The times., 1899-05-05
WIFE CHARGED WITH MURDER.
arrested ON Suspicion of killing,
Her Husband With Poison

Her Husband With Poison.
Elkton. Nd. May Mrs. Ella Gray,
widow Of the late Henry Scott Gray, who
died at his home, near Conowingo. Cecil
county, April 8 last. was arrested yester-
day afternoon and brought to Eikton Jail
on suspicion of having poisoned her hus-
band with strychnine. The arrest was
made at the instigation of States Attorney
William s. Evans, of Elkton. and caused
no little excitement throughout the upper
part of the county, as but few outside of
the officials were aware that the case was
being investigated.
Mrs. Gray was at home with her family
of four children when Sheriff j. Ross Con-
oily made known his mission. She did not
appear to be much agitated over her ar
rest. but was greatly worried over the fact
that she would have to leave two of her
children, both of whom are suffering from
measles. She denies the charge. She is
about thrty-ive years of age and is pre-
possessing woman. She was formerly
Miss Mcdowell, of Cecil county.
the officials at the time Of Gray's death
were notified by the lodge Of American
Mechanics Of which the deceased was
member, and who was insured by the lodge
for about 5000. that they suspected some
thing wrong as Gray had been in good
health short time before his death. which
occurred shortly after he retired for the
night. States Attorney Evans and Sheriff
Conoly at that time went to Conowingo.
but could not find evidence enough to war
rant an arrest Drs. Roman and Regan both
stated that death was due to natural caus-
es. and for a time the matter apparently
dropped. The officials. however, were still
at work. and on Tuesday afternoon 1t was
found that Mrs Gray had on April pur-
chased at Regan Brothers drug store. at
Conowingo. nine grains OF strychnia, and
! that the same is registered upon their
| books.
The body of the husband will be exhumed
| and DIR. Howard Bratton. of Elkton. local
health officer, will be asked by the States
| attorney to make a post-mortem examina-
tion. DR.. Bratton will probably be assisted
| by DR.. John Fl. lamar, also of Elkton.
States Attorney Evans expects that the
| post-mortem examination will show the
presence of strychnia-
| The theory is that the motive for the
| murder was the insurance money. The Of
| ficials also state that the couple of late
had not lived happily together and that
| quarreis were of frequent occurrence.
Coupled with this. they say, is jealousy.
Gray. who was about thirty years of age,
was taken suddenly i'll shortly before he
| retired for the night and a physician was
sent for, but when he arrived Gray was
dead. 1t is claimed that spasm followed
| spasm and that every indication pointed 10
| death from some unnatural cause. The
residents of the community and the lodge
members suspected something wrong. The
wife was questioned about his death AMI
their relations, and on several occasions
gave contradictory statements. She wa:
asked about having poison about the prem
ises and stated that she never had bought
any poison, having had no occasion to do
so.
The lodge of Mechanics about gave the
matter up. but some of the citizens con-
tinued to agitate it, and last week States
Attorney Evans went before the county
commissioners and stated the nature Of
the case and Informed them that the resi-
dents of the town demanded that a post
mortem examination be made On Monday
morning the officials were put In possession
Of certain information, and since ther
have been quietly investigating the facts
The States attorney swore out a warrant
before Justice Philip NJ. Groves of Elkton
on which the arrest was made. The pris-
oner is confined in cell on the first flool
of the jail and no one is permitted to in.
| teryiey her