The Indianapolis journal., 1890-01-22
POISONING OF MRS. PETIT
The Case Given a New and Unexpected
Turn by the TippecanOe Grand Jury.
Her Husband, Rev. w. T. Petit, and Mrs. Elma
Whitehead, Respected Widow, Indicted
for Murder in the First Degree.
Special to the indianapolis Journel

Special the indianapolis JourneL
LAFAYETTE. Ind, Jan. 21.-Exctement in
the Petit case was increased this morning
by the announcement that the grand jury of
this county had reported two indictments
for murder in the first degree-one against
Rev. w. Fred Petit and the other against
Mrs. Elma c. Whitehead. Mrs. Petit, wife
of the accused, died on the 18th of July
last. with all the symptoms of poison by
strychnine. There began to be much
talk in the neighborhood. and some
Of the people there thought the husband
aud Mrs. Whitehead, who was a member of
his congregation, were too friendly. A
thousand rumors were in circulation in
short time, and every day made them worse
and more numerous. The remains of Mrs.
Petit were taken to West Monroe. n. Y,
for interment, and to this place, o few
county and doctor, who eAbumed the
body and removed portion thereof for
chemical analysis. The latter revealed the
presence of strychnine, and the husband
was arrested, charged with poisoning his
wife. He entered q pronounced plea of not
guilty, and after two days preliminary
hearing the justice offered to release him on
$4,000 bail. This he never furnished, and
has since remained in Jail.
the case for two weeks and over, anu con-
cluded its labOrs by returning bills against
Petit and Mrs. Whitehead. the woman
who was, last week, before the grand jury,
and refused to answer whether or not she
and Petit had ever talked about marriage,
either after OF before the death Mrs. Petit.
She declined to answer on the ground that
such reply might criminate herself. The
grand jury afterwara excused her from con-
tempt saying they did not care whether
shao rad fha raaf- M ,nt yx-eu
excused by the court. Her indictment fol-
lowed few hours later.
The death of Mrs Petit occurred on the
18th of July last. She had returned to her
Saturday she had cleaned up their resi-
dence, in which she had scattered strych-
nine with which to kill rats and mice.
Saturday night she was feeling badly.
Sunday she was worse, and on Sunday
afternoon she had conyulsions. doctor
arrived, whom she told to treat her for
strychnine poison. He gave her antidOtes.
and she improved, the convulsions ceased.
and she was mending until Tuesday morn
ing following, when they returned. The
doctor gave antidotes again, and she again
grew better. Wednesday morning early
she grew worse. and convulsions returned
A consultation of doctors was had. but the
patient continued TO grow worse, dying
about noon of Wednesday. In one of the
paroxysms Mrs. Petit tore several of her
teeth from her mouth. so terrible were her
sufferings at the time.
The theory of the State at the prelimi-
nary examination was that strychnine was
given TO Mrs Petit in repeated doses, not
enough to kill at the outset bat gradually
increased. as shown by the return of the
cOnvulsions. The case has excited the ut
most interest. not only In this county, but
throughout the country. This Is partly
due to the hOrribleness of the accusation
against man who had stood well in the
Methodist ministry, and partly from the
fact that Petit is one of the prominent
Masons of Indiana, having been elected
grand prelate at the last session of the
Knights Templars of Indiana. He was ar
rested at Columbus, o., several weeks ago,
where he was employed by book concern.
At the time of his arrest he had OH the
lapel of his coat badge. on which were
the words. Private Detective
Mrs Whitehead, who is indicted with
him, was a friend of the family. She was
at the Petit home during the illness of
Mrs. Petit, and aided in caring for her.
She is widow. her husband having been a
Methodist preacher. She is about thirty
nine years old. and is possessed of consid-
erable means. Her father is David Meharry.
one of the early settlers. and one of the
respected citizens of the county. He Is also
well of. Petit has already retained John
r. Coffroth, Il. A. Stuart, X. II. DeHart ana
A. l.. kumler TO defend him. and 1t Is prob
able that the same law firms will be en-
ployed by Mrs. Whitehead. Mrs White
head takes her arrest. upon so atrocious a
crime, very calmly. and has been consigned
Go the woman's department of the county
jail. The arrest and indictments have been
the topic of conversation all day. the arrest
"a hair n lAa fn