Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-18
DELAwATF THURSDAY AUGUST IS 1898

mystery has nut bean clearea up,
although the indications are that before
the investigation has been completed
the guilty person or persons who mailed
the supposed ueudly chocolates will
have been traced and identified. Tho
burial of the yictims revived interest
in the uoubls tragedy, and the efforts
that are being mndo to clear up the
mystery are now tho uppermost TOPICS
OF intarest throughout this and ada
cent States.
II is beliovei 10y many that the sender
OF the candy was WOMAN who had hor
own reasons for getting Mrs. Dunning
and her daughter out of the way.
The results of the Investigation into
the deaths of Mrs. Dunning and her
Histar, Mrs. Dnane, Indicate that both
wumen lost THAR lives hy areanical
poisoning, which was contained in tue
candy sent, as waa supposed. by some
former San Francisco, CaL, friend.
No analysis Of the uandy has yet been
made, but MIR. Pennington will place
samples Ut IL 10 the hands Of several
| expert chemists. On the result of these
tests he proposes to have further action.
| There are two kinds uf chocolate
| candy 10 the box, one hard aud similar
to confeotioner's make. the other
soft. with every appearance of being
homemade. Tho impression of q
physicisn is that the poison will be
found in the latter kind.
These examinations have given rise
to suspicion in the minds uf many
that the box with pure candy was pur-
chased. after which it was opened aud
the poisoned candy placed along with
4 a -sH mill t,a r,,u Ia,
to solve the mystery surrounding tue
case. There is suspicion as to the
! guilty person.
Detectives will stHrt to work on the
case at once. The government authori-
tiss have been notified, and Gov. Tun-
nell and ttorney General White will
aasist the United States authorities in
| tracing the mysterious package.
Ii ia said that Mrs. Dunning just
before her death had her household
goods packed, including her Wedding
4 presents, 10 order TO move to New York,
where she md her husband. who 10 re
porting for the Associated Press, were
going to start housekeeping, after the
close Of the war with Spain.
NO SOLUTION OF THE MYSTERY IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
A dispatch from San Francisco says
None OF the many friends and auquaint
ances In this city of Mr.. and Mrs. John
4. Dunning can offer any plausible 10
formation why anyone hare should send
poisoned chocolates to Dover.
Arguing Oh the theory that tho
tragedy was the result of carefully
planned act On the part Of some one
who desired to take Mrs. Dunning' q
life, the deceased's friends hera are
unable TO suggest any reasonable ma
tive. Nor can anyone olfor clue to
the mysterious poisoning.
On the contrary the suggestion that
the poisoning was Intentional is secuted
} by those who knew Mrs. Dunning, all
J Of whom say abe was never known ever
! to arouse antagoniam much less te
create an enmity.
} Nor, 60 far as can be learned, hue
7 Mr.. Dunning any personal or business
q foes who could have attempted such ;
Q dastardly revenge upon member o
. bis family.
The more tho case is discussed thu
: more general Is the conclusion that thu
2 poisoning must have been accidental
Tho fact thDt handkerchief was sen
as a gift to Mrs. Dunning's daughte
b simultaneously with the present o
Q chocolates to the mother 10 cited ne NJ
b Indication that the candy cane from
q friend. If the lattsr suppoaition ]
!. correct, the donor, appalled, by the un
o expected and dreadful consciousness o
u tho present, is carefully copceahng hi
, or her Identity. Tbs 'Mrs. q, :
i stamped on tho wrapper OF the box @
0 candy has not massrislized 10 thi
{. city, although the police say that
i there 10 such person she will CON
fUrward and solve tho mystery,
10 The statement that the wrapper O
is the oandy box was postmnrked Sa
!, Francisco ia useless, the mail Ruthori
1t tics here say. 1t is not the custom t
l. postmark thirdclass mail, the stamp
+ simply being cancelled.
10 The possibility Of tbv candy havin
b been accidentally poisoned at the tim
II Of it's manufacture IL denied by loca
b confectiuners, who say that IL the usuf
lr praotics of using coloring matter In tn
10 making OF chocolates bad been used j
:. this case the swallowing Of tho eutir
is amount Of coloring or dye for 81
" pound batch Ut painted candy woul
1T have 20 more serious reaults than
r. days illness.
3. No tint or other coloring ingredient
at resulted in the preparation OF candy fc
Ia market. Tie resnls of the chsmicI
ID aualysis Of the candy ia anxiousl
10 awaited 10 the hope that the charactt
!. Of tho poison may throw some possihl
IN light upon the mystery. which cor
70 tinuss to remain apparently Incl
rs plicable