Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-13

case OF wholesale poisoning was brought
to light by certain events in this city
yesterday.
Among the passengers up yesterday
morning on the mail line steamer Fleet
wood was Mr.. George T. Trow, prom
inent citizen of Madison, Ind, where
he Is engaged in the -four and milling
business. His errand was grueSome
one, and reveals wholesale case or
poisoning that rivals the written history
OF the maddest doings Of Lucretla
Borgia.
Mr.. Trow had in his possession por-
tion OF the contents OF the stomach OF
ninteen-year-old girl, Elle Ross, who
died In Madison, Wednesday night, to
all appearances of arsenic poisoning.
Though it had passed through the hands
OF the local coroner, IL was decided 10
have an expert chemist make more
critical examination. IL was for this
purpose that Mr.. Trow boarded the
steamer Fleetwood with his uncanny
package. Immediately upon deoarklng
from the steamer Mr.. Trow sought the
Office Of a well-known local chemist,
and the results OF his tests will be
awaited with the greatest Interest oy
every citizen OF Madison. Never In the
history OF the town probably has so
much excitement been reused.
THE STORY,
as CLEANED from Mr.. Trow, and from
some OF the officers OF the boat, who
live in Madison, and know all the prin-
cipals. was about as follows: The Ross
-. Ill ~ "A ~
and were considered rather worthless
people Their daughter, Ellie, whose
stomach was brough, here for analysis,
was generally spoken OF as the good one
of the family, aud according to the
statements OF the boats officers, was
vlrtuous. thrifty and industrious. This
good quality was taken advantage OF
by the rest OF the family. ann the young
girl was compelled 90 support the lam
liz, 70 large extent, By working
In a factory, and assisted x~iau&nP
\housework as well. To 81
A..esralsss, IDS .LasdlY, II
continually found fault with tho -
aud even INDUCED In harsh language 70
her. Subsequent events led those peo-
de I'm Madison acquainted with the cir
to believe that she tired OF
the endless struggle, and In lent
OF desperation decided 10 put arN 4 to
IL all by taking the life OF the entire
family. and her own as well. So far
this Is only matter Of conjecture, AZ
the CoroDial Inquiry has only fairly be-
gun.
Wednesday morning Ellie, as was her
custom, arose and prepared
THE MORNING MEAL
before going 10 her work. A portion OF
this meal consisted OF biscuit, OF which
all partook freely. The girl took sick
the same day, and at night died. The
mothers death followed the succeeding
day. A brother who took the train for
Anderson. Ind, immediately after
breakfast. was reported as having died
at Anderson. Two other brothers were
also reported dying, and another had
fair chances 10 recover. IL was also
stated that the girl had two sisters
whose regulations had suffered, and IL
is thought sorrow over this fact may
have had something 70 do with the pois-
oulng. Etie had only recently joined
church, and her only fault, so far as
known, was an uncontrollable temper.
Mr.. Trow's mission here was Known
10 but few, and he proceeded about his
errand in very quiet manner. and
without exciting suspicion. a remark
able feature OF the case Is found In tht
fact that though the girl died first, the
greatest amount OF poison was found In
the mothers stomach, and IL has led
some TO belIeLe the girl may not have
done the poisoning after all. IL Is
hoped the result OF the test made In this
city, when announced, may throw some
light on the case. The following spe-
cial gives further details OF the strange
and
HORRIBLE WHOLESALE sLAuGHTER. J
MADISON, ISD., March lz.-Tbe East
End OF our city e greatly excited BY
number OF sudden and peculiar deaths
by poisoning which took place this
week. Last Wednesday Efie Ross,
sixteen-year.old girl, employed at the
Eagle Cotton Mills. complained OF be-
ing sick. and left the mill at 10 o'clock
in the morning, and at 5 the same even
ing was a corpse. The Coroner held 40
lpqnest and post-mOrtem was ordered,
which developed arsenic in her stomach
Mrs. Clarkson, Ehie's mother, was
taken sick Thursday with pains 10 her
head and cramps in her stomach. She
died yesterday, and the doctors finished
the analytical tests OF the contents OF
her stomach this afternoon, and found
a larger percentage Of arsenic that In
Eifle's.
The other members Of the family who
ate breakfast az home Tuesday morning
are ali sick. Joe Ross. brother OF
Efie's ia out OF danger, but bis brother
Albert Is at deaths door, while another
brother, jim, who Is married and living
At Anderson, but was here Tuesday, is
reported to be dying tonight. IL seems
the general theory Is that Effie Ross,
who prepared breakfast Monday ond
Tuesday, placed arsenic in the coffee
was an e1ceedingly high-teupered girl,
and was nl-treated AZ home, being
compelled TO give up all her earnings
Al recent revival she Joined the Chris.
tan Church, and wanted new dress TO
AZ herself for attendance. This was
denied her. Whether this was the
cause or not no one viii ever know.
There are those who believe there u
love affair at the bottom Of all. The
coroner is investigating folly, and some
sensational evidence Is expected to turn
I'D soon.