The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-13

The Laurel. Del, poisoning case ID
developing into ono of the most inhu.
man and unparalleled crimes known
in Delaware's history. The Special
correspondent, from Laurel. August
10. to the Philadelphia Ledger says:
Tho County OF Sussex. Delaware, is In
such state Of excitement tonight
over the poisoning Of the Rosser fam
lily. at Oak Grove, u small town about
traitor OF the crime was known 1t Ia
threatened that he would be strung up
to tho nearest tree, without time to say
his prayers. Never in the criminal an.
malls of this State has such an atroclous
crime been committed,
John Rosser, his wife and child Ray
mond, q lad z years old, Benz. Rosser
and his wife, Isaac RoRser and his
wife and George and Joe Williams and
Alfred Jacks, the last three named col
ored farm hands, were all poisoned,
early this week, by some parties un-
known, by putting arsenic in the well
on the Rosser homestead.
As result the little son Of John
Rosser Is dead Rosser and his wife are
In precarlous condition, the Williams
brothers are dying, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Isaac Rosser aud Mr.. and Mrs, BEN
iaffiin Rosser narrowly escaped death.
Alfred Jacks, the other colored man,
Is expected to recover.
Who the fiend was who committed
the helnous crime is not positively
known, but William Evans, brother.in.
law of the Rossers, is suspected, aud
his whereabouts are unknown. On
Sunday morning last the little son OF
John Rosser complained OF feeling I'M
well. and soon after both the father
land mother were taken Ill.
Benjamin hossor, who lives near by,
was sent for, and he went to his broth
er's farm, TO find the parents in bed.
The lad, who com planned OF pains in
his abdomen, asked his uncle for
drink. The two went to the well,
where tho uncle gave tho lad cupful
Of water, taking two or three mouth.
lfuls himself. They had hardly roach
Ell the house before the child COM
lplained OF excruciating paine In the
stomach. and the uncle himself was
taken sick with vomiting. During
the day and night the child grew
worse, and early on Monday morning
died.
In the meanwhile, the other MEM
Iber5 OF the family, not suspecting
that the we'll was poisoned. drank OF
the water and were all taken sick. DR..
|
was sent for, who pronounced them
Suffering from arsenic poisoning. On
the same day the three colored farm
hands were also taken suddenly III and
two COWS and horse, which drank
/ from the well. were found dead III the
field.
On that day the funeral of young
Raymond Rosser took place, and
after the interment Isaac Rosser SO.
cured sample OF the water aud
boarded up the we'll. lie took the
water to HI. Wallace, u chemist al
Laurel, who, after analyzlng 1t, said II
| lcontalned arsenic.
William Evans. who is suspected oil
putting the poison In the we'll, is O
brother-in-law OF the Rossers, and has
fbeen separated from his wife about
two years. 1t Is alleged that his treat.
: ment was SO brutal that her brothers
+. persuaded her to leave him, and sever
! al times since he has Threatened to
-poison the whole family.
Deputy Coroner George 2. Phillips
lof Seaford, held an Inquest to-day a
Seaford in the case OF Raymond Ros
ser, but owing to the illness Of tn,
: chlld's parents and the absence o
other witnesses no decision wa
reached by the jury. .l. ..
| ESIlSI l1NhubI WuU5e UubDulu lb buh
peoted OF the crime, testified that II
June her husband said that some o
: her family should die il it took him 2
3 years. Benjamin Rosser also said b
!: suspected William Evans, who, he said
! was seen In the nelghborhood on tn
lInight OF August 9th. He said he ha,
> heard that Evans had threatened Il
I poison the family.
! II. L. Wallace, the chemist, testified
! TO the finding of arsenic In the sampl
I of water from the we'll. DR.. w.
Haines said he attended the Rose
lchild and found 1t suffering from al
lsenlcal poisoning, which he said wa
: the caute OF death. Isaac Rosser ties
3 titled that he boarded up the well aftc
the funeral on Tuesday and that, OIL
the same day, Mrs. Benz. Rosser tolt
SHIN that Evans had threatened to pol
: son the family II 1t took him twent,
J, years.
ri The condition OF Mr.. and Mrs. Johr
81 Rosser and the three colored farm
y hands at late hour tonight is yer
pi eclrious. Evans is supposed to
In Philadelphia.