Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-11-26
POISON IN THE BREAD.
ABosToN SERVANT GIRLS AT
TEMPT TO MURDER AN EN-
TIRE FAMILY.
Arsenic Placed in the Flour Barrel by the
Suspected woman-Members of the
Family Brought Near TO
Death and Suffering
Intense Agony.

BOsToN, Nov. 18.--Miss Annie Lyons,
prepossessing young woman, was ar
rested to-day on charge Of attempted
wholesale poisoning Of the family and
servants of Charles w. Parker, Of this
city. 1t was only by the active exertions
of the physicians that the intended vic
tins were saved from horrible death.
The woman Lyons was up to a few
days ago employed as cook by Mr.. Parker
and gave satisfaction to her employer.
but could not agree with the other serv-
ants, and on account Of frequent contro-
versies she was discharged. A short time
before this Mr.. Parker had purchased
barrel of flour and about half Of this had
been used. The cook made bread out of
this flour, and, though nothing peculiar
was noticed in the looks or taste Of it, all
Of the family and servants were made Sc
riously Ill by ,partaking Of 1t. The i'm
mediate administration Of antidotes by
the physicians prevented what was pre-
sumed to be poison from successfully ac-
complishing its deadly work. Professor
Hill, Of Harvard College, made an exam
ination Of all the food used at the meal
and discovered traces of arsenic In the
bread. The -four in the barrel was then
inspected and 1t was found that the -four
In the centre of the barrel had been
scooped out and that arsenic sufficient in
quantity to kill ten persons had been put
in the cavity. Arsenic was also mixed
with loose flour in another receptacle.
ELEVEN PERSONS POISONED.
The accused woman, who is about 28
years old, denies putting any poison in
the flour, and says she had no knowledge
whatever Of the affair. She was hired by
Mr.. Parker at an intelligence office. The
officers are now trying to find out where
the arsenic was purchased. A little beg
gar girl, who was given some Of the
bread the day the poisoning occurred,
was made deathly sick, but was saved by
having an overdose. Of which excessive
vomiting relieved her Mr.. Parker told
a reporter this afternoon that all his fam
lily would recover Ten Of his household,
including three servants, were made sick
by the poisoned food. Including the
beggar girl, eleven persons were affected.
The victims ate the poisoned food for
nearly three weeks without knowing
what made them sick. Miss Lyons was
discharged on October 20, and new
cook Immediately installed in her plooo.
Next day the family had some of the
newly made bread for supper, During
the evening one after another was taken
sick, only the two boys escaping Each
Of the sick persons vOmited violently,
and was in great pain. During the day,
workmen had been melting tar in the
street in front of the house, and the
smoke had found its way into the house.
The family supposed that this smoke
was the cause Of their sickness, and were
treated for that trouble, but none Of them
seemed to gain strength. Each day the
retching continued. Their mouths and
throats were parched, their heads were
swollen and their limbs became weak.
These conditions continued till Wednes-
day of last week. All that time the boys
were the only ones who retained their
health.
TRYING IT ON THE DOG.
The servants were the most painfully
affected. On Wednesday night the boys
had toast for supper. A few hours later
they, too, were taken violently i'll. Sus-
picion rested upon the toast, but it looked
all right. None Of the family remember
cd at that time that the boys had not eat
en- any bread during the past three weeks.
At night they were stricken with the same
symptoms that affected the rest of the
family. The case then became mysterious
for there was no tar smoke In the house
on that night. On Thursday night the
daughter fed the dog with toast and shut
him up in the cellar. The next morning
the animal was found upon the floor near
lydead.
Then Mr.. Parker decided that the flour
had been poisoned. He went to the bar
rel, and, putting his hand into the flour,
pulled up almost solid handful Of clear
arsenic. As it turned out, the family
have eaten very sparingly, Of the bread
since the new cook entered the house
They have had French rolls on the table
at every meal.
In the Municipal Court this afternoon
Miss Lyons was held in SIC, 900 for trial