Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-20
A MYSTERIOUS CASE.
THE POLICE UNABLE ToLEARN WHO
SENT THE POISONED CANDY.
Mrs. Redd and the Other Victims In
proving-They Say They Have No
Enemies-A Suspect.

The condition of Mrs. f. d. Redd, Miss
Mary Waddey, and the other four victims
OF the poisoned candy which was sent
Thursday to No. 2l2 east Clay street, was
greatly improved yesterday.
The police have used every endeavor 10
trace the sender of the anonymous pack
age, but this is On exceedingly difficult
thing to do, and so far they have been un-
able 10 gain any information which throws
positive light upon the mystery.
lhe box, So the pOst-oftice officials say,
was mailed Wednesday afternO0n-tOO late 20 oe
delivered that day. II was wrapped in MANILA
paper and had four twO-cent stamps upon It
disc.
WAS WELL ADVISED.
This seems 20 indicate that the person who
mailed tho package was either familiar with the
postal laws or asked information from some per-
son on the subject. II the sender did the latter
there may possibly be some light thrown upon
the matter. provided his or her informant re-
members the circumstance
What appears to indicate that the malicious
Ohen1cr was a person Of reduced circumstances
and little education Is the fact that the writing
was miserable, while the box was Of the kind
used Tor soap, and had no top but simply strip
Of pasie-board answering that purpose.
The package was addressedtO Mrs. Red hut
ply Of the address indicates that II was written
by a child OF a negro.
PUZZLED TIE CAPTAIN.
Captain Angle, in conversation with DISPATCH
reporter yesterday afternoon, said that he con-
sidered the case q mystery. / do not see how
negro could have gotten 40 much arsenic" said
he, for druggists do not sell It unless they have
written Ordeg from physicians
He showed the reporter some OF the fruit and
u seemed TO be filled with the deadly powder.
A. al fNlVs farHfF
as apricots, figs, and plums and these had been
sliced open and the arsenic inserted in them.
From Of the nCisiOns In the fruit the pol
son slipped out when examined. and Il seems
strange that the package did not excite some
suspicion when opened by Mrs. Redd. In fact,
the candy did not appear very palataole when
the newspaper-man inspected IT, but this may
have been caused by the fact that he knew "
was well filled with arsenic.
"Is the powder in the candy arsenic or Rough
| on Batsf" asked the reporter.
" II Is undoubtedly arsenic replied Captain
| Angle. 81 have had IL examined and the ply
| sician says 80. Rough on Rats has some mixture
| In it which gives il grayish color
| Mrs. Redd and the other persons In the house
] where the candy was sent say they have no enc
| mics, and therefore do not know who could have
| sent the package.
A DISCHARGED SERVANT.
short while ago Mrs. Rcdd discharged n col
ored woman who was her laundress but this
| severance OF the lltter's connection with the
| la4y was not DrOught ABOUT IN n ulbhBI'thnl'
way. Captain Angle wenttO see the woman yes
ter lay and questioned her closely. She Of course
denied all knowledge of the candy, and certainly
seemed innocent. She said her relations with
| Mrs. Redd had always been very pleasant, and
| that she had nothing whatever against her
| II IA positively known that the woman ls un-
| able 20 write. She is said to lave very violent
| temper.
An intimate friend Of the family who was
visiting at the house n few days before the pack
| nge was received remarked Just before leaving
! tt7t he would bring some candy when he came
| again. So far as known this was not overheard
/ by any outsider, and perhaps would never have
been thought OF again had not candy been the IN
| s'rument OF malice used by tho unknown nend.
| II b. possible that the remark was overheard and
| that some cvil-mindcd persona negro, 10 IS
| tl0leht-C0nceiyoi the idea that The use Of candy
would give rise to the theory Of accidental poison
! ihg.
! A GENEROUS LADY,
! Tho reporter asked Captain Angle how Il was
! that so many In the family managed 20 get u
/ piece Of tho candy when the quantity received
/ Bas comparatively small.
"Mrs. Redd Is an exceedingly generous lady,
! was the reply, " and she always remembers even
| hcr servants when she receives something nice
/ 70 eat
! The polcehavc visited number Of drugstores,
| but have only found whore two sales OF arsenic
/ have been registered within The last few days.