The San Francisco call., 1897-02-07
GAVE HER POISON,
BUT NOT To KILL
Thomas Siddall Answers
the Charges of His
Wife.
Acted Under a Doctors Order
When He Induced Her 10
Take Morphine.
Tie Millbrae Man Released From
Prison on Habeas Corpus
Proceedings.

REDWOOD CITY, CAL, Feb, g.
Thomas A. Siddall, who was arrested at
Millbrae yesterday afternoon, charged by
DR.. A. E. Baldwin of San Mateo with be-
ing insane and dangerous to be at large,
and who is accused of having yesterday
poisoned his wife by administering NOR.
phine to her, spent last night in the
County Jail a this place.
To-day he is a free man. having this
afternoon been brought before the Supe-
rior Court on habeas corpus proceedings.
The Judge allowed him to go on his own
recognizance, provided he would appear
again Monday morning for further exam
ination.
His release was obtained on a techni-
cality, he not having been properly COM
mitted. The. complaint on which he was
arrested was signed by DR.. Baldwin, but
was not sworn 10 as required by law.
Siddall is a man about % years of age,
and his wife is % years old. He stated
to-day that mis- wife has been subject to
fits, and when in this condition she had
been in the habit of taking morphine
pills, under the direction OF a physician.
She had been ailing for Two or three days
previous to the alleged poisoning and, she
being worse yesterday, he gave her a
morphine pill.
This not having the desired effect, ne
gave her another u half hour later. He
denies that he did so with any evil motive
He was merely carrying out the directions
OF a physician.
AS result, symptoms Of poisoning be-
gan to appear. She became worse and
physicians were summoned. For awhile
her life was despaired OF, but the efforts
of the physicians proved successful. 1t
was learned to-day that she was able to be
up and around.
The couple have one young child, which
the mother had been nursing and which
also showed symptoms OF poisoning. The
child is quite i'll.
Siddall limited that his married life
had been anything but happy and har-
monious. He has been married about
three years and it is unders ood that he
comes of a wealthy family in England
While living in Ontauo, Canada, his wife
had him arres ed on q charge of insanity,
but that charge was dismissed.
At that time he transferred all of his
property TO her, he being then a prosper
Gus grocer. On coming to this county he
puISudSeu nome la MlIlDTae, Wnlcn ne
has since given to his wife. He now says
that she is trying to get rid of him, and
that certain persons living in his neigh
borhood have conspired with her for that
purpose. He accuses his wife of having
an ungovernable temper, citing several
instances when she had threatened to do
him bodily harm. One time he was COM
PEELED to destroy pistol that he had in
the house for fear she would use it.
He admits that he has been unmanly
enough at different times to use personal
violence toward her, and that on one oc-
casion her screams brought in the neigh
bors.
Now that the woman has recovered 1t
is not believed that the charges against
him will be pressed. When shown the
account OF the alleged poisoning as it ap-
peared in this mornings Examiner Sid
dali became very much incensed and oe-
nounced it as tissue of falsehoods He
has signified his intention of suing that
paper for libel.