Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-26
DID SHE POISON HINT
The BEGINNING OF the Trial OF Mrs.
Tayior-A Mistaks.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l

Especial telegram TO the Dbpatch.l
OyAHCOcK via TAsLBY, VA, March %
in spite OF the weeping skies and muddy
roads an immense crowd assembled At Acco-
mack court to-day TO witness the opening OF
the trial OF Mrs. Taylor for killing her hus'
band. Long before the case was called the
courtroom was so densely packed that thcto
was not one foot Of empty stsDding-room.
Mrs. Taylor was brought in by Sheriff Wise
about 1 O'Clock. She was clothed in deep
mourning and showed no signs OF emotion
or uneasiness.
The indictment having been read at the
February term OF the court the WORK OF i'm
panelling the Jury was proceeded with, aud
by O'Clock the required number had been
OBTAINED, consisting Of the following: VIII
liam j. Sbarpley, Arthur Il. Colonna, Will
liam Il. Nspp. L. w. Hopkins, George +.
Davis, w. :. Bundlck, Robert ;. Milliner,
Gilbert j. Mears, George NJ. Bond, n. +.
Walter, and Thomas b. James.
The Commonwealth Attorney opened the
case for the prosecution, and Hon. John
Nicely msde brief statement Of the case for
the defence. Mrs. Taylor shook her head
violently when the Common wealth's Attorney
alluded to her alleged criminal intimacy with
James Dix alias Townsend, the young man
who was employed on the farm by Mrs. lay
lor's husband.
The first witness called was DR.. John r.
Bowdoir, who visited Tsylor euce during
his Illness. He stated that he found the pa.
tient suffering from sick stomach, repeated
vomiting, and slight commissions somewhat
similar TO those observed 10 tetsnus. lie
could not diagnose the disease, but did not 1T
the time regard IL Is dangerous. lie gave
the sick man some morphine pilis, went
away, and did not return.
DIR. John w. BoWdOin, who was TsyloTs
family physician and who attended him du-
ring his illness, was the next witness. lie
was sent for to visit Taylor on the night OF
the 18th OF last December; found him
suffering from slight spssms, which were
increased whenever any one made noise or
touched him. Taylor told the Doctor that
his wife had given him dose Of household
panacea. The Doctor did not think bis sick
ness dangerous hut could not tell what 10
WAS. He asked Taylor II he had hurt him
self, thinking he might have t6tanus.
TAYLOR said he had not hurt hun
self. The Doctor remained for several
hours, during which Taylor had four or five
slight commissions. Taylor said: "Doctor.
I am worse or than you think. i could not
get ont Of this bed II the house were on fire.
/ have no use OF my legs" Taylor had a
very severe CONFUSION before The Doctor ar
rived. He had another on the following
morning, when the elder Doctor Bowdoin
was called in. The Doctor called again
ThuisdSy night aud found the patient COM
paratiyey easy. At this point the court ad-
iourned till tomorrow morning, and Mrs.
Taylor, who bad been occupying seat
within the bar near to her counsel was
taken back 10 jail.
There are about twenty-five witnesses yei
to be examined, and it is said some new facts
will be brought to light.
The report telegrspbed from here to the
effect that Mrs. McCresdy, who was as
ssulted some time ago by the negro Ma
gruder Fletcher, bad died OF her Injuries Is
\ mistake. She IS, however, very Ill.