Evening journal., 1894-12-19
ALLEGED POISONING.
Neighbor Brown Tells story Which I'm
piicatcs Mrs. Phelps.

piicatcs Mrs. Phelps.
SYRACUSE, Dee. lQ.-On the night Of
Dec. Z at his homo near AIc6rawyille,
Cortland county, Loren Phelps was taken
violently ILL., Dr. NJ. r. Smith Of Nc
Granville and later DR. H. G. Hendricks
were called They found that Phelps was
suffering from poison, and despite their
efforts he died on Dec. a. The physicians
refused to grant a burial permit and re-
ported to Coroner George Bradford Of
Homer.
Immediately after Phelps death Coroner
Bradford and the doctors made an exam
nation and the physicians then signed n
certificate that Phelps died from unknown
causes. Monday Coroner Bradford, ac-
companied by his jury viewed Phelps re-
mains after which tho inquest was adj
'ourned subject to tho cor0ner's call
Phelps stomach was sent for examina-
ton TO William Manlins Smith, an expert
chemist of this city. DR. Hendricks ex-
amined the dead mans intestines, and
says they showed such Inflammation as
would naturally result from poison
The most startling story Of all is told by
Farmer ID. r. Brown, a neighbor Of Phelps.
Mr. Brown says that Phelps called him
into his sickroom shortly after the first at
tack and told him that he (Phelps) had
been poisoned by them. The next day
at o clock he again sent for brown. and
in the presence Of Dr. Smith tGAl the same
story
Phelps said that his wife Adelaide had
on Dec purchased at thc store Of G. y.
Smith Of NIcGruwvillo a half ounce Of ar
senic, and that on Dec She had sent her
daughter 15 years old TO Mr.. Brown 8
house for strychnine. Mrs Brown asked
the girl what she wanted TO do with the
poison, and the child replied that her
mother wanted to use il to kill the rats
which ate up tho popcorn. Mrs Brown
finally gave the child the deadly drug for
the purpose Of killing tho rats, though
not Mrs Brown says, without misgiy-
ings. IL was the noxt night that Phelps
was attacked with bis fatal illness
II is said hat Phelps and his wife have
for some time lived unhappily together
owing to theattentions Of William smith,
aged %, Of Cortland, to Mrs Phelps.
Their intimacy is reported to have caused
much trouble and ma Phelps at times
very respondent on the Saturday before
| Thanksgiving, it Is said, there was q
/ stormy scene in Cortland between Phelps
and his wife because she refused to return
with Phelps to McGrawville after visit
in Cortland She Is alleged to have toll
/ him she would drive over with Will,
Smith tomorrow, Z and Phelps went hom'
without her. She did not return as prom
ised, and on tho following Monday Phelp
was compelled again to so after her
Meantime, it is said, Mrs. Phelps was GU
| driving with Smith.
Phelps was about 40 years old, and hi
wife is some years his junior.
They have three children, the eldes
being a boy II years old The second j
the girl Of Is who went to Mrs Brown
for the strychnine, and the youngest IS
boy Of Z. Mrs. Phelps Is a well preserve
woman, and although she appeared slight
" nervous she maintains remarkable sci
composure. She refuses to discuss he
husbands death and does not appear to I
deeply afflicted. She is a native Of Brat
ford, Pa, and was married to Phelps ]
years ago.
William Manlius Smith, the chemis
said that it might be two weeks before ii
analysis would be complete.