The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-12-16
The SWanvlIle Sensation.

Mention was made last week of a supposed
poisoning case in Swanville. Since then James b.
Tracy, of Enfield soninlaw Of Ruel Crockett,
deceased, has procured evidence which satisfied
Coroner Wilson that action should be taken. On
Friday last Mr.. Wilson went to Swanville and
organized an inquest and had the body of Mr..
Crockett eNhumed. The body was buried in the
town yard on the road from City Point to Oak Hill,
near the house of Levi Seekens. The Crockett
family lived some four miles from the cemetery
to the west of Oak Hill Mr.. E. w. Ellis had
made preparations for the coroner which
taken to the house of Mr.. Andrew j. Seekens, who
lived alone in the old seekins homestead. Drs. S.
W. johnson and A. C. Ellingwood of Belfast, con
Quoted the autopsy The stomach, kidney and
liver were removed and sent to Prof. Carmichael
at Brunswick for analysis. All the physicians
would say was that the organs were in a condition
such as they would expect to find had Il man died
of arsenic poisoning The following composed
the coroner's jury empanelled Isaac Seekens, z.
L. Downs, Alonzo Holmes, W. r. Peavey, George
T. Peavey and Edwin Greeley. No testimony was
taken, the inquest adjourning to await further
Developments. If the analysis shows poison then
testimony will be taken. If no poison is found
of course the case ends.
Journal representative was present and OBJ
tanned some additional particulars Mr.. Crockett
was a widower with five children. Four years ago
he married Mrs. William Harvey, widow with a
family of children. Mrs. Crockett has one son.
William E. Harvey, who has been the cause of the
trouble between Crockett and his Wife. Harvey
has wife and three children. He is dissipated,
shiftess fellow, who neglects to provide for his
family. Within week his wife and children have
been thrown upon the town for support. Mrs.
Crockett wanted Albert and his family to live with
her. Mr.. Crockett, who was an honest, industri-
Gus, hard working man, objected, and would not
have Albert about. one year ago the buildings Of
Mr., Crockett were destroyed by fire, and Albert
Harvey was supposed to have been the incendary.
Mr.. Crockett's youngest daughter says that one
week before the death of her father her parents
had a lively discussion concerning Albert She
says they disputed all day and night and a portion
of the next day, and ended by Mrs. Crockett
threatening to kill her husband. Thanksgiving
Day Albert came home but Crockett would not al.
low him to remain He left the next day and has
not since returned. This was the day before Mr..
Crockett was taken ill., Saturday, Nov. D. Mr..
Crockett came home for dinner from the woods
where he had been at work. He was then in per
feet health and had been for many years. The din
ner consisted of fried apples, brown bread and 30
tatoes. The little girl Nellie was at school. twas
the custom of Mrs. Crockett to save asporton of
the dinner for Nellie, but on this day she would not
let her have any Of the apples, did She eat any
herself. After dinner Mr.. Crockett went to his
shop to shave hoop poles and while there was sud
denly taken i'll vomiting, which continued over
sunday. He died the next day DIR. Ellingwood
was the attending physician. During his brief i'll
ness Mr.. Crockett told neighbor, Wesley Peavey,
that the apples tasted queer and made his throat
and stomach burn and smart creating a great
thirst. calf that Tapped up some of the contents
of vessel used by Mr.. Crockett died immediate
ly. 1t is supposed he died of Paris green poison
ing, and that the poison was mixed with the APP
pies. There is hardly farm house in Waldo
county but what has Paris green.
Mrs Crockett is nearly 60 Gears of age. Her
maiden name was Bowdoin. Last spring She left
her husband and came to Belfast returning home
Il short time ago. She is said to lie an ignorant
person. The only object in removing her husband
would be to make home for her son Albert and
his family. 1t is to be hoped, however, that the
analysis will not reveal poison, and that Mr. Crock
EFT death resulted from natural causes Despite the
apparently eliminating circumstances there does
not appear TO have been sufficient reason for such
crime, and the affair may prove to have been
nothing more than family quarrel.