The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-03
A KANSAS SENSATION.

Young Wife Suspected of Having Admin
istered Poison, Which She Is Known to.
Have Purchased.
EMPoRIA, Kis., August 23.-The sud-
den and strange death of Hon. J. K.
Walkup is the universal topic OF CONVEX
sation. Stories without number have
been circulated on all sides Many of
the statements made are mere ru-
mors and greatly exaggerated, while
other statements concerning the cause
! of Mr.. Walkup's sad and untimely
taking-off bear marks which excite the
graveSt suspicious and the most serious
charges Sunday night Mr.. Walkup was
attacked by u severe cramping, but was
able Monday TO attend the Council
meeting. He was taken worse on
Tuesday, and although the PHYSICIANS
treated him for poison, and did
everything possible in their power to
save him he died yesterday morning at.
ten minutes TO eleven O'Clock. 1t was
rumored on the streets early yesterday
morning that Mr.. Walkup was dying
from the effects OF poison administered
by his wife. Although Friday night was
the first time that suspicion of crime on
the part of Mrs. Walkup had been made
public, vet it had existed with parties in.
timately acquainted with Mr.. Walkup
and his physicians. The symptoms
which Mr.. WaIkup exhibited on Sunday
night indicated strychnine poison, aud
the indications for forty-ei"ht hours or
more before his death were those of az
senic poison.
On the 18th Mrs. Walkup stepped into
Irwin'S drug store, and approaching VIII
Irwin asked in a low tone for dimes
worth OF Strychnine. Mr.. Irwin was in
the act of getting the drug for her when
she remarked in a louder tone that he
might give her fifteen cents worth. Mr..
Irwin told her that she would have to
sign the record, as all purchasers of poi
son are required to do. When he asked
ner for what purpose she wanted the
S,rychnine, she said that was thing she
could not tell. only that she wanted TO
US. it as an ingredient in a medicine she
was making. She stated that while in Gin
cinnati last July she called for some
strychnine, but the clerk al made .
mistake and gave her Quinine. When
Mr.. Irwin again ASKED her to sign the
record she remarked: ''YOu don't think
/ am going to commit suicide, do your"
On Thursday. the goth, Mrs. Walkup
called at WheldOn's drug store and asked
for a quarters worth of arsenic, saying
that she wanted to use it to improve her
complexion. Mr.. Wheldon finally sold
her four ounces of arsenic and as soon as
he heard that Mr.. Walkap was sick he
went to Dwight Bell AMI told him thathe
had sold Mrs. Walkup some arsenic, and
from what he had heard since had grave
suspicious that criminal use had been
do oft har A TNfNSf m r. ~ CaX-
animation was held by Drs. Moore, ia
cobs, Page, Harrison and Foncannou.
The stomach and intes'i ines were found
in a congeSted STATE, with indications of
corrosive poison.
Shortly after three O'Clock yesterday
afternoon Coroner DR.. G.. W. Frost sum-
moned Jury and began the holding of
az inquest. The first witness examined
was Miss Libbie WalkuD, daughter of
the deceased. She testified that Mr..
Walkup, her father, married Minnie Wal
lace at COvinGton, Nv, and arrived with
her in EmpOria one month ago yeSter-
day; that previous to Saturday he had
been in good health; that during his
illness Mrs. Walkup waited upon him
until Friday noon, when she N4ibbie)
took entire charge. Miss Wa,kup said
she did not know of anv poison being in
the house during his sickness. She had
been at home but few days since her
marriage, having returned from
last Tuesday evening.
VI. II. Bates testified that he sold Mrs.
Walkup about eight grains of strychnine
on the 18th of August. She signed an
application. but did not write the pur-
pose for which she wanted it, saying it
was for private formula. The medicine
b,,Nt, IL,
Labelled poison. 1t was sulphate of
strychnine she purchased. She sent
written order Sunday by cOlnred Girl
for s,rychnine, saving that she had lost
the first. Mr.. Bates did not let her have it.
L. Severy testified that Mrs. Waiknp
told him in reference to the strychnine
purchased of VI. II Bates that she had
bought the strychnine for The purpose of
making a mixture of strychninG and an
other article to remove some stains in
her clothing; that she had never tried
the preparation but was told that it
would remove the stains. aud she bought
it for THAI purpose. She had also pur--
chased arsenic to change her comp!e xion,
but on Mr. Walkup's coming home be-
fore she had time TO use it, and not
wishing to let him know that she was
2 bout to use it, she hastily threw it into
The slop-bucket
After some further unimportant testi--
mony, the Coroner at $3.50 Yesterday
evening adjourned the inquest and in
structed the Sheriff 20 hold Mrs Walk
up in custody until Monday morning at
eight O'Clock, when the jury will meet
gain. She takes the arrest very cOOliy
and refuses to talk to reporters 1T
all. She is now in charge of Sheriff
White at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Her
cousin, William ID. Willis, a boy fifteen
years old, recently here from New Or
eans, at Mrs. Walkup's request was
lodged in Jail about noon yesterday on
account OF suspicious circumstances
Mr. Waikup WAS at the time of his
death Deputy Grand Dictator of the
Knights of Honor, President of the.
Council and acting Mayor of this city.
ace at her residence, No. 222 Canal
street, New Orleans, while visiting the:
Exposition, and after a short courtsh.p
lie returned home and then went 10 Cow
ngton, Ky, where he was met by Miss
" lace, and they were married. returning
sere July 22d, one month ago Shs is his
bird wife, very haDdsoms gnd only
wcniy years of age, while Nr. Walkup
vas forty-nine. He carried life insurance
policies as follows: One of 1000 in the
!. % wv and one of the SINE amount in
bs Knights of Honor, both in favor of.
Hrs. Hannah Walkup, mis- deceased wife,
mi one in the New York Mutual for
81, 500 in favor of his daughter, Libbie..
Domlnick McCaTrey In Training.
CINCINNATI, o., August 24.-Dominick-
fcTEfircy, the pucilist arrived in this,