Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-14
WAS HE POISONED =?
Winterport Excited Over Death
Of Farmer Robert VinaI.
Suspicion Falls Upon a ReIative--Bot-
tie of St'ychnine in Case.
Coroner and County Attorney Investigating
Remains Will Be Exhumed.

Bangor, Oct. 10 The town OF Winter.
port IL miles south of Bangor, has
furnished number Of sensations in recent
years. but none which has caused more
excitement than one which is now being
investigated
Robert A Final an unassuming farmer,
who lived two miles from Ellingwood' S
Corner in Winterport, died, Sept. IS last.
He was veteran soldier of the war OF
the rebellion, drew pension, and his age
was alb nut 63 years. In the same neigh
borho I'd live his two brothers, Waldo and
Benjamin.
Robert was bachelor and lived alone,
excepting that occasionally he had a
family living in one part of his house.
He WAS thrifty farmer. but Benjamin is
reported to be the reverse. On the death
of her father "a few years ago, the home
stead farm was given to Robert, with the
understanding that he should pay the re-
manning heirs about 1926 each. This
Robert did, with the exception that his
sister Emma received but S35.
Benjamin built house upon land
owned by Robert, and there was some ill
feeling existing between the brothers be
cause Robert would not deed the lot tc
Benjamin. Roberts excuse was that II
Benjamin had the land he would dispose
OF it, and Robert desired that he should
have home there.
Shortly after the death of Robert,
| stories began to circulate that he did not
die a natural death, and that he might
have been poisoned. His brother Waldo
said he thought all was not right.
The public took the matter up, and
suspicious began to be entertained that
some relative might have administered
poison This belief was strengthened
when 1t was learned that a few days be
fore Robert died, a certain person obtained
bottle of strychnine.
1t was remembered that Robert was
quite we'll, the evening previous to his
death, that he was taken suddenly i'll In
the night and died before morning IN
great pain. 1t was said he had convul
sions and that his limbs were drawn ur
so tightly after death that 1t was with diff
Guilty they were Strengthened.
A young man who drives creamery
wagon into Bangor says he obtained the
poison at q wcll-known drug store in
Bangor About week before Robert
died, the young man states, as he was
driving past the Vinal house, man &C
costed him and asked him to purchase al
Bangor, some prussic acid or strychnine
as he wanted to kill ats. He did as re
auested and delivered bottle labeled
Hunters Poison and Stry chime" tt
the man who had asked him to get 1t neal
tho rcciIpnce of Ruhprt Vipal
The nelghborhood finally became Sc
excited over the stories In circulation thai
on Friday, County Attorney Bowden, who
resides in Winterport, photographed to Bel
fast for coroner, and an inquet was held
The coroner summoned jury, consist
ing of Hon. Fred Atwood, David n
Smith, Capt George Dudley, .Joshu'
Treat, Seth H. Morgan and Joseph Garlic
ton, all prominent citizens of Winterport
and an inquest was held.
The jury found many suspicious cir
cumstances in connection with Robert
Vinal's death, but has not yet made it
action known.
IL is probable that the body of Robert
Vinal will be exhumed, an autopsy held
and the stomach sent to Brunswick fol
analysis.
The motive, if there was poisoning, Is
not clearly established, but many damag
ing stories are ailoat.