The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-12
NOT GUILTY.

great W aikup murder case have rendered
verdict of acquittal. At 3 80 D. m. Judge
Graves announced that verdict had Leen
reached, and ordered the defendant brought
into court Sheriff Wilhite 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 trueY' 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 ver-
dict was read, Not guilty." when those
present broke forth in applause. The scene
was exciting as the defendant shook hands
with the Jury, sand congratulations were
showered upon her Her mother thanked
the Judge, jury and all present. and when
Mrs. Walkup and her mother left in car
rage 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 90. On August IS WaIkup 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 10 attend to his work rs usual.
On August IA Mrs. Walkup bought ten
grains of strychnine from VI. II. Bates, an
Emporia druggist. On Saturday night
about midnight Walkup was taken severely
ill and a doctor was called. He prescribed
for acute Indigestion, but the symptoms
were similar to those caused by strychnine
poisoning. Mrs. Walkup telephoned 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 coored girl
down to the drug store for more strychnine,
but the druggist would not sell il 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 well 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 DIR. Jacobs said il was not .
necessary for him to call again, and as an
extra session of the Council was very much
desired, Walkup sent word that he would
meet the Council Friday morning.
Thursday noon Walkup ate a dinner of
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-five cents worth of arsenic from b.
WheldOn. On returning home she gave
him the pop, and i'll 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
symptoms Of arSenical poison.
He continued to grow worse and Friday g.
state of collapse enSued. 1t then began to
be noised about that Walkup's wife had
made numerous purchases of arsenic and
'trychnine. Walkup grew worse very rapid
y and died the next morning, August D.
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 on the afternoon of Walkup's-
death, but as the funeral was to occur Mon
Jay, 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-
ler'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 Walkup'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
icath was due TO arsenic administered by
Mrs. Walkup. She was arrested on a Cor
Jmer's warrant; preliminary examination
VAS waived and she was l:eld for trial.
THE TRIAL
Active preparations were made for the
rial; the defense secured, in addition tO
Nr. Scott, a weIl-knOwn Southern lawyer,
Ar. George S. DOdds. of Mississippi, and
Colonel T. p. FenIOn, distinguished attOr-
ley of Leayenworth. Colonel Feighan,
he County Attorney. secured Mr.. j. Jay
Buck, Captain c. n. Sterry and Mr. L. F.
Lambert, prominent members of the Lyon
County bar, and both sides announced all
eady when the case was called on the 18th
# last month.
The prosecution introduced witnesses to
prove the purchase Of strychnine and arsen-
C at various times by the defendant; a
hemical analysis Of Walkup's stomach and
iver disclosed the presence Of these pOisOnS
fter death, and several physicians testified
4 answer TO hypothetical questions that in
heir opinion death was caused by poison
eceAtly taken into the system. The de-
enss held to the theery that Walkup had
ecome a physical wreck from eX-
esses and had been in the habit OK
aking arsenic to stimulate his abused and
Tastsd vital powers. and in support OF this
Introduced expert testimony to show that
rsenic might be taken into the system for
ears, become encysted in the mucus mem
rane OF the stomach and finally be released
y the acids in certain foods and produce
cath. The defendant took the stand and
estified that she purchased arsenic for her
and strychnine to remove stains
rom her clothing Several witnesses also
estifed to Walkup's habits.
D.struc,ive Fire in Chfca0o.