The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-19
Especial to the Press

Drinkers Are Recovering.
Especial to the Press.]
RICHMOND, Me-, July 18.-What came
near being a tragedy occurred in Dres-
den, Monday. Mary Going, a 17-year-old
colored girl, was servant in the family
of Captain Burton E. Reed, who lives on
the Dresden Meek road She was tax
en- from the Industrial School at Lancas-
ter, Mass, last May, and though her
reputation was not the best, had behaved
well in her new place until recently.
She attended church and Sunday school
Sunday afternoon, at the Pownalboro
church, and though told not to stop on
the way that day, but to come directly
home, she went to a heighbor's house
and made a long call. Captain Reed had
to go after her, and for her disobedience
reprimanded her. 1t is supposed that
because of the reprimand she planned
and carried out the crime.
Monday morning the family. was up
early. The girl took the teapot and
went to the hog house to empty it OF its
contents an unusual procef 9ingson her
part. Paris green for the destruction of
potato bugs is kept in the upper story of
the hog house, and as she was gone some
time it is supposed she placed the poison
in the teapot then. When she returned
to the house she insisted on making the
tea herself, but Mrs. Reed took the tea
pot from her and without looking inside,
made the tea as usual.
At breakfast, Mrs. Reed and the hired
man, Porter Walbridge, drank freely of
the tea, and Immediately after the meal
were taken violently i'll, vomiting and
suffering severe pain in the head.
Mrs. Reeds daughter, suspecting
something was wrong, took the teapot to
the sink and, emptying it Of it's contents
found two or more tablespoonfuis OF
paris green in the bottom of the vessel.
Antidotes were Immediately given Mrs.
Reed and medical aid was summoned for
tity they took doubtless saved their
lives, as it so quickly produced vomiting
Captain Reed drank sparingly of the
tea and worked in the hay field during
the forenoon. At dinner time, however,
he was growing sick, and in the after
noon was dangerously i'll, and again the
physician was called, by whose efforts
the danger was averted.
The PRESS reporter called at Captain
Reeds this morning and found him and
his wife still suffering from the effects of
the poison, weak, but able to be about
the house. Walbridge was more fully
recovered, and able to be in the hay
field.
When first accused of putting the poi
son in the teapot, the girl denied it, but
subsequently admitted it. She said she
didn't know why she did SO, for she had
been well treated there and Captain and
Mrs. Reed were her best friends. She
had previously told Mrs. Reed, when
talking about her bad ways, that when
she got the idea to do something wrong
into her mind she could not control her
self. She admitted she knew the stuff
she put in the teapot was poison, and
had refused to drink any tea when it was
offered to her by Mrs. Reeds daughter.
Neither Captain Reed nor his wife
cared to prosecute the girl, but she was
promptly discharged, and they say they
never wish to see her again. She took
the steamer for Boston Monday night,
accompanied by friend of the family,
who had telegraphed for police officer
to meet them at the wharf. by whom the
girl will be returned to the custody Of
the industrial school authorities.