The evening times., 1895-11-08

Oscar Wanneck was put on trial before
Judge Cox this morning for selling dirt
for rat poison. The offense was committed
in September.
Mr.. Wanneck came here from Chicago
and did q good business for q time. The
material lie sold would, he said, kill rats,
weevil reaches, SC. 1t was Of a taste
to attract the rats, and 1t was 80 powerful
that if put some feet from the wan the
rats would die before they could get to
their holes, SO there would be no Gead rats
about the place.
When IL was tried the stuff was found
useless and Mr.. wanneck was arrested in
Richmond. Tue Indictment is for false
pretenses.
Mr.. WanIeck appeared this morning
fashionabiy and NEATLY dressed, He was
accompanied by rather pretty young
woman dressed In q well-made watered
black silk. The cape showed a bit of deep
purple color In the lining.
He seemed a little nervous, and fire.
quently prompted his attorney, Mr.. Win
dom Woodwork.
NO POISON IN IT.
Mr.. Jefforis in the opening statement
said that Mr.. WaDneck had sold the alleged
insect exterminator and not poison to
q w., 9dlt q IT,, duu
Chas Schneider, representing its qualities
as above stated. Itpfoved TO be Ineffective,
and upon analysis it was found to contain
no particle of poison. 1t was just plain dirt.
Mr.. Woodwork resery ed his opening
speech, but told the jury Mr.. Jeffords had
stated no present fact, but all proDlissory.
Mr.. Edwin z. Pilisbury, manager of the
flour and feed business of Piiisbury &
Co., on New York avenue, was the first
witness. He said that Wanneck came to
his place on September 1S ur IS last and
said be was Introducing u rat poison for
a California company, with a branch at
Chicago They were selling at S1.15
pound, a reduced price, and would send
twice as much as taken for the first order.
He bought twelve pounds, and told the
bookkeeper tO pay for the stuff when it
came.
Mr.. Wanneck represented that the ma
terIal contained alkali, from the Western
plains, and Marmosa weed. He knew these
poisons, and felt sure they would kill rats
and insects
He took the package himself when it
came, and noticed the stuff did not feel
like alkaii. He was suspicious and deter
mined to try it himself. Mr.. Wanneck had
said and SO read the directions to put the
stuff on damp rye bread and lay 1T eight
or ten feet from the wall He followed di-
rections precisely.
NO RATS WERE DEAD.
When he came to the warehouse next
morning the poison lay Just as he left 1t
and there were no dead rats around He
then put the stuff in box with reaches
and weevil. After leaving them there for
a time he opened the box and the insects
came out unhurt. He then had some of the
powder anaiyzed by a chemist at the Smith
sonian Institution and by District Chemist
Hird. Both reported no poison found.
He then swore out a wa rant, and when
Wanneck was caught in Richmond, went
down to identify him.
Mr. Woodwork, in ross-examination.
called attention to the fact that the d.
rectious said the dose Of poison was to be
repeated six or eight times
Mr.. PiIlsbury admitted that he had tried
the poison but once, and after the analysis
had within forty eight hours sworn out the
warrant.
EXPERIENCE OF A BAKER.
Mr.. Charles Schneider, the baker, at No.
Al I street northwest, testified that Mr..
wanneck had come to his office on Sep
tember Il last and sold him fifteen pounds
of alleged insect poison He was troubled
with weeviIs. not rats Besides what
wanneck had told Mr. PiIlsbury, Mr.. Schuei
der said he promised that the stuff would
kill weevils when they came where it was
without being eaten.
Mr.. Schneider sent S26.5O by express or
der to pay for the oods, but as soon as
he opened the package he saw it was worth
less and tried to get his money back from
the express company. He bad warrant
sworn out for Mr.. wanneck. and went over
TO Virginia to see him.
Mr.. wanneck pretended not to know him.
He said: You sold me worthless stuff
for roach poison, and now you're behind
the bars"
indicated that the defense would rely upon
the fact that wanneck acted only as an
agent.
Mr.. Theodore Mayer, of Gait & Co, and
Manager Bennett, of the New York Biscuit
Company, also gave DAMAGING testimony
against the accused.