St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-25
UN HEX SAGREU UAH.
How a Wife Saved the Life of
a Prisoner at the Cost Of
Her Own.
Startling Confession Which
Cleared UP a Sensational
Murder Mystery.
DR.. Monroe and the Part He
Played in a Tragic Drama
in Real Life.
Brought to Justice and the
Life Of an Innocent Man
Saved.

Inc criminal annals or this city pre-
sent nothing more diabolical On their
pages than TIE case of Horace CASTOR,
who had been accused of deliberately
numbering his own child. His lawyer,
Th omas Watrous, was capable man,
and firmly believed in the innocence of
his client. His case. however, was all
unpopular one to defend in consequence
of the shocking atrocity of the crime.
The popular verdict had already con-
demned his client and there was little
doubt but that the jury would go the
same way, says the New York Dispatch.
Horace CASTOR, the prisoner, had
married Mary Phillips, wealthy heir
ess whose father had died leaving her
his entire fortune, to the exclusion of a
profiigate son, whom he had disinherited
and driven from his home.
Mrs. CASTOR had died within a wear
after her marriage, leaving an infant q
few weeks old, feeble little creature.
requiring constant and aSSiduous care.
Indeed, DR.. Monroe almost took up his
quarters III the house, often passing the
night there that he might be at hand in
case of need
afterward stated in his evidence, after
retiring, feeling solicitous about his
little charge, got up and stole softly to
the nursery to see that everything was
all right.
He found the door ajar and a dim
light burning within. AS he advanced
he distinctly saw Horace CASTOR stand
ing by the cradle, holding to the child's
mouth the bottle from which it was &C
cuStOmed to receive it's food. At the
sound of the Doctors footsteps he
quickly put down the bottle, and stealth
lily left the apartment by a side EN-
trance.
Not little surprised at these move
ments, the doctor approached and laid
his hand upon the child's face.
he found it in violent commissions,
which were followed in few moments
by the stiffness of death.
post mortem examination and an
analysis of the contents of the stomach
placedit beyond doubt
That Prussic Acid
had been administered. An eXamina.
ton of the bottle, which was found
where CASTOR had placed it, was subse-
quentlY made, and the fact was dis
closed that the milk in it contained a
large quantity of the same deadly
poison.
At this evidence CASTOR was arrested
and indicted for murder, and there was
not dissenting voice as to his guilt.
An incentive tOthe crime was found i'm
the fact that, as heir TO his child, he
would have inherited the fortune which
had descended to the latter through the
death of its mother. No wonder deed
so INDUSTRIOUS, actuated by motives so
mercenary, should excite the deepest
Indignation. ha
Gaston's previous character had been
good. He had always appeared gentle
and kind; had been a devoted husband,
and during the brief period of its life
had shown the tendereSt attachment to
his child.
In the conferences which his counsel
had with him he seemed overwhelmed
with grief, but strenuously denied all
imputations Of asserting that he had not
gone to the nursery after retiring that
night till called by the alarm of the
chlld's death.
Of course his statement, in the face of
proofs SO damning, weighed but little.
His counsel had no confidence In them
himself. Still, it was in his professional
duty to see that a man on trial for his
life who had intrusted him with his
cause had every right the law accorded
him. Tho duty performed, the lawyer
felt that his conscience would be clear,
whatever the result.
1t would be tedious to dwell on the
steps preceding the trial. Lawyer Wat
rous interposed no obstacles to its COM
ing on speedily. His aim was not to
thwart the ends of justice, but to see it
fairly melted out.
DR.. Monroe was the first and chief
witness. He told his story clearly and
methodically: and it was easy to see it
carried conviction to the jury. LAWYER
WatrouS. cross-eXaminion only served to
bring out his evidence with more dis
tinctness Of detail. He ELECTED the
fact. for instance, that the child's nurse
Lay in the Same Room:
that she was asleep when the doctor
entered. and it was to her he first an
nOunced the child'S death. Mr.. Watrous
also examined fully as to the prisoners
acts at the time the alarm was given.
endeavorlng to show that he came from
the direction of his own chamber. an
pearing to have been just aroused from
sleep. But nothing was made by this
method of examination, the witness
stating that his agitation had distracted
his attention from these points.
The doctor had only recently settled
in the neighborhood, but his conduct
had been so exemplary that he had made
many friends. He had especially won
the confidence of the prisoner, as NAV
be seen from the facts already stated.
Mr.. Watroous Intercepted him on his
past career, but brought out nothing to
his discredit.
The evidence of the chemist who
made the analysis was next put in, and
the district attorney rested his case.
II have brought the nurse here" he
said, "but as she was asleep when the
prisoner entered, her evidence is unim-
portant. | thought it my duty. how
ever, to have her here to afford the other
side all opportunity to call her if they
DESIRE"
Nothing could render the prisoners
case more hopeless than it was already.
while something might come out to his
advantage.
81 will call the Witness" said Lawyer
Watrous.
She was middle-aged woman of
rather prepossessing appearance. Her
agitation was visible, and it was noticed
that in taking the oath she laid her
hand beside the book and not upon it.
II ask that the witness be SWORN with
her hand upon the book" said Lawyer
Watrous, at the same time calling at
tention to the omission.
The judge so ordered; aud the wit
ness hand shook violently as she re-
luctantly obeYed the direction, and the
oath was readministered.
After few preliminary questions as
to the hour of her retiring, her falling
asleep, etc., she was asked by Mr.. Wat
rous:
What is the next thing you remem-
ber?"
The Witness Hesitated.
"Answer the question:" commanded
the court.
IL heard a noise as of some one
coming into the ROOM" she faltered.
Ibid you see any one enter?"
Another pause, and then Lawyer
Watrous repeated the inquiry.
81 did," was the answer.
"What did the person dQ?"
The woman's face grew paler. and it
was with difficulty that she found UTTER
ance.