The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-04
4 STRANGE VERDICT.
There Will Always by Mystery Sur.
rounding the Davenport Poisoning
Csse-.-ssGOd Forgive Me-"

Its strange verdict that the jury found |
the coroner's inquest over the body and in
as to the death of little Johnny Connolly
at Davenport. The jury, after five days
of investigation into the case, have given
it as their opinion that the little fellow
was poisoned, but that the deadly drug
was administered by persons unknown.
Circumstantial evidence seems to point
directly and conclusively to Bridget Con-
nelly rs the perpctrator OF the crime, as
it was shown yesterday in evidence that
she had been heard at the funeral to say
God forgive me for what have done"
Somebody committed the crime and it is
the duty of the proper authorities to as,
certain who that somebody is. The Ga
gette's account OF the final testimony is
appended and will be found interesting:
Yesterday morning six more withes ses
| were examined by the coroner's jury in
the Connolly poisoning case. That of Mr.,
Nader, the chemist who examined the
stomach of Johnnie Connolly, and OF
Johnnie Mcclure and Johnnie Haueh,
two of the pail bearers were the most
important. The Others who testified
were Chief Kessler and Officers
Faulkner and Wichelman Officer
Wichelman told of seeing the first
account in the gazette after which
he went and called Officer Faulkner They
went to several drug stores to see if any
of the Connellys had purchased poison
and found that Bridget had tried to buy
some at Busch's. Both attended the in
quest in the morning and after it was
over he (Wichelman) took Mr.. Busch to
Connelly's where Bridget WAS idenliliel
He had met Bridget coming up town
alone Saturday. He asked Bridget if she
had been up town and she de1icd it, but
afterwards said she was with Miss
Paash. Miss Paash was afterward seen
and said sue did not come up town with
Bridget. Officer Faulkner was examined
but could offer nothing more than has
already been stated in regard to being
called at iirst and afterwards searching
the house. securing the cup from which
Bridget drank before her last illness, and
several bottles which Bridget said con
tanned medicine
Frank Nader, chemist of Rock Island,
stated that he hsd made an examinatio lou
of the stomach, duodenum and a portion
of the liver of Johnnie Connolly. He
found phosphorus and arsenic i'll them in
considerable quantities The phosphorus
had made leaden coiored blotches on the
lining of the stomach lie thought there
was enough poison 10 cause death in n
5 child of the age OF johnnie Connolly
Phosphorus was the more plentiful OF
: the two.
Johnnie McGuire, aged H. was next
called. He was one of the pail bearers al
the funeral of Johnnie Connolly. Just as
. they were about to take the coffin out BE-
heard Bridget Connolly eXcia;m. My
God forgive me tor what have done
Bridget was then sitting in chair near
3 him. There were several other persons
J IN the room, whom he named Johnnie
\ Haugh, aged 10, corr0borated the testi-
; mony of young Mcclure, stating that he
h ID heard Bridget Connolly utter the same
< words.
Chief of Police Frank Kessler was the
: last witness. His remarks related chiefly
= TO conversations which he had with
! Bridget Connolly. He told Bridget that
suspicion pointed to her and she said she
knew they did, but that she did not know
anything about the cause of the sickness
$ OF the family and death of Johnnie She
!. denied to him having attempted 10 bay
5 rough on rats" In answer to question
) IS to wether she was coherent in her talk,
he said that il asked direct question she
would answer, but would aftcrward wan
e der away from the subject and talk OF
p, everything. She had shown excitement
when he asked her about buying rough
on rats Attorney MCGuirk was present
e at the inquest on behalf of James Connel-
, ly, and ". C. Putnam. Esq, to represent
r the Connolly family.
3 The jury adjourned to O'Clock yester,
! day afternoon, when. after due deibera-
y tion, they agreed on verdict They
D found THAT the deceased came to hi,
c death by the administration of some pois
5 onous compound, composed principally
OF phosphorus arsenic-in tea and cot
r fee. Said poison was placed in the te5
and coffee by some person or persons tC
- the jury unknown"
> Thus the case is dismissed with :
- mystery surrounding it, which will neve
be raised unless the grand jury takes j
4
1 in hand, as is eminently the duty of tha
+ body