The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-05-15
JIM WALKER
Poiscns Col. Gartrell's Family by Put
ting Rough ON Rats In their Coffee.

Tom Voolfolk wiped out of existence ,
whole family by the use of a bloody axe il
Bib county. Jim Walker, copper col
orea negro boy, attemptee.to Slaughter I
whole family in Cobb county by the use O
trough on rats. s3a NJ bHs fti5
Woolfork was successful, but Walker
was not, but it was not his fault.
Who is Jim Walker? He is a negro boy
about ls years old. His mother, Sallie
Walker, lives in Marietta. Jim had violat
ed the law by carrying concealed pistol
Col. John o. Gartrell paid the fine impos>
ed by Judge Gober at the last term 81
Cobb Superior Court Jim Walker agreed
to work nine months for Col. Gartrell on
his farm to repay him for his Kindness in
keeping him out of the changing.
Jim had worked two months and then
concluded he was tired of his bargain
How to end his contract was the question.
BE concluded that he would accomplish
that desired result by ending the lives Of
Col. Gartrel and his family. Jim resort
ed to rough on rats, and put the same in q
tea kettle Of coffee. As consequence. Of
this, last Wednesday morning week, Col.
Gartrell, his four daughters and two sons
drank OF this coffee and were poisoned and
Jim found himself behind the iron cell Of
the jail.
Or. N. N. Gober ministered to the fami.
ly and they are out Of danger, but jim
Walker is not out Of danger of serving q
term in the penitentiaryo an.ass4 qf7
He was brought before Justice G. U
Winn last Monday morning for trial. Col
J. 2. Foster appeared as prosecutor. i
was developed on the trial that three week.
ago Jim Walker had tried to buy arsenic q
Crosby's drug store and was refused. 6 Ii,
was accompanied by little negro boy
about l3 years old, who worked with hin
for Col Gartrell. His name is Charlie.
Smith and his mother lives in Mariett,
also. Charlie Smiths testimony was il
substance that Walker asked him to com,
to town with him on last Tuesda,
night to see his mother. - He say
that Walker rode the mare, which
was in fold. He walked and overtool
Walker at Browns park, where the mar
was hitched. he visited his mother an
then when be got ready to return he calle
at Jim Walkers mothers house and Jir
responded and they returned to Col. Gar
trells together. That Jim led the mar,
and turned her into the lot. and she die
from hard riding and beating. He say
he saw Jim pour rough on rats in the tea
kettle, and Jim told him if he told on hir
he would shoot him with pistol he hac
He said he was goiRg to poison Col. Gar
trell and his son Joe, and then he wonldn'
have to work any more, for when the
were dead he wouldn't care for the womel
folks. He said he told Miss Annie Cartel
about the matter the day tie coffee wa
used
The entire family wss made sick, suffer
ing from pains in the stomach, weakness
and vomiting, which Frustrated them all
Mr.. Joe Gartrell was taken sick in tn
field and it was with great difficulty h
could get back to the house. 1t effec te,
them like cholera morbus, and it was ap
pretended at one time that Miss Lizzi
would die, but she is now better, as
the entire family, although they are still
under medical treatment.
Walker in his statement denied visiting
the drug store at the time charged o
buying any poison, but DR.. John Greer
who was in Crosby's drug store at the tim
he called for arsenic, identified him. 1t i
true he did not get any arsenic, becaus
drug stores are not allowed to sell it to il
responsible parties, but rough on rats,
can be bought at any drug store, Their
being no law against its sale to anyone
1t is not known where he obtained il
Walker had no witnesses and his statemen
but tended to confirm the charge tha
he was guilty. So thought Judge VIM
and he bound Walker over in a bond @
$4,000, and then placed Charley Smitl
under bond for his appearance as witnes
at Cobb Superior Court.
Walker lanpuisbes in iail.