The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-15
A NOVA SCOTIA WOMAN
TRIESTO POISON FAMILY WITH
PARIS GREEN
Thrown Into the Welt From which
They Drew Their supply Of
Water-Is She Insane?

NKw YoRK, July 13.-The north
we, srn part of Bath, Me, skitting
Merry-Meeting Bay, is made up in
most part of fine farms, some Of them
among the finest in SsRadshoc county.
Two OF the largest and best cultivated
are owned by Ms. James Hill, wild
ow (colored) aud the other by James
R7oke. The farms adjoin each other,
Rockies farm is reached by highway,
which terminates on his property.
Mrs. Hi l's farm is some distance from
the terminus Of the highway. To
get to her farmhouse she and the
family have to cross the land of
Rookie by right of way, which has
been used by the Hill family nearly
Thirty years. Three years ago Rookie
married his second wife, who was some
wears his junior, and a native OF Nova
Scotia. She is reported by the ocCu-
pants of the farms 10 that vicinity as
being of a quarrslsome nature. Since
her advent to The farm, which Rookie
has owned nearly fifty years, con-
slant quarrel has been kept up by the
two families, and within the past two
months a most bitter ieud has grown
out of the quarrel. At the entrance
to the right of way Rookie, at his wife's
command, built gate. This the Hill
family removed time and again, on y
to be- rep, aced BIZ Rookie. At last the
gate was demolished by the Hills,
Then r poke placed large logs across
the right OF way, which were in time
hauled off by the Hill family. Dur
ing the trouble several times it is
said she threatened to shoot Mrs. Hill
and her children if they persisted in
removing the distractions. She also
sad that if MIS-. Hills sons and
daughters did no. keep out of her
blackberry pasture che would kill
them. This week the quarrel reached
a crisis. Near the dividing line of the
two farms there is a spring OF water
situated on the land of Mrs. Hill and
used by herself and family for drink
ing and household purposes. We'd
nesday morning Mrs. Hill discovered
a green surface floating on the surface
of the water Of the spring, which is an
open one. She had gone to the spring
to get water TO use in her household,
when she made the discovery. She
communicated the facts to some OF her
neighbors, and all pronounced the
green substance to be paris gre IN.
Rookie was charged by the Hill family
as the alleged poisoner OF the water.
He denied it, and said that it might
have been his wife who placed the
poison in the water. His statement,
together with former threats made by
Mrs. R1oke, led to that woman's ar
rest by City Marshal Urocker, who Sc.
cured some of the water in the spring
for chemical analysis. Mis-. Rookie
was brought into count for preliminary
examination to answer to the charge
of placing paris green in spring with
intent to kill and murder. She
pleaded not guilty. Several witnesses
testified that Mrs Rookie bad said she
would poison the Hill family. A
large quantity of arts green was found
at the bottom of the spiing.
Miss Anna Ward testified that she
heard Mrs. Rooke say short time
ago that if the Hill family did not keep
their distance she would poison them.
The next day after the discovery of the
poison in the spring Mrs. Rookie said
to the witness that she hoped the one
that placed the poison in the water OF
the spring bad put enough there to
kill the whole Hill family.
Miss Mary Blake testifi d to having
heard Mrs. Rookie make the came re.
mark since the discovery OF the poison.
A druggist of this city testified TO
having made an analysis OF the water
taken from the spring, and found 1t
contained large quantities OF arsenic.
He said the poison was paris green.
The RESPONDENT testified that she did
not place the poison in the spring,
but admitted that she threatened 70
shoot the whole Hill family.
At the close of the examination
Judge Milay held the respondent for
the grand jury of the August term OF
the Supreme Judicial Court and placed
her under $1,000 b lnds for appearance.
During the examination Mrs. Rookie
was greatly excited, and often would
break out with vehement remark.
She appeared partially deraDged at
times. She begged OF the Court not 10
take her away from her children by
sending her to Jail. While on the
witness stand che was seized with vio'
lent sobbing and cried like child. A
great deal Of indignation against the
respondent has been aroused in the
neighborhocd Of her residence. Mrs.
R3oke is about 35 years old,
and has the appearance OF being oil