The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-18

1t was nearly 10 o'clock when Judge
Fallon got his regular morning work
cleared away in the district court and was
ready to begin the hearing in the Toole
case, TO decide whether there was sufficient
evidence for holding Michael and Stephen
I Toole, or either OF them. for the grand
jury. on charge of numbering their mother
and sister.
After the lawyers for the government
and the defense had done the usual
amount of preliminary sparring, Michael
A. Toole was called TO the witness stand.
He looked pale. After answering the
usual auestions rs To his name. axe. EN-
ploymeut, etc, he told about his connec-
tion with the drug firm of Carter, Carter
S Kilham, which terminated year ago
last August Since then he has worked
in several places, and has called at the
Washington-street drug store many times
on business and TO see the clerk with
whom he was formerly associated
Bought Cyanide of Potassium.
The last time he remembers calling
there was between five and seven weeks
ago, when he bought quarter OF pound
of cyanide Of potassium of clerk named
Charles Adams. He testified that Adams
asked him what he WAS going TO do with
the poison, aud his answer was that 1T was
to be used TO kill insects. Then he took
the poison home and gave IL to his sister
Mary 1t wHs In tin box, and she made
n solution in a pickle bottle. A few days
before he bought the poison, Michael said
be went to ths store of Carter, Carter 81
KiIham and asked for it OF another clerk,
who refused to sell the drug for the pur-
do nf citt,,
was finally purchased at the instance of
Mary Toole, and with money furnished by
her.
Michael thsn told the story Of his doings
on the day o, the murders, in answer to
questions by AR. Paul, while Michael J.
Greed watched him and once in a while
made an objection. During the forenoon
of the day, Michael said, he was in the
city on some errands, and returned home
mt about noon. He could not remember
what mem bers of the family he saw upon
his return. After dinner he went down
cellar, where he was busy fixing some
boards nj the windows until about 4:3O in
the afternoon.
After supper in the evening he was sent
after the bottle Of porter by his mother,
ard upon his return no left IL in the
kitchen without having seen any one open
IT, The next thing that happened was
when he hosre cries and found his mother
and sister had b cu poisooed. At the con-
clusion Of this uFstimuny the court ordered
the discharge OF Michael Toole on the
charge of murdor.
Mary Tools's Testimony.
Mary Toolc was next called to the stand
and began her testimony concerning the
purchase and use OF the cyanide OF potas-
sum. The last time she saw the bottle
her brother Stephen had it, on the day OF
the murder, and she saw him empty its
contents Into q pail at about ii o'clock in
the forenoo OF that day. The pail was
partly full OF water when Stephen poured
the solution into 1t, and witness did not
know that there was any more of the
poison in the house, except in the box
which Michael purchased at the store OF
Carter. Garter & Kilham.
Later ia the dsy. witness saw Stephen
empty the contents Il the pail into the
sink. Perhaps Stephen might have put
some Of the solution on some bedsteads
10 Kill bedbrgs, during the day, but wit
ness did not see him. In regard to the
poison lef, in The box ia the dry state
witness saw her mother put il into n
trunk, and no one connected with the
household bed seen IL since.
Daring the Gay of the murder witness
did not hear a quarrel between stephen
aud his mother or any other members OF
the family, aud did not have one with him
herself In rcra"d TO the occurrences dur.
ing the evening" Of toe murders, Mary told
practically hs same story as has been told
by all OF the members OF the family since
that time.
Patrlck's Testimony.
The next witness called was Patrick
Toole Patrick said he had not been at
home during Wednesday after o'clock
in the morning He returned at about
10 80 p. m. lie went home then because
his youngest brother went for him 10
whFTg be was spending the evening
Patriok's testimony regarding the alle g,d
trouble between himself aud Stephen was
considerably different from that of pr0vi.
Gus witnesses he denied having any
words with Steve on ne Monday previous
20 the deaths lie I'D not accuse Steve ol
taking his pockotboOk. So far "a his
knowied &c vcnt he did not notice any OF
the family around after IL o'clock that
night. lie was not aware OF the presen CO
Of cyauide OF potasd ip Tia house A.