The evening world., 1890-04-17
Young Norman Almost Killed With
Doses Of CrOtOn Oil.
His Mother Arrested on the Charge Of
Administering II,
An Insurance Mortgage on His Life
Said to be the Motive.
r,rrc1AI 70 TIVE EVENING wonrn I

T.. Vandegrift, a ~well-kuown resident OF this
town. was arrested at her elegant residence
on East Broad street this morning, and
taken to the County Court, at Mount Holly.
to answer an indictment charging her with
attempting to murder her son. Frank G.
Norman, by poisoning him with croton oil.
The alleged crime was first discovered by
DIR. Walter T.. Hall. the family physician.
who was called to attend the young man two
weeks ago.
He found him suffering from what he at
first supposed was bowel complaint, and
treated him accordingly, but at each sue
ceeding visit found the young man growing
weaker and weaker.
Tho case puzzled the physician. who
finally diagnosed it as croton oil poisoning.
During all the time the sick man was be-
ing nursed and fed by his mother. who
seemed devoted to hin.
DR.. Hall called DIR. j. Howard Hugh and
DR.. Franklin Gaunt IN consultation, and
they conceded in his view, that young Nor
man was dying from slow poison.
They did not say anything to Mrs. Van
degrift. but made their suspicion known to
Public Prosecutor c. Budd, and he detailed
men to watch the woman.
The detectives saw her visit drug stores at
intervals, and once witnessed her purchas-
ing croton oil. More frequently her favor
ite maid. Berenica. Kahn, went to the drug
gists and she wa several times observed
purchasing the oil.
DR.. Hall and the public prosecutor then
became convinced that the mother was
surely. but slowly, killing her " son.
He Is twenty-four years old and has always
been noted for his love for his mother,
To make assurance dOubly sure one drug
gist was ordered TO substitute something
else for croton oil the next time it was called
for by Mrs. VandegrIft or her maid,
He did "a. Immediately q marked i'm
provement was observed In the sick mans
condition.
Croton oil is an intensely irritating poison,
m leaves little or no trace alter 1t has
Young Norman. was taken i'll last April,
and when DR.. Hall was called to attend him,
he was on the brink Of the grave.
degTift. the sTthoritiss felt obliged to
move slowly in tine matter.
Since the death of her husband she has
posed az a sorrow-stricken widow and turned
her attention to church matters.
She became q leading member OF the
Broad Street Methodist Church. and gained
renown a. n dispenser OF charity. She was
a wealthy woman.
Prosecutor Budd discovered on Tuesday.
what may be considered as n motive for
her alleged crime. in the shape of an insur-
ance mortgage for S28. 900 on her SOM
life which would revert 10 her at hiR death.
He then learned that at the death of her
s I 8 to IN nav is of lb inf ie MAS S SDtie sbe 10 so fI the
money through the United Security, Life In
surance and Trust, Company, OF Pennsy!-
yania, which issued a mortgage on her sons
life for NJ equal amount.
At his death. his insurance would cover
the loan and leave her property free from
any encumbrance.
handsome, and does not seem 10 be more
than thirty years old, although she admits
being forty-hve.
her yesterday she was placed under surveil-
Ance
Since Thursday DIR. Hall has thrown away
ooked after him himself until Tuesday,
he brought a trained nurse from Phila-
with the result that young Norman
began TO improve rapidly.
His mother was not permitted to 20 near
He asked why. and when told became
Il i a iioT lie declared at first, but
authorities were placed in his possession,
ie began to doubt, and spent the greatest
part Of his line moaning, Oh, could she?
This morning he insisted on accompany
her to the County Court House. She
vas permitted to sleep at home last night,
Mitchell and his deputy, Ed Tillinghast,
Themselves at the house aud
howed their warrant for her arrest.
She displayed wonderful s~elf-control and
my asked time to attire herself for the
Ourney.
She robed herself in a gown of the latest :
Few York fashion and swept out of the
Youse, leaning on the arm Of her son, who
as so far recovered since the poison has |
cen stopped that he is able to he about.
The party entered carriages y drove to
rOwd Was III front of the house when the
risoner and her escort left. and they
Dotted and Missed as the carriage drove
Mrs. Vanderbilt smiled, but paid no
lIthsr attention 70 the angry mob.
! Bal Tiii be required for her sPPearaaso
Ill spend tonight in the county Jail at '
Iount Holly. Her maid may also be locked Il
p with her as an accessory oTa witness. 5
nee 1879, Previous to that she resided in @
Philadelphia, where her reputation was that Z
I an adventures She c aims TO have been y
IArried to a cattle king named Norman, the 1,
LtheT OF the young mAn she - now accused u
l trying to kill.
What became OF Norman is not known,
ut subsequent to his death or disappear
zee. she spent one or more terms in Moya-
ensing Prison accused OF larceny. X
During a certain trial held here in 1854, n
which she was a witness, Philip Rudolph, -
member OF the south Ward Methodist I
.urch. in Philadelphia, testified that Mrs. d
AndegTitt had once sued him to recover
o, 600 damages for defamation of chArac- a
n. but when the case came to trial she was l
prison OH u charge OF stealing a watch y
i'd the snit against him Was dismissed. y
lust now she met Joseph NandegTift is
II known. He WAS one OF the oldest resi-
.nts IN Burlington, aud has two sons By
= first wife, now living on Pearl street.
IL is sAid that they never recognized L
~stepmother. He was quite an old man ;,
he bTOughther back from Philadelphia n
the second Mrs. NAndegrin- Il
He died three years ago, leaving an estate Il
lued. At 500, 900, OF which his wife got a
le-thiTd- -
the children got the rest but Mrs. Yande-
lift put ia tao little claims OF 81. 900 each
the estate. The case never vent 20
urt, -
incident In Mrs. Vandegrift's life here n
Is q charge she once brought against q q
Jung man named IA Sewer, whom she ii
cused OF trying TO urn her with yitFiOl.
2 denied the charge, and Was not found n
AZ the time Of her husbands death. il was
ID Vt his taking on was rather sud-
NJ aud whiEperings OF pOisnning were
which are becoming louder nOH and
, body mas bs exhumed Tor examination.
llrA. fandegriH admits having purchased N
oton oil recently, but claims that she used q
remove . corn, bhe refused to shOW II
. Hall The alleged corn. though and her e