Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-29
A BOY IN THE BOX.
WILLIE STEWART ON TRIAL ON
CHARGE OF MURDER.

Testimony That He Bought Rough on Rnfs-
The Poisoned Soup and the Meat of
which it Was Made-The Case With
the Jury.
William Stewart, Jr., a 15-year-old boy
of McKeesport, was placed on trial before
Judge Collier yesterday on charge of muir
der. The death that led the Coroner's jury
to hold the boy for court occurred April 10
last at McKeesport. On April Is the en-
tire Stewart family was taken sick, i'm
mediately after eating some soup, with the
one exception of the defendant. He
had not tasted the soup. On the
day following the sickness James, a
6year-old brother of the defendant, died. An
investigation and post mortem examination
were made, and the childs body showed the
presence of arsenical poisoning. A pint of the
soup was analyzed and a large quantity OF
arsenic was found in it also. II was learned at
the inquest that the defendant had purchased
a box of rough on rats from John b. Edie,
druggist at McKeesport, the day before, and
on this circumstance the boy was held Tor
court.
morning session being taken up in securing,
jury. District Attorney Johnston. assisted by
o. P. Scaife, Jr., represented the Common
wealth, and Thomas NJ. Marshall. Jr.. and Hon.
lor was the first witness called. He related
that on April Is he was called to attend the
Stewart family. all of whom, with the excep-
old member of the family, died the following
day. and post mortem examination was held,
disclosing the facts that the child's stomach
and intestines were infamed and had all the
indication of arsenical poisoning. The witness
gave his opinion that the child died from tax
ing that drug.
g. H. Clapp, chemist, was the next witness.
He testified that bottle containing pint of
soup was sent to him by the Coroner to be
anslyzed This was DONE and the soup was
found to contain considerable arsenic. The
witness further stated that rough on rats con-
tanned 20 per cent of arsenic.
.John b. Edle testified that thaStewart fam
lily purchased nearly all of their drugs from
him, and that on April Is boy whom he is
positive was William Stewart bought a box of
rough on rats from him, stating that it was for
Mrs. Stewart who desired to kill mice.
Agnes Stewart and Mrs. Stewart, the sister
and mother of the defendant, testified that
William worked in the pipe mill on night turn;
that ne came home about $3.50 O'Clock A. M. on
April IL, had his breakfast, and then went to
bed and was called about o'clock in the after
noon. On the afternoon of that day the wit
ness had been out; had purchased some meat
from Wise's butchershop. and had taken it
home to make soup. Mrs. Stewart prepared
the meat and put it in the Kettle with some
spring water. Agnes Stewart seasoned
the soup and left it to boil. Both
were IN tne room When william was called, and
did not believe he had been out of the bed
which is in the kitchen, during the afternoon.
When the soup was ready to be eaten William
refused to partake of it or of the meat, saying
that 1t looked black as if it had been boiled in
rain water. The other, members of the family
partook of it, and Immediately became sick,
and James died on the following day.
W. F. Wise and his brothers, James. Charles
and John, all of whom are partners in the
butcher business at McKeesport, were sworn.
None of them recalled having sold the Stew
arts any meat on April Is. They testified, how
ever, that the meat they had on that day was
good. and that they never kept rough on rats
about the store.
The prosecution here rested. The defendant
was placed upon the stand. He testified that
he had not bought box of rough on rats at
Edie's drugstore, and that he put nothing in
the soup. The rest of his testimony was
similar to that given by his mother and sister.
A large number of character witnesses testi-
fed to the good reputation borne by the de-
fendant as hardworking boy. Court then
adjourned until the evening, when counsel on
both sides made brilliant arguments, the Judge
charged the jury impartiallv and the jury re-
tired, but at 1870, having reached no verdict.
court adjourned till this morning.