The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-13
WAS SHE A BORGIA?
A REPORTERS ADVENTURE.
4~EENRT O. COLLINS.
IWR111EN FOR THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT. !


One afternoon in the fall of 1886 was
coming out of the postoftice of city IN
western state when my attention was
attracted to woman seated in buggy,
xhich was drawn close to the sidewalk.
The reins we're held lightly in her left hand,
md in her right she held a small paper par
,el. / do not know what attracted my
,ttention to the woman, unless it was that /
snew the rig which belonged to one of the
eading physicians of the city. I finished
.eadinp short letter / had received and
lad started up street, when looking up
Jaw the owner of the rig step into the
buggy, take the reins from the woman's
,and and drive off. I thought nothing
more about the occurrence, started to my
breakfast Il was then a reporter on morn
ng paper) and had gone about four blocks
When I came across the woman again,
eated in the buggy. She was alone as
when I first noticed her. Mechanically
ooking up saw that she was in front OF
he residence of celebrated chemist,
riend of mine. naturally began to think
# the business of the doctor with the chem
st. NV long training received in my re-
Darches for news naturally led me to keep
ny eyes open.
/ went to breakfast and my thoughts con-
;inually reverted to the visit of the doctor
% the chemist, and determined to make a
sail upon the latter, to try and ascertain
Why the doctor had called upon him.
/ called upon the chemist.
"Are you making any experiments for DIR.
J. ?" asked.
"Yes.' he replied. 1.-TWO days ago the
loctor came here with small powder,
which, he said. was the residuum found in
1 glass of milk, which patient of his had
trunk and which had made him sick. The
milk was condensed milk. and the doctor
vas afraid that it was impure. He wished
ne to analyze it and did SO. He came to-
lay after the result
"What did you find, lead?''
"No; arsenic"
''What did the doctor say when you in
ormed him of your discovery"
''It ia Just what I suspected. 1t was not
condensed milk, but milk fresh from the
vas found" he said
Ibid he say anything else?"
mo, he left, hurriedly.'
Seemingly excited?''
every much SO.
"Another thing, did you know the woman
vithshim?''
II saw no woman"
I knew it was useless to pursue my in
iuiries there any farther and left. My first
hought was to call upon the doctor, but
CON abandoned that project, realizing I
ould learn nothing from him. l must find
he woman. noticed policeman stand
ne near the postoffice when came out.
will look for him. I hurried to the office,
heclzed off my assignments, and almost
an back to the policeman's beat, and met
where's Riley?'' asked.
ssTnk sick and went home.'' WAS the
acoIlic response.
Fortunately the cop knew where his
,rother officer lived and getting his address,
Jumped into cub and was soon at the
dficeT' S house. He knew the woman was
professional nurse and that her husband
vas printer. That was all. Ffhat was enough
or me. I returned to the Office and in
luired of some of the printers who were
hrowing in their cases If they knew a COM
,ositor whose wife was professional nurse.
Certainly, Dan Simpson,
procured Simpsons address, in the
uburbs Of the city, and was soon bowling
D that direction in a cab. Mrs. Simpson
vas fortunately at home.- and I was not
ong in making my errand known. She at
irst refused to talk, but. signing, she said:
night as we'll tell it, and she did tell
tory the substance of which is as follows:
'"Iwo weeks ago last Sunday Mr.. George
Wilson came to our house and hired me to
Nurse his brother, John, who was very low
With a disease that baff1ed the skill of
mploy. in fact, only two days, before l
loticed the peculiar aversion of Mr.. Will
on to his wife. He would not allow her to
vait on him. though she was continually
covering about protfering her services. DR..
J. instructed me to keep close watch upon
With other physicians, but Mr.. Wilson con-
inued to sink. One evening he asked for
lass of milk, and procured it for him. I
mixed it with little lime water and fed
i'm two or three teaspoonsful. set the
milk upon an ice chest, just outside thesick
DOM, and went into another room after
ONE linen cloths, When l returned saw
drs. Wilson standing near the ice chest
With the glass of milk in her hand.
,he set it down when she
aw me and remarked that it was hardly
DOL enough for Johns stomach. She then
GENT into the parlor and sat down where
he could see into the sick room, and sat
here for two hours, but finally went to bed.
don't know what aroused my suspicious,
nut they were aroused. I emptied the glass
+ milk carefully and was rewarded by
inding white sediment in the bottom of
he glass. I preserved it and gave it to DIR.
]. He had it analysed and found it to be
rsenic. ! secured samples of all the medi-
ines and foods used by Mr.. Wilson and
ave them to DIR. s. and he has them. They
emoved Mr.. Wilson to his brothers yester-
,ay. but too late to save his life.''
'He is dead, then?"
''He died at noon to-day"
'Does his widow know it?'
Eyes,
'sWil she be arrested?''
s.That will depend upon the autopsy"
docs she know that one is going to be
leld?''
mo: nor does the coroner, who will not
Ne notified until tomorrow morning."
l could have learned good deal more
bout the affair, but already had sufficient
make narrowing tale. Mr.. John Will
on, one of the most prominent and richest
ltlzens in the city, was dead, and his wife
,as suspected of having murdered him,
sot only this, but / was positive had
coop. SO dear to every reporters heart.
l started to the Office to write up what I
lad learned, but fancy took possession of
ne. would go out and see Mrs. Wilson,
nd Interview her if possible. ! went to
he house and was fortunate enough to find
irs. Wilson alone. She answered the ring
t the door herself and invited me into the
larlor where cosy CRATE fire was burning.
/ was low about o'clock in the evening.
The sat down upon sofa and upon a
hair close to center table, which was
lied with books and bric-a-brac. noticed
he woman closely, it being the first time I
lad ever seen her and saw a beautiful wo-
nan of voiuptuous fo'm, dazzling com
lexiep, and magnificent shaped head
rowned with wealth of dark brown hair
Jar ovas were luStrous larra .od 49,