National Republican., 1885-11-14
AN ARSENlJ EATERS FATE.
THE FAMOUS wALkCP CASE REVIVED
AND REVIEWED.
A Cause Ceiebre That win Take Rank
with the Trials of History For Dra-
matte Incident, aud the Narrow Es-
cape ofthe Accused.

maticr Incident, aud the Marrow Es-
cape ofthe Accused.
beautiful girl OF 10 married to a man Of
40, his death ty poison one month after the
wedding day, aud the trial of the bride for
his murder, are the striking features Of an
extraordinary criminal case which has just
transdxed public attention throughout the
west and southwest.
Cn the 22d of last july Miss Minnie Wal
lete, OF New Orleans, was married at Gov.
ington, KY, to- Mr.. j. r. Walkup, a mer-
chant, and former mayor Of Emporia, in
Kansas. lie had already been married
twice, and was the father Of two daughters
and son older than the bride, but he was
still full OF energy. Mr.. Walkup was Of
handsome presence, being over six feet in
height and well proportioned. The happy
pair arrived at Empoia, where the city
council gave them a reception, and all went
well until the night Of Aug. 10, when Mr..
Walkup was taken III. One week from that
time ne died.
The death of Mr.. Walkup created intense
excitement. II was known that his wife
during the week Of his fatal illness. An
inquest was at once held. A careful analy-
sis showed considerable quantity OF ar
seuic in the stomach and liver of the dead
man, and the attendant physician testified
that he died from arsCnical poisoning. Tie
cOrOner's jury rendered a verdict against
the wife, who was sent to jail. She had, in
fact, been IN the shcrn's custody since her
husbands death, and on the day of the
fuueial, which she did not attend she gazcd
at the crowd from the court house steps,
where, clad IN white Mother Hubbard
dress, she stood by the sherilf's side.
She was subsequently indicted. On the
morning OF Oct 10 she was arraigned for
trial at EmpOria before Judge Charles B.
Graves and jury composed of citizens all
living outside Of Emporia The Hon. Will
liam Jay, formerly Of New Jersey, a dele
gate to the national Republican convention
Of 1856, and now prominent Prohjbtionst,
had been appointed her guardian.
The prisoner wore a black silk dress, and
bore unilinchingly the stare of the densely
packed thrOng. She Is described as q woman
of rare beauty, with long black hair, large,
expressive black eyes, a finely cut nose, and
exquisite mouth, with lips somewhat full.
Her complexion is Of wlxcn clearness, while
her checks are tinged with the perfect rose
color Her senior counsel was William w.
Scott, Of Emporia, who was graduated at
lut NbiulnDlt NOllt4t INV SCHOOL III LDlS GlIN
in lSO3. lie was assisted in the conduct of
the defense by Thomas p. Fcnlon, of Leaven-
worth, said to be the most prominent Grim
inal lawyer IN Kansas, and by the Hon.
George l.. Dodds, of Mississippi, dlstin-
guishcd orator and lawyer, who had known
the accused from childhood, and who volun-
teered to aid in her defense. The prosecu.
tion was led by Col. Feghan, native of
Buffalo and veteran of the war, now the
county attorney, and he was assisted by
the Hon. Jay Buck, Mr. Lambert, and Mr..
Sterry, of Emporia. BY O'Clock on the
first day jury had been obtained, aud the
court adjourned until the following morn
ing.
The jury was composed of farmers from
DO TO co years of age, men who, apparently,
in doubtful case would not lean toward
the side of youth and beauty. The accused
appeared on the second morning IN n black
cashmere skirt and u blacc silk Jersey,
trimmed with silk chenille fringe. She
wore no hat or bonnet, and her black hair
contrasted well with the wondrous beauty
of her complexion, about the naturalness Of
which there was no doubt, as was shown
by the recurrent flushing of her cheek.
Mr.. Walkup first met her In December
last, at New Orleans, whittier he had gone
TO attend the Worlds Exposition. He then
lodged at the house OF her mother, Mrs.
Wallace, and fell in love with Minnie. He
went uSulH 10 new orleans IN Aprll, ana
then offered himself and was accepted as
her afllanced husband. She visited Mr.
Walkup's home at Emporia subsequently
with her mother, and on their ret Irn the
marriage took place.
In his opening the prosecuting attorney
stated his theory, namely, that Mrs. Walkup
had murdered her husband In order to enjoy
the Widows portion of his estate; but the
only evidence of such Il motive IL 1t can be
called evidence, adduCed was that she
bought $40 worth of goods at dry goods
shop, and that she told q carpenter the day
after her husbands death that she married
Mr.. Walkup supp0sng him to be rich, but
had found since his death there was mort
gage ON his furniture.
Mr.. Walkup was first taken sick late on
Saturday evening, Aug, IS, with severe pains
in the stomach and bowels. He recovered
'on Sunday morning, went out driving in the
afternoon, and on Monday attended to busi-
ness and presided at meeting of the com
mon council In the evening. He drove about
on Tuesday morning, bat at noon was taken
violently III again with terrible pains in the
region of the stomach. DIR. Jacobs, who had
been called in at the beginning of the attack
on Saturday, and had prescribed sub-nltrate
OF bismuth and morphine, continued the
same treatment On Thursday morning
Mr.. Walkup was so much better that he
seemed to have conquered the disease, but
tUut lt hIt bOIlt cove DNbJtfh
with vinegar and drank some pop, and IN
the evening he became again terribly III
with the former symptoms, was In a state OF
collapse on Friday, and on Saturday morn
ing he died.
The prosecution claimed that Minnie
Walkup had poisoned her husband with ar
senic. The evidence against her was purely
circumstantial, but the links in the chain
of evidence forged By circumstances are in
criminal cases often the strongest. II was
shown that the accused bought eight grains
of strychnine of druggist named Bates on
Aug. l3. She signed the poison record In
the shop, and said the drug was for pri
vate formula Of her own. On the following
Sunday she sent servant with note
saying she had lost the bottle of strych.
nine and wanted more, but the druggist
refused to sell IT, The next day she
called to explain, and said she had man.
aged TO get along without the strychnine
but she did not ask for more. This drug
gist's wife is sister of the second wife OF
Mr.. Walkup. Minnie tried to buy strych,
nine of two other druggists on Aug II, but
one had none open, and she left without
buying of the other, although she signed
his poison record. DIR. Jacobs, who had an
evident bias against the accused, swore that
the patients condition on the first night,
Aug. l5, was indicative Of either acute
indigestion or mild poisoning with strych'
nine.
We now come to the testimony In refer
ence to arsenical poisoning, and upon that
the whole weight Of the prosecution rested.
Mr.. Kelly, druggist, testified that Mrs.
Walkup purchased Of him on the Sunday
afternoon before her husband died one-half
ounce of arsenic. She signed the poison
record, and stated she wanted arsenic as q
cosmetic. Ben Wheldon, another druggist,
sold four ounces Of arsenic to her one
Thursday before Mr.. Walkup died. She
said she wanted arsenic us a cosmetic, but
did not want people to suppose she used II.
A dramatic scene occurred In the room OF
the dying man the day before his death. Mr..
Bill his partner, talked with Mr.. Walkup
about his wife's having bought poison
Minnie came into the sick mans room
after the interview. Miss Lizzie Walkup
was there. Minnie was crying and she
asked the daughter If she had heard the
story, and exclaimed "Oh, my God p'
She then rot up and sat on the