Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-20
A LUCKY THEFT.

Mr.. Courtney, n rich bachelor, resolved
10 ltnve his estate 20 his nephew, Edward
Horton, his other nephew, Charles Court.
ncy, being rich But Charles was TO in.
hcrit from Edward IN onso Edward died
without issue.
Old Mr.. Courtney being ono Of the
halost of bachelors, when h was announced
not only That he WA dead, but that foul
play was suspected when post norton
examination demonstrated that he had
fallen victim 10 poison and whom Il was
given out that tho hand that had admins
tered IL was that Of his favorlto nephew,
the public mind was both surprised and
shocked
IL was not until Edward Horton Ind
been fully committed for trial for his un.
cle's murder that was retained for the
dcfonse
His own statement was, in substance,
this
A physician had boon called 20 900 Mr..
Courtney on OCCASION " some apparently
tri1ing illness, requiring some simple
remedy, FOR which u pru crlption was writ.
ten and handed to tho prisoner TO have
made UP. This the latter had carried to n
well known. competent druggist, who had
put u up In his presence. The medicine
consisted u three white powders each
folded In n scrap ~ paper and the whole
Enclosed Ia a single wrapper. They wcro
90 b. given At Intervals ~ an hour aud
had remained continuously In tho prison.
cr's possession TIL tho first was admins.
tcrud, which was done by himself immo.
diatcly ON his return from the druggists
Dir Courtney grew rapidly worse, and
whom. NJ the expiration ~ m hour, a sec.
ond powder Ms administered the symptoms
became so alarming that q messenger was
dispatched for the physician, who on his
arrival declared that The patient was sui.
forlng from the effect NJ poison. An exam.
luntlon ~ tho remaining powder disclosed
the fact that II was pure arsenic II wn4
too lato for any nnildote ~ he available.
and la less than an hour death had ~.
loved the sunurur. An autopsy of tho
body and nn analysis " the contents of
tho stomach lpit no doubt ~ 60 tho causa
Of death. The prcsonco " arsenic IN n nee.
cssnrlly fatal quantity was indicated by
every known chemical tost. 10 was fur
Their admitted By the prisoner that hr nlonn
had accoss 10 his unclc's apartment or had
handled the medicine from the time u was
compounded by tho druggist tiil tho com.
ing " tho physician after the second pow.
der had been taken
The druggist, who was known 10 bo a
man Of extraordinary caution and thor.
ouRhly skilled In bic business. WINS rrudy
60 swear that BY mo- possibility could any
mistake have occurred Ia putting up tho
medicine
To make matters worse, 10 tnnplrcd
that tho hmicnblr rotations between tho
uncle and nephew had been somewhat die.
turhed " late, by nruson ~ mn attachment
of the latter disnppruyod by tho former.
who had gone No far ~ 20 threaten IN
changu his viii unless his wishes woru ~.
spoctod.
who was In company with you from
the timo you received the medicine TN
your return toyuur uncl1's housof' asked
the prisoner, desperately cropping after
something to afford % ray Of hope
mo ono, ~ be- answered. but my cousin
Charles whom met near the druggist,
and who accompanied me In "
l drcw from Edward thnt Charles saw
the medicine put up; walked with him u
little way then went hnck FOR something.
Edward awaiting his return; then walked
arm In arm nearly homo. whom Charles
left. also reminded Edward that, his
uncle being dead N he also should dio
N"hNA'AA NAhA'H NHAih AiAAN'NAA AAlN NNhiN
estate.
"lie did III Hold iti tho young man
cried In paruxysm ~ excitement too
earnest 20 DO counterfeit. "ilo went our
to get the poison when ho left mo waiting
Ho put II up 20 resemble tho druggists
parcel for which ho substituted 10 ~ wa
went along l know II nuwi l carried tho
parcel Ia the right pocket Of my oyuruoat,
and IL was ON that side ho wnlkcdi'
was seated In my private Office ON tho
day preceding that fixed for tho trlnl, In
dulging la anything but shnWuinn capoc.
tnuon-, whom "a tap At tho door announced
a visitor. IL was tho dotoctiyo had en-.
ployrd.
what Is it'' inquired after closing
the door.
n made nn arrest to-day, " he answered.
"nnd In tho prisoners possession found
this oyorcoat, " wndolng q package he had
bought.
"Wolil"
In ono Of tho pockets 1 found this"
and be- handed me u small parcel, which 1
opened. inside were three papers, folded
a. druggists put up their prescriptions.
Tho person with whom found this
coat, tho detective continued. "cunicssrs
that ho stole IL from u billiard saluun, tho
owner having laid Il aside while playing,
and tho date he ilHos corresponds with MIR
Courtnoy's murder. But. what is moro
important, have ascortalnod that Charles
Courtney IL tho owner uf the cnatl'
Let Us 60 nt once IN tho drugglst'si" 1
exclaimed springing from my chair and
snatching up my hat. We were soon thrru
PLEASE examine that parcel 1 said,
putting IL Into the druggists hands.
He did No, oaruful'V opening the papers
and Inspecting their contents They con.
tAlnod three white powders.
How do thoy correspond with those
you put up Tor Mr. Courtney inquired,
"and for which othurs seem 90 have boon
aftorward 80 mystoriously substltutedY
They do not correspond at all, " no an.
twerod; "thcy are tho same"
The snmol How do you know thatV'
"By those figures" he replied, pointing
to the inside OF ono Of the papers 81 had
made a calculation that day ON tho sheet
Of paper part a which l used In putting
W the prescription bought by Mr. Horton.
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