The Portland daily press., 1889-10-07
ST. JOHN, N. B., MYSTERY UNS0LVED.
VINO Sent the Poisoned Candy Which
Killed Mrs. Macrae?
The Narrow Escape of the Family Of
a Baptist Clergyman.
Attention Drawn 10 Similar Attempts
in the Dominion.

ST. JoHN,N. b., October 5.-The announce
ment Of the death of the wife OF Rev. Dr.
Macrae, who was poisoned by eating candy
which had been soaked in strychnine, wa
by intense excitement in the city
and the absence of clues to the murderers
and their sbject in thus attempting to take
life in the families of four prominent citi-
zens, has kept the interest at fever heat. 1t
was at first announced that three boxes OF
poisoned .candy had been sent out by the
would-be murderer-to Rev. DIR. MacRae,
Rev. j. de Soyres and Rev. Il. j. Deinstadt.
1t has since transpired that fourth package
was sent out to Rev. John IL Shaw, retired
Baptist minister living at q King street.
When seen by a reporter Mr.. Shaw said:
On Wednesday forenoon package addressed
to him was delivered by the p0stman, and
when opened was found TO be box contain
ing mixed candy. Mr.. Shaw supposed the
candy had been sent him by members OF his
family or friends In the house, as they had
been talking of sending him some during the
day or two before, and as he thought it was
joke he made up his mind not to eat any OF
1t. At dinner time the box and the candy
were on the table, and Mr.. Shaw. taking up
piece, took very small portion ana put it
In his mouth The taste was so peculiarly
unpleasant that he threw the candy out
promptly, but the taste remained. He tried
to remove it by eating an apple, but that
failed, and then he had to use granulated
sugar. The idea of poison did not enter his
mind He would not crafty tne 0kersS by
toria school girl, IA or Is years old, thought
she would try the candy, and taking up the
piece her father had rejected bit small
piece Off 1t with no apparent Ill effect. The
and as she '.just loved chocolate drops" she
was allowed to take one, which she ate with
relish. Towards evening, Miss Shaw began
to feel sick, having violent pains in the head,
and she was obliged to leave school, because
of headache and stomach trouble. Yesterday
queer. There is no doubt she had taken a
small quantity of the poison. but not enough
to do any harm. The servant had a provi-
dental escape, for the chocolate drop she
took was perhaps the only piece In the box
that did not contain poison. 1t is said that
the strychnine crystals can bo plainly
seen. AS in the case of the confectionery
sent to Mr.. Deinstadt, a hole was made in
some Of the pieces and the poison inserted.
Some time after Mr.. Hay had secured the
box of candy, Mr.. Shaw called on the chief
Of police and stated that he had not read the
morning papers and was unaware. until in
formed by friends. OF the terrible crime that
had been attemuted. Had he known Of Mrs.
Macrae's death from poisoned candy he
would have placed his box at the disposal Of
the proper authorities.
The handwriting, as seen upon the fatal
package received by DR.. Macrae. Is almost
like copper plate In its regularity, and there
are some who think they see in 1t evidence
that woman's guilty hand held the pen.
The parties to whom the packages were adj
dressed are naturally inclined to be reticent
since the inquest, the avenue for public in
formation, has Dot yet been held. There was
feeling, however, expressed by several cltl-
zens last evening, that the public should
know as much as possible about the case.
Some persons having information were wary
of imparting 1t while investi0ns were pend
ing:
was about three and One-half inches square
and about tnree-fourths of an inch in depth.
1t contained about a dozen pieces of candy,
and it is belived that all the pieces were COM
pletely saturated with poison. A caramel
which was among the confectionery gave
evidence Of having been tampered with.
1t is understood that all the Protestant
been warned against packages by mail and
especially about any kind of confectionery
which they might receive in this way. The
mystery has given rise to all sorts Of reports
and rum0rs as to the origin and extent, and
many persons recall the fact that during last
winter the whole of Canada was startled by
reports Of the terrible poisoning cases at
Galt Toronto and other cities In Ontario.
In these cases, as In the present one, victims
were selected and poisoned candy mailed to
them. The relatives of the victims and the
detectives who were set to work were utterly
unable to discover any definite reason for
the murderOus plan, and 1t seems that st.
John now has case equally as mysterious.
All that appeaps as basis for establishing
theory Is the fact that Protestant clergy
men, a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist
and Church Of England minister. received
boxes. In one case the plan worked too
we'll and fatal results followed.