Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-02-19
E. Reynolds
A HEINoUS CRIME /!
Daniel Huffman Accuses
His Wife Of Poison
ing His Son.
A DIVORCE SUIT THAT WILL IN
ALL PROBABILITY
BRING TO LIGHT A DAsTARDLY
MURDER.

In the last term of Henry County Common
Pleas Court a petition was filed by Sarah
Huffman for divorce and alimony from her
husband, Daniel Hoffman of Pleasant town
ship. In her petition she alleges that Daniel
Huffman has been guilty Of extreme cruelty
and gross neglect; that he has beaten her,
threatened to break her neck and violently
kicked her and her children from the house
on dark and rainy night; that he Falsely
and malicIously accused her of poisoning his
16 year old son, who died last August; that
she has household goods aggregating the
value of $3.50, which came to her by her first
husband and which the defendant has in his
possession; that the defendant has personal
property in implements, etc., amounting to
$4,000 and real estate valued at 5000; and
that, considering the above, she asks and
prays alimony for the support of herself and
children. Her attorneys are Hill & Hubbard
of Defiance. a
In the defendants answer he denies all the
allegations set forth in her petition save that
he accused her of poisoning his 16-year old
son. Harris & Cameron of Defiance are his
attorneys.
The case was continued until next term OF
court and the lawyers agreed upon $50 per
month temporary alimony for the support oi
herself and children. This, Huffman was dis.
satisfied with, and in order to avoid the pay
ment of the same and also vindicate himself
for his accusations relative to his sons death
resolved to sift the matter to the bottom
He came to Napoleon and employed DR.
Shoemaker, who had the body exhumed anG
the stomach removed. It was sent to Anr
Arbor and submitted to a chemical analysis
by experts, who reported that
SIX AND ONE HALF GRAINS OF ARSENIC
were found in this organ, much lesi
amount of which is sufficient to cause death
The neighbors have for some time suspic
ioned foul play. Directly after the sons de
mise his step-mother was noticed to act yer,
queerIy, which, in connection with the Pc
culiar death suffered by the deceased, wal
sufficient to at once arouse suspicious. Tht
belief that the step-mother maliciously ant
wilfully poisoned the son has bsen steadil!
gaining credence, and letters have been re
ceived from neighbors urging that the cast
be investigated. 1t is reported that the wo
man OBJ hearing that an investigation was il
progress, hastily departed to parts unknown
The house has been searched and nothing
found but a yellowish powder, which upoi
being given toa dog resulted in the instan
death of the brute. 1t was brought to DR.
Shoemaker, who upon examination and ana
lysis, found no poisonous ingredients.
The neighbors, and those who are acquaint
ed with Mrs. Huffman are eager to have he
apprehended, and claim that she can not un
dergo a cross examination without criminal
ing herself.
The only way the arsenic could find its wa,
in the stomach otherwise than alleged by Mr
Huffman, is by embalming the body; an,
this, it it is claimed, had not been done.
The case will be rapidly pushed and justio
meted out to the guilty or guilty ones.