Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-27
POISONED CANDY.
Abbie Jennie Ashe Charged
With Murder at Fairfield.
Held for Grand Jury for Poisoning
Little lottie York.
testimony Shows That She Gave Child Can
dy'' lust Before Death.

Fairfield. Me, Sept. e.-(SpeciaD.-
tuesday morning, Coroner Addington
OF SkoWhcgan, telephOned down that
ne considered that an inquest was nee
essary in the death Of little Lottie York,
by poisoning, which was reported in
Mondays Journal He came down in
the forenoon and went directly to the
town farm accompanied by Z. Kelley.
lie empanelled the following jury:
Charles Toby, Fred Toby, Joseph Nye.
Emery Hobbs, Z. Kelley, and Benna
Lawrence. County Attorney Small was
present to assist Mr.. Arlington in ex-
aiming the witnesses. AS a result Of
the inquest Addie Jennie Ashe, the
housekeeper of Frank York, is in
Skowhegan Jail to await the action of
the grand jury on the charge Of muir
der
No testimony was obtained from the
first witnesses called. The story of the
events proceeding the chiId's death was
the essential part of the testimony.
1t seems that Thursday of last week
the family of Ruel York was taken by
d.,
where they were to meet Ruel when he
returned from jail at Augusta Frank
went to Augusta. and returned with
his brother Ruel. The whole family
was there. There We're Addie Jennie
Ashe, Frank York's housekeeper, Katie
Mosier- York, Frank Yorks first wife
and the child Lottie. who was poisoned,
Ruel York, wife and family.
II was shown that there was quite a
dispute while there as to whether or
not Frank York should return to his
first wife. This caused trouble all
around, but it was finally settled and
the whole crowd left for Ruel York's on
friendly terms. it is said.
Clara York, wife of Ruel testified
that trouble again arose at her house
between Frank and the two women.
Jennie and Katie. There was trouble
between Frank and Katie over the sup
port of their child and Frank said that
he was willing TO support both the
child and its mother and that they
could return to them if they wished.
Jennie Ashe. Mrs. Ruel York testified,
had said that before she would see
Frank return to Katie she would put
the child out Of the way. There was
considerable wrangling of this kind be
tween the two women and Frank York
at the house of Ruel before the death
Of the death Of the child.
Saturday before Frank and Jennie
Ashe left Ruel York's. Mrs. York testi-
fed. that Jennie had been in a room
alone with the little girl Lottie and
that the others in the house were to
busy to notice what she was doing. She
testified that before the child died she
called three times for her father and
told her, Mrs. Ruel York, that:
Jennie had given her three blue pills
and she had eaten them"
DR.. Rand was the next witness He
testified as to the cOnversat ton which
took place at the house when he called
there and as to the condition of the
child at the time of the child's death
Clarence York, the little son of Ruel
York, was next called. He seemed a
bright smart little boy and was very
positive in his statements. He said
that he had seen Jennie give Lottie
some candy in the form that comes
wrapped up in paper. 1t was finally
learned from him that the candy was in
the form Of tabules. Jennie had two
or three in her pocket. he said. and had
given them to Lottie and he had seen
her from the other room. She did not
offer him any or to any of the other
children. She told Lottie that it was
candy and he had seen Lottie eat them.
Addie Jennie Ashe was the next wit
ness and the most important one She
said that she was the housekeeper of
Frank York and had not been married
10 him. She was at his house in China
and knew of the trouble but had not
been concerned in all Of ii but had been
N another part of the house.
She said that Katie had come into
he part where she was and had raised
IN AK over her head and in her opinion
would have killed her had it not been
or the Interference Of the others. She
orOfessed not to know why this was
lone. She had told Katie to go ahead
md kill her if she wanted to but that
ihe was innocent.
She denied that there had been any
special trouble at the house of Ruel
.fter they had gone there and also de-
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