The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-05
THE SOBS COME AT LAST
Mrs. Shoots Breaks Down on
Hearing the Indictment,
CHARGING HER WITH MURDER
Damaging Testimony Against tho Ac-
cused-Evidence of the Physi-
clans Who Attended Little
Carrie-ArsenlcaI Poison.

| Carrie-Arsenical Poison.
Special DiIpatch to The IHteliGeHeer.
CAMBRIDGE, o., Dec. 4.--The snoot'
murder trial opened to-day with de
cided accession Of popular interest. The
court room was crowded at both the fore
noon and afternoon sessions, and at the
afternoon session almost as many ladies
as gentlemen were present, many of the
best women of the city lending their
presence apparently in encouragement
lof the accused. At the opening Of the
AFTERNOON session Judge Campbell stated
that he would expect the spectators to
preserve the best order at all times and
to rid themselves of the idea that the
trial was spectaclefor the public delecta-
ton; it isa grave trial upon whose issues
rests n human life.
The accused was attended in court
to-day by her aged mother, two OF her
sisters with their husbands, and one Of
her brothers. Her always faithful little
husband, with his stubby white beard
and anxious countenance, is on hand at
aIt times and relieves his wife largely OF
tho care Of the baby.
THE soDs COME AT LAST.
Mrs. Shoots broke down to-day and
wept bitterly. Atthe preliminary hear
ing and during the year and more that
the cloud of a dreadful accusation has
shadowed her life she has maintained a
stolidity that nothing could touch. All
day Monday she sat in court at her
counsel's elbow and gave no sign, her
unuhanging face betraying no emotion.
But when Prosecutor Vim read the
Indictment this morning with its con-
slant repetition Of the charge of mur-
der. the weary face twitched nervously
and the big sobs came at last.
The jury was formally impanelled aud
sworn in this morning, and the witnesses
OF the State were called and sworn.
Prosecutor Winn stated the case to the
jury on behalf OF the prosecution, read.
ing the indictment with quite agood deal
OF display. The indictment contains
three counts, each OF them alleging the
administration Of paris green, a deadly
poison, 10 Carrie Shoots by her mother,
Mrs. Anna Shoots, for the purpose Of
producing death, the first count alleging
the administration of poison on the first
day cf July, 1887, from which death re-
suited on the sixth day OF July; the
second count alleging the administration
on the fifth, and the third count its ad-
ministration ut divers other times.
On behalf OF the defendant Col. Train
stated that she was not guilty.
TESTIMONY BEGUN.
The first witness for the State was
Charles Erwin, who testified that he
lived in Adamsville in the summer Of
1887, and that he was requested by Mrs.
Shoots on the 3Oth day of June to 20 for
II doctor for Carrie. He complied with
her request and summoned DR.. A. jack
son. He had seen Carrie playing down
town that forenoon apparently as well
as anybody.
DR.. a. L. Jackson, OF Chadron, Neb.,
the second witness for the State, testified
that lie was physician residing and
practicing ut Adamsville in the summer
of 1887, and that he was called on the
30th day OF June to attend Carrie Shoots
in her sickness. He continued to at
tend her on the five succeeding days, and
followed out simple course OF treat
mcnt designed to ailay irritation OF the
stomach and keep the bowels open. He
noticed nothing alarming about her
symptoms until he was called in after
midnight on the 9th in consulta.
ton with Drs. Decker and A. l..
Jackson. Then he found her
cold and clammy and prostrated, vomit-
ing and purging violently. The dis
charges were granular aud light green
in color, aud were largely composed OF
arsenide OF copper, or paris green. In
his opinion death resulted from arseni-
cal poisoning.
This witness was troubled with a sad
" defective memory aud the force Of his
testimony was largely destroyed in n
severe cross examination, lasting most
OF the afternoon.
DR.. A. L. Jackson, who also attended
Carrie Shoots, testified TINT deceased
died OF arsenical poisoning and corrobor-
ated hisbrother's statements. The cross
examination strengthened his evidence.
He also testified to the exhuming Of the
remains and the boteling Of the viscera.
William Ruth, Coroner, testified to
exhuming the remains and directing the
botteling and sealing OF the same.
H. Lowe, q neighbor of the Shoots.
testified that as he was passing by their
door the day before Carrie died he heard
her say: "Oh, ma, don't give me that
strong medicine; it burns So" Lowe
was on tue stand when the court ad-
journed.