Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-12
ARSENIC IN THEIR COFFEE.

Eleven Guests Poisoned at a Merry
Making in OhiO-The Daughter of the
Host Believed to Fave Mixed the
DOse-One Dead, Three Dying and
Others in Danger-Their Agony.
A Wellsville, o., special, Jan. 8. to the
New York Sun says: East Liverpool. the
large pottery town four miles east of here.
was thrown into the most intense excite.
ment this morning over the news that an
attempt had been made to poison the
members Of two families. Last evening a
reunion Of the Van FOssan and McBane
families was held at the house Of Daniel
an fOssan, I'D the western end Of East
Liverpool. Fourteen persons, represent
ing both families, were assembled. After
while supper was announced about 1C
O'Clock. During this meal coffee prepared
by Annie Van FOssan, a daughter of the
host, was served.
A short time after drinking this bever-
age number of the guests complained of
a nerce burning in the throat, and a few
minutes afterward were seized with ter
rl6le cramps and hts of vomiting, which
continued until eleven of the fourteen
were Frustrated, having symptoms of
mineral poisoning.
The eleven who partOok of the coffee
were Daniel Van FOssan, his wife, An
ME, Henry, Matte, and Dan, their four
children, Mrs. Angus McBane, Maggie,
Jennie, and Allie McBane, and Mrs. Ann
Collins, 50 years of age, the mother Of
Mrs. Van FOssan. The balance Of the
party, Frank Van FOssan, Mrs. Uric and
her daughter Ollie, drank tea instead of
coffee, and were not poisoned.
DR.. q. i. Ikert was Immediately called
TO the suffering people, who seemed to be
in the thrOes OF death. He discovered at
once the symptoms of arsenical poison
ing, and summoned several other physi-
clans to his assistance, when everything
possible was done to alleviate the suffer-
ings of the victims.
The two worst seemed to be Jennie Nc
Bane and her little girl, aged 6 years.
They were removed to aneighbOring drug
store, where the little one died this morn
ing in commissions. The doctors describe
the agOnies of the victims as terrible to
witness.
This evening three more of the victims
Mrs. Collins, the aged grandmother;
Henry Collins, and Elmer Van FOssan-
are in critical condition, suffering ter
ribly, and their deaths are expected be-
fore morning. The others are doing as
well as could be expected, although not
yet out of danger.
Annie Van FOssan, who prepared the
coffee, is strongly suspected OF being the
culprit in this attempt to destroy human
lives. The girl is suffering from the same
symptoms as the others, though less
violently, as she drank very little of the
coffee. When seen to-day she was sitting
prOpped in a chair. She manifested the
greatest concern relative to little Dannie,
her baby brother, who is one of the
sufferers. The girl is about 10 years of
of age, of wild disposition, and bears
not the best reputation. She is said to be
addicted to the use of opium, and has
made two attempts within few years to
end her life with laudanum, but each time
was rescued with the aid of a stomach
pump.
Wednesday evening a younger sister
gave a party to a few schOOlmates, when
all ate a quantity of taffy candy, and
were taken violently i'll with symptoms
Of poisoning, although poisoning was not
dreamed of at that time. Some of this
same candy was taken to school by the
children next day, and 1t is said four OF
them were also taken sick. Tn ese cases,
however, developed nothing serious.
Mrs. Van FOssan, mother of the girl,
says that previous to the night of the re-
union there was a package of Rough on
Rats in the house, which could not be
found after the guests were taken sick.
DR.. Ikert has in his possession the coffee
pot in which the fatal drink was prepared,
aud, upon close examination, discovered
traces of arsenic.
This statement, together with the story
of rat poison, leaves little doubt but that
that stuff was used, as Rough on Rats is
known to contain arsenic.
If the girl is guilty, her motive cannot
be OWNED, unless it be, as many think
! she is mentally unsound. The authOri.
| ties are very reticent, but it is thought
the girl will be arrested and charged with
| the crime in the morning or after the con.
clusion of the inquest over the body of the
littIa frir1