The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-08-29
A KANSAS SENSATION.


Have Purchased.
EMPoRn, KAs., August 23.-The sud-
den and strange death of Hon. J. r.
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, yet it had existed with parties In
timately acquainted with Mr.. Walkup
and his physicians. The symptoms
which Mr. Walkup exhibited on Sunday
night indicated strychnine poison, and
the indications for forty eight hours or
more before his death were those of ar
senic poison.
On the l4th Mrs. Walkup stepped into
/ ,,,,1o nd
| Irwin asked In low tone for a 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 pol
son are required to do. When he asked
her for what purpose she wanted the
strychnine, she said that was thing she
could not tell, only that she wanted to
use it as an ingredient in medicine she
was making. She stated that%hilein Gin
cinnati last July she called for some
strVchnine, but the clerk h ad made a
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 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.. Walkup was sick he
went to Dwight Bell and told him thathe
had sold Mrs. Walkup some arsenic, and
from what he had heard since had grave
suspicious that criminal use had been
made of the poison. A post-moriem ex-
animation was held by Drs, Moore, ia
cobs, Page, Harrison and Fencannon.
The stomach and mites 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
an inquest The first witness examined
was Miss Libbie Walkup, daughter Of
the deceased. She testified that Mr..
Walkup, her father, married Minnie Wal
lace at Covington, KY, and arrived with
her in Emporia one month ago yester-
day; that previous to Saturday he had
been in good health; that during his
lin IS Mrs. Walkup waited upon him
until Friday noon when she Uibbie)
took entire charge. Miss Walkup said
she did not know of any poison being in
the house during his sickness. She had
been at home but few days since her
fathers marriage, having returned from
Colorado last Tuesday evening.
NJ. II. Bates testified that he sold Mrs.
Walkup about eight grains of strychnne
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 a private formula. The medicine
was put in small strychnine bottle and
labelled poison. 1t was sulphate OF
, strychnine she purchased. She sent a
written order Sunday by colored girl
for strychnine, saying that she had lost
the first. Mr.. Bates did not let her have it.
L. Severy testified that Mrs. Walkup
told him in reference to the strychnine
purchased OF NJ. H Bates that she had
bought the strychnine for the purpose OF
making a mixture of strychnine and an
: other article to remove some stains In
her clothing; that she had never triec
, the preparation but was told that II
l would remove the stains. and she bought
r 1t for thai purpose. She had also pur
, chased arsenic to change her complexion
but on Mr. Walkup's coming nome DC
fore she had time to use 1t, and no
wishing 10 let him know that she wa
about to use it., she hastily threw 1t int
! the slop-bucket
1 After some further unimportant testi
t mony, the Coroner at $3.50 yesterda.
J evening adjourned the inquest and In
1 structed the Sheriff TO hold Mrs. Walk
$ up in custody until Monday morning a
2 eight o'clock, when the jury will NEE
I again, She takes the arrest very COOL
:. and refuses to talk to reporters a
=, all. She is now in charge of Sheriff
; white at thu Fifth Avenue Hotel. He
cousin, William d. Willis, boy tifteeI
, years old, recently here from New Oh
leans, at Mrs. Walkup's request wa
+ lodged in jail about noon yesterday oil
L account OF suspicious circumstances.
Mr.. Walkup was at the time of hi
death Deputy Grand Dictator OF tn
Knights OF Honor, President Of th