The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-10-12
Tho Ashe Woman Held i.

Enc Aen0 WOMAN nosu'
On Saturday, the 7th, inst, = hearing
was given Abba Jennie Ashs Of Fair
field, who was committed to Jail without
bonds, Sept. IS, charged with poisoning
Lottie York, . little girl about 8 years
old, then In Fairfield, Sept. 23. A
hearing was given Miss Ashe, Sept. 26,
at which time It was deemed necessary
to await chemical examination of the
dead child's stomach.
The hearing was held In the grand
| jury room before Trial Justice Priest.
Forrest Goodwin appeared for the de-
PENDANT and County Attorney Small for
the State.
The witnesses for the prosecution
were Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Frank York,
parents of Lottie, Mr.. Ruel York, and
Clarence York, 9.year-old lad, DR..
w. D. Rand of Fairfield, who was called
to attend the child, and Prof. r. @.
Robinson of Brunswick, the chemist,
who examined the stomach of the child
and its contents.
By the testimony 1t appeared Mr.. and
Mrs. stephen Y. York had not lived
together for some months, the respon-
dent keeping house for Mr.. York In
Chins. Mrs. York lived at Wsterville,
and the little girl, Lottie, lived with her
mother. Mr.. and Mrs. York were talk
ing about living together and were on
Saturday, Sept. 23, at Fairfield at the
town farm In the house occupied by
Ruel York aud his family. The Ashe
woman was there also, Saturday. IL
the Yorks were reunited, 1t was under
stood the little girl would live with
them. The child was taken sick In the
afternoon, and some simple, domestic
remedies were given it. About mid
night symptoms grew alarming. The
child vomited several times and after
several violent attacks of trembling,
died, about $50 o'clock, Sunday morn
ing. The boy Clarence testified that he
saw Miss Ashe give the little child
"three pieces Of candy that looked just
like wafers." He stated that he was
sitting at the end Of the sink which was
near the partition between the kitchen
and sitting room, the only two rooms on
the ground floor of the York house.
DR.. w. D. Rand of Fairfield, testified
that he was called to the York house by
the selectmen, on Sunday morning, just
after o'clock. He stated that he had
suspicious that the child had been
poisoned, and left orders that the matter
which the child had vomited on the bed
should be left He later sent for part
of this matter, which was secured by
York and the coroner. He also removed
the child's stomach and made an exami-
nation. He stated that the stomach was
empty, although red and congested.
He was suspicious of arsenical poison
and had the stomach and the vomited
matter put 10 boxes, sealed and sent by
him to Professor Robinson of Bruins
wick.
Prof. r. G. Robinson was then called.
He tested that hts chemical analysis Of
the vomited matter revealed considerable
traces of arsenic. Also the stomach
showed tho effects Of the same drug.
He stated that, judging from the guam.
tity he found, there was little doubt but
the arsenic 10 the whole of the matter
and stomach was sufficient to cause
death.
Sufficient evidence was found ia the
opinion OF Trial Justice Priest to war
rant the holding Of Miss Ashe for the
action Of the grand jury. She was COM
mitted to jail to await trial.