Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-03
MRS. JOHN GRIFFIN AND HER BABY
DAUGHTER POISONED.
A FORMER SERVANT SUSPECTED
CARBOLIC ACID HAD BEEN POURED
OVER THE TEA.
Mrs Griffin Is Very Close to Deaths
Door and Cannot Live-SIi=ht
Chance for the Baby-PoIi..S
Searching for the
Servant.

Mrs. John Griffin. whose husband is Z
motcrman on the elevated railroad. ANA
he, 19months-old baby girl were last
night poisoned at the supper table in their
home, ut 1865 Thompson avenue. Kansas
City. Kas. Carbolic acid had been poured
over the tea used in preparing the bevcr-
age for the evening meal. Only Mrs. Grit
lin and the baby tasted the tea. Mrs.
Griffin cannot live; there is slight chance
that the baby may recover.
The police across the river are inclined
to suspect Mrs. clara Garmo. a discharged
servant. of having sprinkled the poison
over the tea. They are searching for her
how.
According to the statements of members
OF the Griffin family. Mrs. Griffin prepared
81 pTer. She stepped a cup OF tea for her
self, she being the only member of the
household who drinks it. While drinking
the tea she remarked that it had Il Pc
culiar taste. Little attention was given to
it. however. and her infant was given sev-
eral swallows of the tea. The family had
scarcely finished the meal when Mrs. Grit
lin became violently ~. She grew rapidly
verse and complained of great Internal
pain. 1t was not suspected that she bad
been poisoned until the child also became
suddenly i'll. This aroused the family and
DIR. {. NJ. Stemen was summoned. Mrs.
Griffin WAS In u Semi-ConsCiouS condition
by the time the physician arrived. \
hasty examination was made and 1t was
discovered that the mother aud child were
suffering from carbolic acid poisoning.
Stomach pumps were applied and some
relief afforded the patients.
Or. Stemen examined the tin box from
which Mrs. Griffin had taken the tea and
found the contents saturated with car
holic acid, enough of the deadly drug be-
ing on the lid of the can to kill a human
being.
had administered the acid with suicidal
intent, but this was declared to be incor-
rect.
Mrs Clara Garmo. II servant who had
been in the employ Of the Griffin family
for several months. but who was discharged
by Mrs. Griffin Monday for usiEg opiUm.
was then suspected of the crime. The au-
thorites We're at once notified and dttec-
tiveS detailed to search for her The GarmO
woman claimed to have relatives living ;It
the corner of Third street and Nebraska
avenue. but Il ,iiliyent search on the part OF
the authorities in that locality failed to
throw any light as to her whereabouts. In
fact. thcy failed TO find anyone who ever
knew of her. II she is located she will be
arrested and held for investigation;
The Garmo woman was employ ed by the
Griffin family when Mrs. Griffin was at st.
Marearet's hospital. She proved TO bc a
good housekeeper; and seemed to be greatly
fin returned from the hospital she decided
to keep the servant; Friday afternoon, u
empty morphine bottles in the bed occupied
by the servant. She summoned Mrs. GarmO
and questioned her in regard TO using
opium The servant confessed that she
was a slave to the drug, so Mrs Griffin
stated. and said that she had used 1t for
the past ten years. Mrs. Griffin discharged
Mrs Garmo Monday. That evening she
returned to get some little article which
she claimed to have forgotten. She spent
fully an hour at the house. after which she
adrrarted. and has not Peen seen By any
Tacmber of the family since.
At an early hour this morning Mrs Griffin
was still alive. but very low.