worse very rapid
" and died the next morning, August %.
Suspicion pointed to the wife, and she
was ordered to be watched by the officers.
A Coroner's jury was impaneled. and work
was begun OH the afternoon of Walkup's
death, but as the funeral was to occur Mon
day, an adjournment was taken to Tues
day. The funeral was the biggest ever
seen in Emporia, and excitement was
at fever heat Tuesday the COro-
ner's jury began its work, and an
exhaustive research was had. Mrs.
Walkup's mother came from New Orleans
and Judge Houston from Long Branch,
and every effort possible was made to clear
her of suspicion. Arsenic was found by
chemists in WaIkup's stomach, and every
circumstance pointed to the death OF the
husband at the hands of the wife.
Accordingly, after two weeks work the
jury brought in verdict to the effect that
death was due to arsenic administered By
Mrs. Walkup. She was arrested on Cor
oner's warrant; preliminary examination
was waived and she was Eeld for trial.
THE TRIAL
Active preparations were made for the
trial; the defense secured, in addition to
Mr.. Scott, weIl-known Southern lawyer,
Mr.. George S. DOdds, of Mississippi, and
Colonel 7. p. FenlOn, distinguished attor-
ney of LeavenwOrth. Colonel Feighan,
the County Attorney, secured Mr.. j. Jay
Buck. Captain c. n. Sterry and Mr.. l. +.
Lambert, prominent members of the Lyon
County bar, and both sides announced all
ready when the case was called on the 18th
of last month.
The prosecution introduced witnesses to
prove the purchase Of strychnine and arsen-
c at various times by the defendant; a
chemical analysis of Walkup's stomach and
liver disclosed the presence OF these pOisOns
after death, and several physicians testified
in answer to hypothetical questions that III
their opinion death was caused by poison
recently taken into the system. The de-
Tense held to the theory that Walkup had
become a physical wreck from ex-
cesses and had been in the habit OF
taking arsenic to stimulate his abused and
wasted vital powers, and in support of this
introduced expert testimony to show that
arsenic might be taken into Ahe system for
years, become encysted in the mucus MEM
brane of the stomach and finally be released
by the acids in cert,in foods and produce
death. The defendant took the stand and
testified that she purchased arsenic for her
complexion and strychnine to remove stains
from her clothing. Several witnesses also
testified to Walkup's habits.
Obstructive Fire in Chicago.
CHICAGO, November 6.-Fire in the Far
we'll building at Nos. 229 to 243, Monroe
street, at about three o'clock this morning.
copsod hosvv DAMAGES though thew are fully