The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-08-20
A TERRIBLE DEED.
Two Prominent Ladies Die In Dover
From Eating Poison Candy.-Well
Known Here.

The funerals Of Mrs Ida Deane, wife OF
]. D. Deane, of Dover, and Mrs. j. Z.
Dunning, who were poisoned from eating
candy last week. took place on Monday,
and were very largely attended K, b.
Frazer, of Elkton, who is related to both
ladies, attended the funeral.
Besides these two ladies there were sew
eral others OF the household who suffered
greatly from eating the candy. The case
is deep mystery, and it is believed the
candy was poisoned purposely by its sender.
Mrs. Cumming was the wife of well
known Associated Press correspondent on
duty in Cuba.
On Tuesday evening Of last week, Mrs.
Dunning, who is visiting her father, and
her sister, Mrs. Deane, received by mail box
of candy, handkerchief and a note The
note, which was unsigned, simply said:
"For yourself and baby, with best regards"
The postmark on the box was blurred, but
Mrs. Dunning supposed it had come from q
lady in San Francisco. Mrs Dunning
handed the candy to those sitting on the
porch, who We're her sister, Mrs. Deane
her daughter Harry Pennington, Miss
Josephine Batemau and Miss Ethel Mill
ington and Mrs. Cummings little daughter
All ate heartily of the candy, but no one
experienced any unpleasantness until they
had retired for the night, when Mrs
Deane was taken violently i'll. a short
time later Mrs. Cunning was stricken.
The rest of the party were also taken i'll,
but toward morning Mrs. Deaue's daugh-
ter, Harry Pennington, Miss Bateman and
Miss Millington recovered. Mrs. Deane
died Thursday evening. Mrs. Cunning
died Friday evening.
Young Pennington is very I'LL. Some
of the candy that was not eaten will be an
alyzed. 1t comprised chocolate hon. bons.
Coroner Walls, on Monday morning sum.
moned jury in Dover, to inquire into the
deaths Of Mrs. j. d. Deane and Mrs. j. p.
Dunning, daughters of former Congressman
Pennington.
DR.. l.. A. Winthrop, the attending ply
stefan, stated at the inquest, that in his
opinion, the candy eaten by the women
was poisonous. The doctor said that no
post norton had been held, as the vomit-
ing of the victims had been so frequent
that there was nothing in the stomachs to
examine
The jury adjourned to await an analysis
of the candy, which chemist will make.
The box in which the candy came is
made of pasteboard, u by 81 inches deep
There was no printing whatever on the
box. 1t was wrapped in manila paper, and
with the chocolates was sprinkling Of
other candy. The address on the box was
in clear hand, and read, "Mrs. J. T.
Dunning, Dover, Del" The postmark is
mailing is indistinct, but august" can
be made out.
The note is written on ruled white paper
in lead pencil and the words are written
jerkily and in an entirely different hand
from the superscription, very like a
woman's hand
The authorities are now inclined to the
opinion that arsenic was sprnked on the
candy, and that death resulted from arseni-
cal poisoning. Miss Josephine Bateman,
one of those who tasted the candy, but
did not eat of it, said that her mouth was
sore and her gums irritated, an indication
nibbling the candy she felt a bad taste in
her mouth, and with her handkerchief she
wiped out some white powder. The
theory is now advanced that the candy was
poisoned and sent to Mrs. Cunning by
some enemy.