Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-25
ENOUGH TO KILL 100.
Remarkable Testimony Given by the
Analytical Chemists in
THE STEWART POISONING CASE.
Contradictory Stories About Who Made the
Fatal Soup.
WILLIE WILL MATCH PENNIES In JAIL

The McKeesport poisoning case is none
the less mystery at the conclusion OF the
inquest than it was before the testimony was
taken. Coroner Mcdowell, however, de-
cided to hold the boy, William Stewart, for
court on charge of numbering his 4-year-
old brother James, while the sister. Agnes,
was discharged. The evidence taken to-day
was rather startling.
Captain A. E. Hunt and George H.
Clapp, the analytical chemists, gave the
results OF analysis of the soup and the
stomach of the dead boy and its contents. A
long vial was produced, holding less than
quart Of the soup. The arsenic, which was
plainly visible, had settled as sediment in
the bottom of the glass, and the
chemists declared that it contained
nearly two ounces of the deadly poison,
enough to kill over 100 persons. The stomach
of the child contained sufficient arsenic to
poison a dozen persons. The chemists de-
clared that it would be almost impossible
for such quantity of poison to get into the
soup in an accidental manner. Captain
Hunt In speaking of rough on rats, said that
its promiscuous sale should be prohibited
under heavy penalties, as it contained from
"a to 9S per cent of arsenic.
THE SOUP MEAT FRESH.
William F. Weise, who sold the meat of
which the soup was made, testified that the
animal was killed in his slaughter house, and
that the meat was perfectly fresh and healthy.
John b. Edie, the druggist, who testified on
Monday that he SOLD rough on rats to Wlli,
lam, said that on Tuesday Mrs. Stewart called
upon him in regard to his evidence, and told
him, in a very emphatic manner, that to re:
member that it was matter between him and
his God, and also to remember that he was
talking about her son, Mr.. Edie told her he
was positive that he sold the rough on rats to
William.
Mrs. Mary Campbell and Mrs Hannah Slater
are neighbors of the Stewarts. The former
mourns the loss of six and the latter of seven
chickens that are supposed to have been pois-
oned by some of the soup thrown into vacant
lot. Mrs. Campbell testified that Mrs. Stewart
said her daughter Agnes made the soup, while
to Mrs. Slater Mrs. Stewart said she made the
soup herself
Haynes Stewart. the child who was under ar
rest for completely IN the poisoning, said she
dId not know how old she was. She purchased
the meat and took it home. Her mother put
the pot on the stove and the witness put in the
meat and onions. Her mother complained
about the smell of the soup while it was cook
ing and her brother William refused to eat 1t
because it looked as if made from rain water.
The water had been brought from spring.
Her little brother James, who died, could not
eat the soup because it was too hot, but ate
considerable of the meat. Her mother ate
little of the soup and was very sick. The wit
ness had heard no quarrel between her mother
and Willie nor had she whipped him. She had
not heard her mother tell Willie to buy rough
on rats, and did not know what it was.
THE MOTHERS TESTIMONY.
Mrs. Jeanette Stewart, the mother of the
children, had seen no rough on rats around the
house either before or since the poisoning.
Willie refused to eat the soup because il looked
black. He had not been near the soup while it
was being cooked, and she had not told him to
purchase any rough on rats. She had not quar-
relied with Willie, who was good boy, and
brought home his wages, 50 cents day. She
had occasionally given him money to 60 to
baseball game.
DR.. w. b. Taylor, the attending physician,
was the last witness. He said that he was called
to the Stewart house on Friday night. He
found Mrs. Stewart complaining of severe
pains. such as would attend arsenical poison
ing. but he found none of the usual symptoms.
She was free from the cold perspiration which
This was his experience of arsenlcal poisoning,
but he was we'll read on the subject.
The Coroner decided to release Agnes. against
whom there seemed to be little evidence, but
William was remanded to Jail, and the inquest
was adjourned until Saturday. When Willie
was told he must return to Jail he commenced
cold, perfunctory manner and declared that
she would believe her boy innocent until his
guilt was proven. The family showed but lit
tie emotion, and Willie soon dried his tears.
AN EYE TO BUSINESS.
Willie was taken to the county jail by Coro-
ner's Clerk Miller. Some one had given the
boy a quarter, and on the way down from Nc
Keesport he asked Mr.. Miller to get it changed
into pennies. He was asked what he wanted
pennies for, and replied: "Oh, PIl play heads
and tails with the fellows in the jail, and 1'll
beat 'em, too." He was given the pennies. and
went to Jail contentedly.
McKeesport considerably excited over the
case. and the general feeling Is that the mys-
terry has not yet been solved.