Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-26
SUSPICIOUS DEATH
Of Little Daughter of Stephen
York of Fairfield.
Every Symptom Of ArsenicaI Poisoning
and Varied Stories Told.
Peculiar Domestic Situation-The Coroner
Now investigating the Death.

dil4lSlu, ME-, sept. -o.-l SpeclolD.-
Whether it is a case of murder or ac-
cidental poisoning is now the question
which is puZzling the officers of this
town. Sunday, DR.. Rand reported to
the authorities that the little daughter.
aged 3 years. of Stephen F. York had
died under rather suspicious circum-
stances. He was summoned, Sunday
merning, to attend her and when he
arrived she was dead. The circum-
stances of her death pointed to poison
ing and his suspicious We're aroused.
The circumstances surrounding the
case are peculiar Reul York is sup
ported chiefly by the town. 1t has
built him a small house near the town
farm. where he lives with large fam
lily Of children. 1t was at this house
that the child of his brother. :. F.
York, died. Ruel York has been in Jail
and had returned to his home. Friday.
Several Of his relatives We're visiting
him. stephen York's domestic affairs
are rather complicated. He now has
two wives living. The child who died
was the daughter of his first wife. He
is now living with his second wife in
China, Ii is said that there is not the
best of feeling between the two Wo-
men 1t is claimed that they are very
Jealous of each other. and have been
heard to make threats.
1t CHANGED that Ruel York had. for his
guests his brother, S. f. York. his wife
and the woman who was formerly his
Nj n In,
caused any special trouble. 1t is said.
however. that the girl Of :. L. York's
first wife had caused trouble between
the women. York was very fond of
the child and his second wife was fear
full lest this fact might induce him To
leave her and return to his first wife.
1t is said that she had threatened to
harm the child if she got chance. The
jealousy of the two women seemed to
center on the child. and the one on ac-
count of the influence it might have on
her husband. and the other on account
of her dislike for the child. Frank
York's first wife had come to Water
willie, last Tuesday. to visit Ruel York
ana his second wife came from China,
Saturday, and left, Saturday after
noon.
This was the condition Of affairs pre-
ceding the child's sickness. Dr.. Rand
says that he was called up. about
,.,.l,c1, sunday ,norni,,.- tn ,,o o,it IA The
York house to see sick child. When h
arrived the child was dead. The story
then told him was that The child had al
ways been wei and str1nS: 1t had eaten
nearly supper as usual ~ ABOUT
9 clock IN Inc evening, IL was taken VIZ,
lCntlX ill. 1t NOmitcl until about L
CLOCK. ana thch Gropptu ~ lito q HtH
P P;l rom MlllSh ~ MI tn ''i'N
"t ~ a. dp1ut " \ ,ii IN, ~ ,i1 ~ nav,
ne P'oplc III thG mus dIc a1Au - ~
tcCuScu fIahh i1ih HoOpHu VIZ III
poisoning tht cnI,H aIlu tuiu Il i IT,.
threats 70 az sl- lhpN Wtrc NH Ia. l oIla
dcath was caused ~ p9-Sri-lhI dnu VIZ.
- some one Pro9IcuLs". liz uuCu"ii - n, TtH
what ne coulu learn pronounced ~
cause OF the Ghliu dta'n 70 De aiSi i'lt me-,
poisoning lie was uhdolG 10 ma any
poison that the child could get at about
ne mouse ana was t"Iu tiidt ll!tIJ t
none ABOUT tnt p1ace; on ms giIiN' NV
ne notified Nlillain olill,soi % tiIt ,e!
thinking that coroner INQUEST ouSil
% be held MI simpson COMMISSION a.
coroner mas expired, anu hshPush ne iia7
been reappolnteo, ne mas not !tL -"
confirmed. lie therefore ulu Iot WISH ~
manage the case I'LL ,.n, Ar
+. Kelley chairman II the board q
Selectmen, ana Jndertaker LaNrH WciI
out, later in the day. After an lnTesu-
Coroner l.. J. Arlington d SKoWheSah,
- investigate the case inns was uoLe
ana nc came DOWN MondaE dllt IIio VII
ana was met IL ilshoH tIiA =! ~
Kelley. He examined al! the witnesses hr
could find in the neighborhood but "a nnJ
empanel jury. He Withheld ms De
cjsion as to the necessity OF an inquest
over the case. but will give it; Tuesday
Monday afternoon. DE- Rand was again
called out TO the farm. lie supposed th nal
examination but found when ne arrived
there that a child of Rucl York was sick
lie was told that it vas taken almost me ii eX
actly the SAINT as the ore VINO had dleu,
hut found on examination that II was
suffering from simple diarrhta, whlc1
could not produce the 5ame symp p 1S a
the other chlld had; ahu tlat III co"uI'ioii
was not particularly dangerous.
Iie was also told AT ait3Sethtr dliier rTL[
story about tins other enid ue n. HI, n
anger oI the prollitt r i.p II yb, MN