The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-11
POISONER ABROAD.
PruSsic Acid and Corrosive Sub
Innate in Wells.
Put Into the Well at DR.. Shell
dOn'S Hospital,
Also Into the Well Of 0. W.
Bates in Parkdale.
TURNS WATER GREEN.
So Much is Poured into Mr..
Bates Well
That It is Discovered Before
Anybody Drinks.
NOM GA ENAD DETN TT FL
NOT SO FORTUNATE
At the Sheldon Hospital Where
Two Suffered.
The Matron and a Patient
Taken Sick.

City Physician NJ R. Mitchell has just
received the analysis of water taken
from well at 400 east Sixth street
which clearly proves that a diabolical
attempt was made to poison the family
of o. ". Bates, who occupies the house.
At about the same time another we'll was
poisoned at the hospital, 205 east Eighth
street, but the result of this analysis
has been kept secret The
analysis of the water from the
well in Parkdale showed that corrosive
sublimate and prussic acid had been put
in the well. Both are deadly poisons and
1t was only an accident which prevented
fatal results.
Mr.. Bates who lives in the Parkdale
house is an early riser. Some time ago
he got up early and went to the
we'll to draw water for his horses. sAs he
bent over the curb he noticed on the well
bucket which sat inside the curb
white powder Upon closer examina-
ton he found that the water left in the
Lucket was very green and when it was
poured out several pieces of gummv
substance were found in the bottom of
he bucket Where the water was poured
on the board walk it colored the
walk q deep green, and Mr. Bates
showed a JOURNAL reporter today the
stained place on the board which has re-
sisted all attempts to obliterate it with
soap and water.
The bucket had been tilted half way
into the we'll, partially closing the open
ing, and when the poison5 were thrown
into the we'll portion of them lodged on
the bucket and attracted the attention
Of AIr. Bates, and this fact probably
saved the family, for few sips of the
water would have resulted fatally. The
we'll was carefully cleaned, but the
family has not been using the water, as
it still retains an odor OF the poisons,
though the horses drink it and without
bad effects.
The other case of we'll poisoning oc-
CURED few days before that at tne
Bates we'll. The well which was poison
ed is situated on the line between DR..
Shelden's hospital at 205 East Eighth
street and Dr. Callaham's place and
is used at the hospital and
| DR.. Ca,Iaham's. One evening about
O'Clock Miss Mabel Daniels, since de-
ceased and Miss Callahan we're sitting
in a hammock at the west side of Dr.
Callaham's house. As they were talk
ing they noticed the figure OF a man
creep stealthily along the fence which
separates the two places. He
approached the well and drew Il
bucket of water and then took
package from his pocket anc emptied
something ia the bucket aad lowered it
into the we'll The young ladies did not
think seriously of the occurrence at the
time and paid but little attention to the
man. They supposed it was some one
after drink.
Some tins after the man had gone, the
natrOu of the hospital, who was former
ly Mrs. Dr. Tobias. but took the name of
Miss West when she was divorced, went
TO the we'll for pitcher of water. Miss
Ellison, a sister of Sergeant Frank Eli
son, was a patient in the hospital, and
had asked for water. NJ iss West poured
out "A glass of water and handed it to
Miss Ellison.
The patient refused the water and said
the glass was not clean.
The matren got another glass andthis
time the patient took few swallows of
water The matron tasted the water and
noticed something peculiar and unus-
ual in the taste and drank no more.
Almost Immediately after drinking the
water Miss Ellison became deathly sick
DR.. Sheldon was Immediately sum
Inoned and emetics were administered
and the patient recovered. The matron
was also taken sick, but she recovered
without the use of emetics.
The we'll was Immediately cleaned and
and is now being used. but no trace of
the .poisons have since appeared. DR..
Sheldon took sample of the water for
analysis, but he refuses to say anything
about the result, though he afterward
told Matron West that II was very for
tunate thing that she and Miss Ellison
drank SO little of the water, and none
was given to the other patients.
Miss West was seen today by Jour
NAL reporter and admitted that poison
had been placed in the we'll She said
she thinks she knows who placed the
poison in the we'll in both cases. She is
the owner of the Parkdale property, it
having been given to her by the court
when the division of the property was
made at the time the divorce was grant
ed. There would have been arrests had
aot DR.. Sheldon desired that the matter
be kept quiet
There are some other things in con
nection with my place at Parkdale which
have never been told. Some time before
that well WAS poisoned Ar- BatAs fannd