Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-13
POISON In THE FOOD.
THE NARROW ESCAPE OF a FAMI-
LY IN FREDERICKsBURG
THE TEA MADE The COOK SICK.
This Led 10 the Discovery Tint The
Materials for breakfast Had Deen
sprinlslcd with Rough ON Hats
Two Fires.

FREDERICKSBURG. VA. January
l2.-(Special)-This community was hor-
rihed this morning at a rumor current
at an early hour that an attempt had
been made 10 poison the family Of Judge
W. S. Barton by some miscreants
heavily dosing the materials for the
morning meal with some deadly poison,
supposed TO be Rough on Rats"
Commonwealth's-Atto A. T. En-
brey and Mayor w. S. White immediate
ly started an investigation into the mat
ter. which disclosed the fact that. while
the perpetrator had no wish to do any
OF the Judges family harm, In his de-
sire 10 revenge himself on one against
whom he had a supposed grievance be
was willing to jeopardize the lives of
all the inmates of the house. The facts,
as near as they can be ascertained af-
ter thorough investigation, are az follows:
COOK THE FIRST VICTIM.
This morning at an carly hour Molie
Carey (colored Judge Barton's cook.
arrived at the house TO prepare breakfast
for the family. Feeling badly, she made
herself a pot OF tea, and as soon as II
was sufficiently drawn proceeded to
drink some Of it. After she had taken
several copious draughts she felt a
nauseating and unpleasant feeling COM
ing over her. and went into the
open air. Joseph Walker. the dining
room servant had gotten to the house
by this time. He discovered the wo-
mans pitiable condition. and set about
relieving her He thought IT was only
ordinary nausea, and applied such sim
pie remedies as he knew Of, which for
tunately produced the desired effect,
causing vomiting spell that threw the
poison from the stomach. Inquiry as
10 the cause of her Illness led him 10
examine the other articles for break
fast that had been set out the night be-
FORE and he discovered a quantity Of
powder in the -four and lard: also some
on the pantry floor. He took the arti
cles TO a nearby drugstore, and an eX-
animation was made, which satisfied the
authorities that the powder was Rough
on Rats.
HAD HAD A DIFFICULTY.
Who was the evil-door. and for whom
was the dose intended was then the
question. Further investigation brought
to light the fact that Mollie Carey, the
cook, and Ben, her husband, had a Sc
riOus difficulty Saturday night. and sus-
picion at once pointed TO him as the
guilty party, and to his wife the intend
cd victim. He was arrested as soon as
possible, and his house searched. In
the pocket of a coat he was accustomed
to wear daily, was found broken
package of Rough on Rats. He was
jailed and the officers were rewarded
on further investigation by discovering
that Carey purchased the poison the eve
ming before.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
Since his incarceration, Carey seems TO
realize that he has been found out, and
has completely broken down. At a late
hour this afternoon he made an attempt
TO hang himself with his handkerchief
TO the jail door, but was prevented from
accomplishing his object 10y the other
inmates Of the jail
The man has heretofore borne good
reputation for sobriety peacefulness,
and industry and the supposition is that
he has grown jealous of his wife. He
will be given a preliminary hearing at an
early day.
This city had two small fires this
morning. The first was in a confec-
toner's store on Commerce street, and
was discovered at an early hour by par
ties living over the store. II was quick
ly extinguished. The second occurred
about half-past 9 O'clock. and was I'm the
stable Of the owner OF the silk-mill here.
The building was small, and was totally
destroyed, together with the contents.