The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-12-23
The Crockett Poisoning Case.

Startling developments have been made in the
owanvile poisoning case since last week. Friday
evening DR.. S. W. Johnson, of this city, was mott
fed by Prof. Robinson, State assayer at Bruins
wick, that arsenic had been found in the organs
sent him, and Saturday evening he received the
following letter from the Professor
l have examined each part with the result of
hndlnS more or less arsenic in each. The largest
amount is in the yOmitcd matter. | should think if
contained two or three fatal doses The least
amount seems to be in the stomach, but traces are
clearly seen there. The kidneys contain more
IMAM the stomach, and the liver far more than the
k1uneys; me above results are qualitative and
obtained from portions only. A complete guam
titative examination may change the relative
amounts.
Monday Mr.. James B, Tracy, of Enfield, sonn
law of Mr.. Crockett, to Belfast and sworc out
warrant against Mrs. Martha NJ. Crockett alleg
ing murder, and that same afternoon Constable b.
w. Ellis arrested Mrs. Crockett at the home of
John Bragdon and brought her to Belfast Jail
Mrs. Crockett protested her innocence and said no
Paris green WIS Kept in her house
Tuesday Coroner Wilson notified the Jury and
an adjourned inquest was held at the house Of An
drew j. Seekens, at Swanville. Many witnesses
were examined, but not much that was new was
developed 1t was in testimony that Mrs. Crockett
had threatened the life of her husband that she
hated him and said She would be happy if she
could see the day when She could stand over his
dead body. Little Nellie +. Crockett the twelve
years old daughter of the deceased, gave very
clear ana intelligent testimony She Said She
wanted some of the fried apples which were cook
ed on that fatal saturday and eaten by her father
but her step mother would not let her have them
and that she threw away what was left. Several
witnesses had heard Mrs. Crockett call hcr hus
band vile names and wish him dead, and also
wish the house laid in ashes.
The jury returned the following verdict "That
Ituel Crockett, late of Swanyillc came to his Heath
by felony, on the twenty seventh day of \oycm
Der, lSSG, by poison, administered by person, On
persons, to the Jury unknown. While the evidence
pointed strongly to Mr. Crockett is the guilty pan.
~, some " the jury would not I'm verdict rhar
ing her with the murder.
While the case look hard for Mrs, Crockett there
does not Seem to br sufficient motive FOR her to
commit such decd There was some unpleasant
ness between husband and wife but he provided Il
good home and Y hc was rcuuycl Mrs Crockett
would he left in her old age without support Tine
only motive that ~ne could haNe WAS To- provide a
home for lazy, -hltlc-- son, llul this would seem
to nc hardly sufficient. There is nothing in the
case to point to suicide. Crockett WA. healthy I'M
dustrioil- and fairly well Situated. He remarked
on the day of his Illness that he never felt better i'm
his life. Yet he had arsenic enough in him ia have
Killed twenty men. Who administered tile fatal
dose?
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock Mrs. Crockett
was taken before the Belfast police court. Cot W
II. Fogler appeared aS her counsel while County
Attorney elect pnton represented the State. Tne
court room was crowded, all wanting to the