The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-27
An Almost Forgotten Crime.

hh htluVob OiSugVVh SiihO'
In Captain Basil Halls account of
his travels inlthe United States, in 1881,
he refers to the murder OF DIR. Will
liam Chapman, of Bensalem, now an
almost forgotten crime as follows.
'In Captain Basil Halls account of
his travels in the Uuited States in
1881 he refers TO a murder trial in
progress near Philadelphia as creating
marked sensation throughout the
entire country. This was the case Of
Mrs. Chapman accused Ct taking the
life of her husband by poison. The
details, as brought out in the trial, are
strange and sensational in the highest
degree.
"Mrs. Chapman was the wife of
William Chapman, well known and
highly-respected school-master, who
kept boarding house at Andalusia, in
Bucks county. He was especially sue
cessful in treating children who had i'm
pedimeuts of speech and many of his
scholars were of this class. His wife's
maiden name was Wins,ow and she
was a New Euglander by birth. Pre-
vious to her marriage to Mr.. Chap
man she had been a teacher in
Madame LIE Bruins Ladies' school on
Spruce street, Philadelphia, and had
an excellent reputation. On the 10Th
of May 1881, Mr.. Chapman and his
family were seated on the porch of
their dwelling at Andalusia when a
small, dark man, very shabbily dressed,
came into the yard and in broken Eng
lish asked for something to eat. Chap
man was kindly in disposition and
gave largely in charity and he order
ed the man into the kitchen, where he
got a good meal. He then asked per-
mission to sleep in the house that
| night stating that he was penniless.
"Mr. Chapman seems to have dis
trusted him, but, to the surprise of all,
his wife took part in the discussion by
insisting that the tramp should be per-
mitted to stay, and he entered the
house into which he was fated to bring
double crime. Mrs Chapman seemed
to be infatuated with the man, al
though to others he was a fawning,
abiect creature. lie gave his name as
Limo Amalio Esposy Nina aud stated
that his father was Governor of Cali
fornia aud his wealth enormous. So
contradictory were his statements and
so palpable his lies that those who
came in contact with HIM al once set
him down as an impostor, but Mrs
Chapman championed him and, having
command over her husband, got hin
to advance money for suit of clothes
She personally accompanied him tt
James Pages, at Sixth and Chestnut
Street. where he was measured for al
expensive outfit. Page wrote t.
Chapman to be on his guard as he be
lIeyed the Mexican was scoundrel
He was now an inmate of the famil,
and his relations with Mrs. Chapman
began to create scandal. They wen
: out riding together and were seen b
l the neighbors in compromising situs
tions.
, "On June 16 Nina came to thi
city and went to Durand's drug stor,
, at the Southwest corner of Chestnr
and Sixth streets, He wanted arsenl
8 for preserving bird skins, he said, au
Q was given two ounces. On the 18th
9 June, Chap nan was taken sick an
t confined to his bed. Nina nursed hir
l. but the unfortunate man grew wors
IS and on the 23d he died. The hous
keeper had noticed that some rice SOL
3 that she had made for the sick mi
3, aud which Nina had taken to
'e room, when thrown out in the va
Ie had killed number of ducks belon
y ing to neighbor, but she kept b
< own counsel. After the funeral W
g over people began to talk, and whe
on the 5th of July, twelve days aft
N her husbands death, his widow W
,e married to Nina, public suspicion |
It, gan to take the shape of a legal
ne vestigatiou.
"Mina had, Immediately after t
G. wedding, commenced to collect a
I'd sell the furniture in the house a
an Mrs. Chapmans eyes were then open
he TO the character of the scoundrel "
'c- bad misled her. Taking her four q
dren, the eldest girl Of ten, she +
tn to Erie, Pa, and here she was arrest
ed Nina escaped to Boston, but in S
ne tember he was caught and brou
M back to Doylestown.
est "Mrs. Chapman was tried first
fore Judge Fox. David Paul Bro
ia William b. Reed and Pelle Mc(
ed were her lawyers. In the trial Bro
We made the effort of his life and was
of garded thenceforth as the grea
lar criminal lawyer in the United Sta
ad After reading The evidence it seems
credible that hard-headed couu
ust jury could have acquitted the murder
ds, "ln her last letter to Nina was
the sentence: Believe me Limo, that
will not suffer you or me to be ha
in this side of the grave On the pot
us February the trial ended and
in Chapman was free, but she was 81
ing ned by all, and twelve years after
the accquittal a gentleman who knew
ely well was in the town of Lancaster
TO visited a poor variety show.
wretched looking woman and a
in thin girl were singing on the 8
his and he recognized them as Mrs. G
cir man and her daughter Lucretia,
his was her retribution.
!, "Mrna was tried and convicted
l, 1881, and was hanged in Do
ribe town. He made a confession,
ege, knc wledging that he administered
liars poison to Mr.. Chapman in his
and that Mrs. Chapman was cogn
the of all he did. He was nativ,
ex- Cuba and was born in 1909. DO
own tOaon Demacrdt.
t on
nlb Under the Small of n Snake,