The San Francisco call., 1897-11-20
POISONED
EVEN THE
POTATOES
Murderer of the BeleWs
Planned His Work
Carefully.
ARSENIC IN ALL THE
FOOD.
Large Quantities Found in
Tubers Boiled for the
Evening Meal.
OFFICERS QUESTION MRS.
FRANK BELEW.
fhe Is Reticent, and Throws but
Little Light Upon Her Hus-
band's Past.
Large Quantities Found in
Tubers Boiled for the
Evening Meal.
OFFICERS QUESTION MRS.
FRANK BELEW.
fhe Is Rettcent, and Throws but
Little Light Upon Her Hus-
bands Past.
special Dispatch TO THE CALL

DIXON, Nov. -. - District Attorney
Dev,iu. Captain Jonn Curtin and his local
aids wenj 10 Davisvllle today 10 take
the testimony Of the wife OF Frank Be-
lew. brother OF the murdered Louis
and Susie Belew, whose poisoning has
been cIoaked IN the greatest mystery ever
known in this part OF the State. Be-
cause OF her little boys, Mrs. Belew was
very reticent. She testified guardedy and
threw little light on tie recent life OF her
suspected husband. Regarding the eyi-
denCe OF her father concerning Frank Be-
Iew's conduct, she said she had nothing
material TO add. She did not deny the
truth of her fathers accusations out did
not desire 10 testify.
1 first heard of Louis and Susie Be-
lew's death by a telephone message from
my husband" she SAID, "and it was a
very short message. He aid not lose much
time after their death, but sent for me to
come to the telephone at once"
J. l. Martin is Mrs. Belew's brother
He seems 10 have been closer to Frank
Belew than anv other person in this part of
the country. He test fed that Frank Belew
at once sent him word OF the death of his
brother and sister. Martin was. however,
very guarded in his testimony, not seem
ing to take great deal OF interest in the
case.
Professor Grinstead, the chemist OF the
High School, tonight finished his analy
sis of the potatoes taken from the Belew
home yesterday. Detective Curtin found
q pot OF boiled potatoes at the house yes
terday and took them 10 the professor
careful analysis showed that the waller in
Which they were boiled must have con-
ta.Hed q large quantity of arsenic. Speak
Ing OF his analysis, the professor said:
i have not made a quantitative analy-
sis, for that would take long time, but l
should say that the potatoes were very
poisonous. The water i'll which they were
boiied must have carried a large amount
Of arsenic in solution
The investigation to-day also went into
the question of the embalming OF Louis
Belews body. A rumor had gained cir
cuiatIon that Frank BeIew asked young
Milton Carpenter, an undertaken to en-
balm bis brother's body at once. On that
point CARPENTER made a comp plate denial
saying:
Frank Belew asked me to take the
body and TX II Tor burial. | was desirous
OF experimenting with some EN- balming
fluid and I en- baI med the body. l would
proba bly, have emnalEed the other BODY
also had l not been stopped just when
was, ,or the doctor had said that death
was cause1 from Indigestion and not
from poisOning.'
Professor Wenzall sent word that he
can attend the inquest if it is held as
early as Tuesday, out he cannot well
come later in the week. While il is not
YET known Just W hen the inquest will be
finished, 1t is now almost certain that il
VIII begin on Mondav, and that all the
evidence will be in by Tuesday night.