The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-16
FARMER HiINEs,s COWS.
The Jury that Tried Mrs. DineS for Pots.
onIng Ther, DIsagrees.

SoNrnviLLE. y. j.. oct. 15.-On May n three
cows belonging to Farmer James !. Haines. who
lives near Baskingritge, in Demands township.
were found dead in a field near his house. The
stomachs Of the cows were removed for chem
ical analysis and IL was found that death had
been caused by arsenic. The Farmers Nigilant
Association took hold OF the matter and secured
enough evidence to induce the last Grand Jury
to indict Mrs. Lucy Dilley, 20 years old. who
lives quarter OF mile from Hainess place.
Mrs Dilley Is the step-mother OF Haines's wife,
and for the last forty years there has been a
sort Of fcud between the old woman and her
stepchildren. The trial of Mrs Dilley. which
began in the Somerset Court OF Quarter Ses-
sions, last Friday. but was postponed until to-
day because Mrs. Jennie Riker. the States most
important witness tainted Just before she was
put on the stand by Prosecutor James J. Nee
han.
Mrs. Dilley was born near Hackettstown. In
lS4g she came to Demands township and be-
came u servant in the family OF TuniS Dilley.
She lived there fourteen years, or until Mr.. Dill
ley married her.
After Mr.. Diley's death. twenty-Six years
later. his children, who had never been friendly
with their stepmuther, left the homestead and
began suit tn set inside their fathers will. which
left everything to his second wife. They were
right in the estate. and moved out OF the old
homestead. Her steriaughter, the wife OF
me-, flames Ham I,e% n home n sms, r iI
since she left the house Mrs. Dillcy has been
taking in washing and caring for some Of the
Mrs. Jennie Riker, who is only /; years old
and can neither read nor write, was the chief
been stopping with Mrs. Dilley two days. and
on the day the cows we're poisoned LET
the house with her Mrs Riker said:
At In hn
woods Mrs Dilley went TO the bureau
in the kitchen. and, unlocking the upper
drawer; She then put the handEere6iei and
Elmer Apgar. n half brother OF mine, going
along st When we Mere about bali way through
seem IN the HeT next 2 ed. asked Mrs. Diey for
ten cents to pay my way to Far Hills. She said
red handke rchief out Of her pocket laid il on
the ground. took out her pocketbook, and gave
q, asked her what was in the red handker.
chief and when she did not reply said What
back into her pocket. The next day heard that
Farmer Haints,s COWS had been killed; and on
the Monday following Mr. John \. WhitenaCk
Jr. asked me what knew about the case and
told him..
denied most OF the allegations made by the
states witnesses, She said she did not know
whether Mr.. Dilleys hrst wife, who disap-
peared. was dead. but she Supposed so, notll-
ing had been heard of her In many years She
said the unfriendly feeling between herself and
the Haines family grew out of their cruelty
and OF their anger because Mr.. Dilley had mar
ried her.
Mrs. Dhley said she had gone through the
wood. with ',lenide Riker. but said the testi-
mony As to her having a package, or q red hand
Rerchief, was false. Tn the Monday following.
the witness said that Jennie Riker came to her
and asked her II she would take Of her for
about two weeks. as she was about To be sick.
This Mrs. Dilley refused To do. and Jennie
Riker left her. threatening to get even.
The jury, after four hours deliberation. dis
agreed