davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
A Family Poisoned in Sussex County
ARSENIC IN THE WELL.

Ahoh4NAC IN lhE w ELL
On Thursday reports reached us
that a family named Rossur living
near Oak Grove were seriously i'll with
symptoms of poisoning and that one
person had already died of similar
illness. Deputy Coroner Phillips at
once went over to the Rossur's home
and found a young child. aud MIR. Ros-
sur's cow and horse dead. and several
members of the family dangerously
ill. All the symptoms of both the
sic and the dead indicated poisoning.
A physician who had been called in
soon located the deadly 8geacy. he
reasoned that as both the stoak and
family suffered alike the poison must
exist in some substance of food or
drink used by both and made a test of
the well water A careful ANALYSIS re.
vealed the presence of arsenic in the
water.
Who put arsenic in the well at which
the family obtained water for them
selves and their stock
In order to solve this question a
jury was empaneled and inquest
opened In CoulbOrn's Hall, Seaford,
Friday.
The inquest evolved the following
facts There are two families Rossnrs.
brothers, John sqd Den and their wives
and Children. There was also a sister
who was unmarried when the ROssurs
moved here. Miss ROssur married
William Evans but soon departed from
him and made her home with her
brother John and family this causad
much bitterness against tho family
from EVqna. Some time ago Evans
went to Pennsylvania to live but ere
he departed threatened to "kill the
family il it took twenty years.
Last Thursday a man was seen about
John Rossur's premises and from that
date the sickness of the family began
The child Raymond, now dead. was
first attacked aud BENJAMIN came over
to help nurse the sick child and he
was taken sick and went home but has
recovered. His wife then went to
assist the striken family, and she fell a
victim. There are pow almost living
at tue poiat or death in John Rossur's
house, himself and wife, his sister Mrs
Evans, and his brother Beniamin's
wife.
DIR. Haynes of Seaford, is attending
them. l.. b. Wallace made the analy-
tical tests of the water, from the open
well and got large deposits OF each.
Evans whereabouts as unknown and
a warrant will be issued for his arrest
as soon as be can be located. Laurel
GGaeite.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
He Didn't want to go Home and
Then He hid

Willard d. Deakyne came in from the
country on Thursday night about eight
o'clock in quest of a doctor, and not
finding him at his place of business.
walked down the street to his dwelling.
Geo. A. Carter, shoemaker. of Town
send, had also come to town with a
friend, sometime before that. While
his friend was attending to business.
Carter apparently for something to do,
became bibulOus, and as the day WAS
warm, in short time had taken on q
considerable amount of moisture, but
not up to it seemed, the full measure
of his desire. When his companion
was ready to travel he was not, and
not knowing when Carter would be
ready or get in notion to go, he drove
off without him. After the man had
gone then he unhitched the horse that
Mr.. Deakyne had just driven to town
and started up Main street in the direc-
tiOn of Townsend. Mr.. Deakyne's
horse is young, mettlesOme animal,
requiring all the tact of sober man to
manage him, and Carter had scarcely
got beyond the limit of the town when
he found himself landed in the ditch.
Fortunately, the horse had been har-
messed with pair of old traces mot
the ones usually used,) which, when
the pressure came, snapped, freeing
him from the buggy, or the damage
might have been much greater. It
was near lane leading up to some
lots, and thither the horse very natur-
ally turned.
When Mr.. Deakyne returned from
Hnnfnrio 1,
he was told by several that Carter had
passed up the street with one like it
but little while before. The only
thing was to go in pursuit, and he and
friend were soon on the way,
and might have gone clear to Town.
send had they not been stopped near
the scene of disaster by Carter who
inquired very earnestly if they had
seen dead man on the road During
the party man came along aud
pointed out to them where the horse
had gone, and he was soon recovered.
Carter footed it back to town and in a
little while found himself under arrest
for making away with property not his
own, and in default of 5000 bail was
committed by Squire Cooper to the
lock up, where he remained until noon
OF Friday. There seemed "A disposition
on the part of all to make it as light as
possible on the offender (fOr it was no
little offence to thus appropriate the
team of anOther), so he was fined only
the amount of the damages, between
So and SO, which his wife paid, the
witnesses waving their fees for the
benefit of the wife. They took the
first afternoon train for home, and
when Carter come to town again, it
will pay him to be ready to return with
his travelling companion.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
Sale Of Real Estate.

The farm sold on Saturday by Sher.
i'll Cole, as the property of Geo. s
Carey and Elizabeth Carey (the VIM.
Windale property below RothwelPs
Landing, 100 acres) was purchased nv
theodore MannQn for $4,000. This
farm sold some years ago when land
was high, for $l0,500. Before the hid,
ding commenced, John VanGasken
announced 10 the presence of the bid.
ders that he and VIM. E. Hail had
rented the farm for this year, (doinV it
In April last) and should claim tbe
wheat sown this year to be harvested
next. Sheriff Cole, after consulting
with an attorney present stated that IL
was questionable whether such a bar.
gain would hold, and announced to
the prospective bidders that they need
not take this matter into constellation
Messrs. Van9asken and Hall consulted
they say, two Of the leading attorneys
In Dover, and were told their lease
would hold. The manner Of the bid.
ding attracted more than usual in
terest.
Aiso on Saturday there was a trus-
tees sale OF property at Kenton of in.
terest-the excellent body of land. o0I
acres, known as the Lewis farm ear
the Seven Hickories." /" Il was Knocked
on at $25 per acre to Samuel NJ. Tav-
49, Who will make it his future home
IL is considered be has secured desir.
aoie farm at reasonable figures.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
Stephenson --Truax.
WEDDING OF A MINISTER.

Rev. r. K. Stephenson, the popular
pastor of Smyrna Circuit and Miss Ada
ID. Truax, one of the brightest young
ladies of euF vicinity lust entering
wOmanhOOd and equally popular. were
united in the holy LOnds of wedlock at
high noon to-day, at the residence of
the brides parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas.
I. Truax, near SeversOn's Church.
" was the event of course with the
young people, especially those en-
braced in the circle of the occasion.
including few outside of the family
connections, which filed the house
comfortably full. The friends of the
bride, who entered into it with the
usual zest characteristic of such events.
had the house dressed 10 an elab-
crate manner with eVergreens, ferns,
potted plants and flowers, the whole
presenting the scene that might be ex.
pected in thorough blending of nature
and art, The windows were closed.
and The house lighted with lamps and
candles,
The parents took their seats at the
assembling of the wedding guests in
the room where the ceremony was to
be solemniZed, Misses Nora Cotton.
lIida Lord, Addie Davis and Sallie
Cosgritf, acting as receiving commit.
tee Measrs. J. Fletcher TTuax, Herbert
Brown and John NJ. Truax acted as
ushers. AS the dial pointed to 10
O'Clock the candidates. proceeded by
two children, Frank Truax and Edith
Truax, who as ribbon lifters, prepared
the way from the upper room to the
parlOr, G. Virgil Gordon enlivening
the occasion with the sweet strains of
the wedding march. As they took
th6lr place iH front OF the arch made
of pine bOughs and beautifully decora-
ted, Rev. w. w. w. Wilson was in
waiting; after reading the ritual in
full ceremony including the ring, he
pronounced them husband and wife.
Rev. I. 4. Aeatherbury, of 0napcock,
Va, and Revs. Alfred Smith and S. NJ.
Morgan were present and took part in
the ceremony. The bride was beauti-
fully attired in a gown of cream sub
lime cloth trimmed with real lace, en-
train
A season of congratulations followed
after which the guests were invited TO
q reception or wedding breakfast in an
adjoing room.
The bride and groom left on the
$50 train for Ocean Grove, with the
warmest congratulations Of their
friends.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

DESPITE the warm weather and
the fact that the election is al
most three months off, the polit-
ical leaders are getting a "ruove
on them" Joseph Pulitzer, of
the New York World, is espe-
cially stirred up. Imam announce
ment in that paper on Sunday,
after speaking of the uncertainty
as to how the 100000 voters of
that State will cast their ballots
for the Presidency, he calls for
''Help for the West" and heads
the list with $4,000. Taylor, of
the Boston Globe, and Singerly,
of the Philadelphia Record, have
each subscribed $1,000, and others
will doubtless follow. The idea
is to transfer the scene of battle
to a new soil The following ex-
tract will show the drift of the
World argument:
The time for action has come.
A situation cOnfrOnts the Demo
cratic party which must be met
and mastered. An opportunity
awaits it which must Be seized
and utilized. New York is a
doubtful State at best. More
than 100000 votes for Presiden-
tial electors will be cast in this
State on November s. Who can
foretell the result? ? Cleveland's
plurality in 1884 was only 1O47,
Harrison's plurality in 1883 was
only 1902. An assumption that
either can rely solely upon a
plurality in 1892 is absurd. Con-
ditions and mems minds NAV
change between now and No
vember and give to the one or
the other an Overwhelming ma
jority. But this is only a re-
mote possibility. There is every
reason to believe that New York
will remain to the day of election
a doubtful State. To blind our
selves to this obvious tact would
serve only to cripple the party in
its struggle for the supremacy of
the people. To stake all upon
New York would be worse than
folly. It would be a political
crime-and it is unnecessary,
There is hope in the great West.
Intelligent, Pesolute and persis-
tant effort may change that hope
to practical certainty. The Dem
ocratic canvass is based upon op-
position to plutocratic rule and
excessive taxation of the MANY
for the benefit Of the few. The
people of the West appreciate
the situation. We shall Law the
foundation of a Western Demo,
cratic Campaign Fund to be built
up by popular subscription. 1t
will be a national fund. Already
we haye sought and obtained the
hearty cooperation Of four of the
most Democratic journals in the
country.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
For he Smyrna Times.
CheSWnld Itama

The Assau, Baines Co., Gamers. are
packing pears, and tomatoes also.
which are yet only coming in small
lots. They have offered $8 per ton for
common white Geld corn, but were un-
successful in getting sufficient quantity
for run.
). A. Fulton of Dover as agent. has
surveyed and laid off 66 building lots
mostly 50x120 feet which he offers for
sale as a continuation of Cheswold in a
southern direction.
Edward A. Evans is the heaviest
shipper of peaches, from Cheswold this
year, aud Mrs. =. NJ Emerson is the
heaviest shipper of pears. Twenty.
five baskets is the largest shipment of
peaches any one day.
Rev. Thos. b. Cooper, of Salem.
Wilmington Conference, preached at
Aethel last Sunday to a large congrega.
tlon, a sermon on ChTist's coming and
his mission, that was both pleasing in
its delivery aud refreshing in thought
Mr.. Cooper 10 u son-in.law of r. NJ
Cooper, near Uheswold, where he and
his wife have spent part of their vaca.
ton, and is yet young In the ministry.
Rev. G.. w. Bounds of Dover is an
nounced to preach at Bethel, next Sun.
day in the afternoon.
The following were the delegates
elected at the Republican primary
Delegates to State ConVention-E.S s.
Harrison, William w. Jones, Charles
q. Ross.
Alternates--Dr. j. NJ. Smith. E. r.
Jones, l.. Il. Davis.
Delegates TO County Convention
John Moore, Gamaliel Garrison, /. N.
Mills
MISUNDERSTANDING q. Savin, s. w.
Novel;, j. w. Houston.
Assessor-Thomas =. Moore,
lnspector-William @. SavIn.
The Delegates to the Democratic
State Convention were. N. Leverage,
Thomas Attix, David Reese, s. M. Tay.
lor, z. Mayberry.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

EDITOR SPERRY, of the Morning
Ne,cs, in addition to being ap-
pointed minister to Persia, which
appointment has received more
than usual cOmmendatiOn by the
press without regard to political
classification, has also simulta-
neously put that paper a cOnsid-
cradle step in advance in the
way of substantial improvement
1t has changed from a four to a
six-paged paper, with a general
change also in its "make up"
The base of this improvement
has been the introduction of a
Cox duplex press, printing 5000
papers per hour, driven by an
electric motor, the impression
being directly from the type and
fed from a roll instead of with
single sheets. The Ne,cs looks
much better by its change.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

1t seems to be a popularity of
Sussex county officials to delay
the investigation of supposed
crimes until the suspected per-
sons have had sufficient time to
leave the State. This was shown
at the time of the brutal street
duel between two rufians at
Delmar on September 10, 1891.
At that time two men fought
with such viciousness, in their
endeavOr to kill each other, that
both of them were confined to
their homes for some time after
the fight. There was no attempt
made. to arrest the men and as
soon as possible they left the
State. Later the grand jury of
Sussex county found indictments
against the cOmbatants, charging
them with assault with attempt
to commit murder. So far as
we have heard the two men have
never been apprehended, and it
is not at all probable that they
ever will be. That case was one
which the state detectives should
have taken hold of at once. The
state, to be sure, is the gamer by
the absence of the two brutal
duellists, but the fact still re-
mains that they should have
been placed under arrest at once
and held so that the law could
have dealt out to them the pun
ishment that they richly de-
served.
The poisoning case at Oak
Grove is also one that should
have attracted the attention of
the authorities at once. AS soon
as suspicion was aroused it was
clearly the duty of the authorities
of Sussex county to have placed
the matter before the attorney
general who, in turn, should have
put the two state detectives at
work on the case. As it is the
ROsser child died, and had been
buried nearly three days, before
the coroner took hold of the
matter.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

AFTER several days delay the
deputy Attorney-General of the
State has taken the poisoning
tragedy in Sussex county in
hand, being the proper law office
to investigate the case. The
movement has been tardy for so
grave an offense. Murder direct
would have been more tragic,
but certainly no less heinous than
the poisoning of a well of water
that may kill, the culprit may not
know, how many of human be-
ings or dumb animals. The cor
oner in finding out what and not
who caused the death Of the
child. seems to consider the Grim
inal of none, but the crime of the
highest importance. The Koyns,,o
Ne'os in discussing this phase Of
the question, says.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

AN exchange in discussing the
tyranny of labor" says the atti-
tude of the manufacturers, vino
only seek to manage their own
property in their own way, is
nothing compared with the atti-
tude of organized labor" against
unorganized labor.
The employers are merely at
tempting to maintain control of
their own property, and to decide
for themselves what wages they
can best afford to pay to their
wOrkmen. The members of the
various trades unions declare
that men who are not members
of their unions have no right to
have employment and that. if
necessary, they will kill and
MAIN them to prevent them from
earning a living. The idea of a
set of labOrers starving another
set just because they don't be-
long to their gang, is a tyranny
equal to that of the Gar Of Rus
Sia-
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

WOMEN, as a rule, do not en-
tertain politics with a logical or
unbiased mind, and hence likely
to become blind partizans, but in
these days of advance ideas in
regard to suffrage, it is hardly
likely they will be absolutely 81
lent spectators. Hence we see
in a New York paper that the
local Republican Campaign Com
mittee is about to organize a
woman's horseback club. Women
who ride bicycles are also to be
formed into a club. The wives
of several leaders of local promi-
nence, and who are well-known
for their skill in the saddle, have
already signifed their willingness
to adopt the attractive idea
1t is said that a Brooklyn
woman first proposed to General
Clarkson the participation Of her
sex in campaign parades.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

THE minor parties are immense
on claims. This is particularly
so of the Alliance or Peoples
Party, which is undoubtedly
causing considerable uneasiness
with the politicians of the old
parties in the Southern and
Western States. The late Presi-
dent Polk, of the Farmers Alli-
ance, was a very sanguine gen
tleman who saw nothing but sue
cess ahead of his party. His sue
cessOr, H. L. Loucks, outdoes the
late Colonel in confidence. His
line of political work hitherto has
been in the Northwest, but he
has now located in Washington
to assume executive charge of
the Alliance movement. An or
gan Of that party contains Mr..
LOuck's programme. He will do
his campaigning in Virginia,
Texas and Tennessee during
September and will then give
some attention to the Northwest.
His claims of success are put in
the following extravagant way:
'The Peoples Party will carry
more States this Fall than either
Cleveland or Harrison. The
States which the Third party will
carry include North and South
Dakota. Minnesota, Nebraska, all
the silver States and five or six
of the Southern States"
The Alliance managers are
also giving attention to the Peo-'
pies Party in Illinois.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
A State Convention of the Re-
publican Party.
HEADQUARTERS REPUBLICAN STATE CENrR,r,
COMMITTEES, No. GOA Market street,
WILMINGTON DIR I,lx, 0e ION,

WILMINGTON, DBL, July 26, 1892
a state cOnvel ton of the Republican marty of
Ie we state OF Delaware viii be held at Dover
thursday, August Is. 1892, A. d. nj II a m ~
the purpose OF choosing three ELECTORS To vote s,r
PRESIDENT and Vice President of the Tnitad
StAteS ana one candidate for RepreSentAtiVe i'm
Congress ana o. tranSacting such other business
as may properly come before the conVantion
The convention at Dover will consist Of one
nun1reI end sixty ll6O) delegates appOriiOned
among the several districts of the state ss mi
lows; Forty (4Ol delegates to be chosen from he
oL ctss uissIrlet thirtyeight (SS delegates to De
khIes 70 DC chosen from the Third district. ana
toIty.tWo (S2) delegates to be chosen from tbe
FOuIh district The said delegates shall be an
poai POahonee se among the several subdivisions Of
eaeh district es heretofore. "
And further, Il is ordered that the election of
Ieiegates shall be as follows: The Republican
county Executive Committees shall proyide for
@ tne holding OF an election at the usual place or
the respective counties. by providing an insDec.
tor ana TWO judges. The election shall be beld
on saturday, the 18th day of August 1909 ~
tween the hours OF 2 and 9 p. m, the polls 10 Be-
kept open continually in each sub division for
period OF not less than two (2) hours Provided
however. that in the absence Of suoh nrovisionS
tOr the conduct Of an election as are above set
loItn, we kepuollcan voters OF the district shall
assemble At the usual voting place and shall or
ganize by electing an inspector and two iudges
=, upon closing the polls the Judges shall nnh
l,ciy count the vote and make out certincates az
sil IN aupileetei one whereof shall be de-
I, li,lSseo 70 the delegates elected and the other
snhl oe mailed forthwith TO the secretary Of fbe
Del - s"ee''
Dsdgibs a the said election Republicans or those
ickeI' only shall be allowed TO vote.
20 JAMES II. WILSON
H., chairman State Central Committee.
HUGH T. BROWNE, Secretary. s8st
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
Belmar in Ashes.

The greater portion of Delmar was
destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon.
The burned buildings include all the
leading stores, two churches, the rail-
road station and repair shops OF Della
ware Railroad Company. the nostofica
Delmar Hotel and thirty or fortv
dwellings. The town was of frame
aud the loss is estimated ut S75. 600
Several hundred people are homeiess
One person perished in the con IA.
grafton, but the body could not be
identified.
Sixty six houses were burned. leav.
ing only about two dozen standing in
the place. The train men and hose
company from Salisbury rendered
efficient aid, but the water gave out,
Frank Bailey, of this town, to whom
we are indebted for description of the
scene, was coming up the road and de.
tained there an hour by the onAagra.
tion
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
The SMYRNA TIMES.
.SV1,2WU, DeI.,
Wednesday Afternoon, Aug, II, 1892

THE TIMES" is published every Wednesday
afternoon by RoBT. D. HOFFEcKER, Editor and
Proprietor. at Smyrna, Del.
RMS-SUBscRIPTION-One year, strictly in ad-
vance, Sl.50; II not paid in advance, $500. No
paper discontinued until all arrears are paid
only al the option Of the Publisher.
ADVERTISEMENTS will be inserted at the rate
Of Seven Cents line for the stinsertion; SUBJ
sequent insertions Three-snd-a-half cents. A
liberal discount made to quarterly, semi-annual
and yearly advertisers.
OBITUARY NOTICES will be charged Five Cen
per line.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

BY the new Constitution of Al
ALBANIA the negro vote, says the
New York Sun, has been cut
down from 145,OOO to S,615. This
is an effectual method, in regis
tration, in reducing the possibil-
ity of negro domination.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

A daughter of Sitting Bull, the In.
ulan chief, was married on Thursday
at kondout, N. Y, TO Peter MarkIe
formerly a United States soldier. whose
by Indians. A'''' n Gu
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17
Smyrna and Vicinity.


OYSTERS will return from their sum.
mer vacation in just fourteen days.
SATURDAYS shipment of peaches
over the Delaware road was IS cars.
the total to that date being 80 cars.
WATERNELONs were more plentiful
on Saturday, and very good ones. but
not enough to meet the demand or much
lower the price.
Ii anyone starts to talk politics this
scOrching weather, don't shoot him on
the spot, but make him treat to some
cooling beverage.
HERMAN RCE offers a dozen first
class double school desks for sale
eheap: They are modern and COM
Portable and about as good as new. 4
SATURDAY was colored day at the
Beach, going down mostly in large
well-filled wagons, returning in some
cases with the melodies of the "corn
song"
FRUIT of all kinds, like the mercury.
continues at fancy figures. The exist.
ing thermal conditions seem To he
beneficial to no one, unless it be the
icemen and the proprietors of the
summer resorts.
GRAPES began to ripep last week and
carload was sent from Clayton on
Monday. 1t is likely that the ship
ment will be from one to two cars per
day. A carload was sent from Bren.
ford yesterday.
REGISTRATION begins with the first
Saturday in September next, and con-
tinues for four successive SATURDAYS
Look for the public notice, which each
Registrar must post at least ten days
prior to the first sitting.
ONE OF the most Gopyenieut. and
whichshows up better than in any other
way to handle tomatoes for market IL
70 place them in grape baskets and
then in the carriers-the latter holding
four each. Buchanan & Co., have 4
caveate on this method.
QUITE a number of persons Ia the
community have been using gasoline
stoves this summer in their Kitchens
Lor cooking purposes. 1t may not be
knowh to 81 such, but the use of such
stoves without g written permit from
the company Issuing the policy Of in
surance, vitiates it. This is a littie
matter that should be attended to, to
be on the safe side.
Smyrna times., 1892-08-17

A Fall River despatch saws that nub.
iisneu returns for the past quarter show
Lhat the mills are now enjoying the
most prosperous season ever known in
cotton manufacturing in that citv.