Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-08-02
A POISONING CASE
May Be Revived at Mrs.
TayIor's Trial.
A SENSATION PROMISED.
Investigation Into the Career Of the
Alleged Firebug.

DEDHAM. Mass, Aug. "A sturdy look
ing farmer walked into the once of the
clerk Of courts. and. plsnkinG down $1,000
In bills. demanded the release Of his sister.
This explains how Mrs. Susan J. Taylor,
accused of incendiarism, IL now enjoying
temporary freedom, to hRht for contin-
ustion of which she will he called upon
20 make the battle Of her life when the
grand jury meets In this town next
month.
The brother, Bernard w. Mcdowell.
came all the way from Conway, q dis
tanos of ia miles, in response to the tele-
gram which the chief of police of Need
ellis have money, and It is claimed that
Bernard could have given a much larger
amount Of security. should the court re-
qulre Il.
As each day passes, the police are get
ting evidence which will be hard for Mrs.
Taylor to explain. She does nos care to
explain, and the relatives are of an
equally reticsnt mind. Thus far the Nc
Dowslls have preserved silence regarding
the charges against their family name,
but they propose to defend IL ut all events
when the proper time comes.
Fire Marshal Whitoomb and his corps
Of detectives promise startling develop
ments later. which, 1t Is said, will involve
the MeDoweils. and throw some light
upon Mrs. Taylor's career
wherever She Resided.
What this evidence IL the fire marshal
would not disclose. preferring to hold it
for the grand jury. IL may result In re-
opening that child poisoning case. which,
a few years ago, created such a stir
throughout Conway, aud the northern
section of the state, and has mover been
convincingly explained.
The family were at Deerfleld In 1885,
and while there tragedy occurred In the
household Of Eugene s. Taylor. On the
Goth Of April OF that year the little e-year-
old son, the baby, died from poison. said
to have been strychnins, placed upon the
candy which he was eating. Taylor was
arrested and brought for trial before the
court sitting at Greenfield upon amin
dictmsnt for murder.
He pleaded not guilty. and the case
was set down to be heard In October be-
fore Judge Charles Allen, presiding at
the court of oyer and terminer. On the
9oth of that month the accused retracted
his former plea. and entered Q plea Of
guilty IN the second degree. and this was
accepted, az, under the circumstances,
the government
Might Not Have Been Able
70 prove the full charge OF preme editated
murder.
Taylor was sentenced for life, and was
duly committed to the state prison at
Charlsstown on Oct. "a, 1854 There he Is
still. and he has never ceased to declare
from the day Of his incarceration that he
was innocent Of the terrible crime laid
upon him. He says his plea Of guilty
was made on the advice OF counsel.
The aggregate amount OF insurance
which the Mcdowell family Is alleged 10
have received will. IL IL claimed, reach
go, 900. and there IL now pending q claim
In dispute involving 5000.
A peculiar circumstance which led the
IRE marshal 10 grow suspicious was that
the McDowslls had all Of their personal
effects IN one building. when the policies
described the property as located IL other
buildings.
The Mcdowell family came originally
from Canada, and then drifted into New
York state. where one or two fires In their
quarters are recorueu-