The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-23
An HEIRKSy'S SUDDEN DEATH.
Elsie hycrs's stcptathcr in Jail OvinE to
Suspicious OF Poison.

RR'DfNu, Pa, Sept. ~ Whether the Robert
W Taylor who was once n prisoner inthe Read
ing jail Is the same Robert ". Taylor who il
now IN the Pott5villa jail Is Il question 10 be
solved hy the police. The man In the Pots
vile Jail Is held pending the investigation Of
a suspected poisoning case.
The alleged poisoning took place IN Mahanoy
city. IN that mining town Frank Myers kept
u drug store and was prosperous. lie had a
wife aud two children. "a son and a daus htrr.
About a year ago he died. aud some months
later Mrs. Myers advertised Tor a competent
druggist 10 manage the store. Taylor Sc
cured the place, ile managed the store we'll.
finally proposed marriage To- the widow, and
on Aug ?? last va married tn her al Girard-
Vile. Mrs. Myers daughter Elsi" wa "A ro-
bust girl A few days ago she wa suddenly
taken violently III at her hon.s ard died I'm
few hours. The authorities held an autopsy
and tho dead girls stomach was sent 10 Phila-
delphia for analysis. MIR. Taylor left home
on business for "a few DAYS. but returned vol
UNFAIRLY when Coroner Blei!er thou yht il best
10 detdn him in custody until the inquest was
concluded. Elsie was helress 10 considerable
property left By her father.
~ the inquest Mrs. Taylor testified that she
and her daughter Elsie had been out for "a walk
and that they returned home about 10 p. NJ
when We left she testified. Taylor was
In tho house alone. NV son Charley had LETT
some time before. After we reached the front
Of the drug store the rear Of which We used
rs a dwelling Elsie said Tho was thirsty and
she went 10 tie sitting room Tor a glass Of water.
and ! followed | can't remember whether
there was a light there or not. Elsie took
a glass from the top ~ tho refrigerator and
poured somc ice water into The glass from
Tie cooler. She had taken one or two swal-
lows on the water when She cried out. 'Oh,
THH rN rHl Tho "a Na-HA LL tn.-.ff Z H..
took the glass from her and tasted the water.
IL had no odor, but tasted both bitter and
sweet Twenty minutes later Isle lay back
OF the lounge and began 10 scream. Sle com
planned OF pains In her stomach and In the calf
Of her leg. she writhed as II in commissions,
and ! was. about to run for help when |, too
was seized with pain and vomiting. | could
only lie down and watch my rnor child suT.r
a. nv pnil Eas i.iGrse lie, lips began
drawn and smartins. Then tho doctor came
"rI don't remember ANYTHING more
The daughter Elsie died without making any
st"teu."ut. Her brotier lharles testified NJ TO
troubles he. had bad With Tay Tor. Lawyer
Swank testified That the Myers estate amounted
60 about $1,000 and continued "Oue day
Taylor handed ne a newspaper containing
questions and answers. one Of the grcstlors
wa, what would become Of an estate left nv a
person who had only one parent and A brother?
The question wos signed by IA citizens name
who, lived ,pcar3yl and that citizen dlsclaimed
enrhattcal!y TINT he had ever sent such a
question. Taylor Questioned Ine about such
"a leEaI question dud asked me II a minor child
tt'll nlahe n NallI VIII"
I'll, Patterson, guardian Of Charles, testified
M,torv u the RtobeTt Il. TayIor who served s@f
"a seutenC" here. tie Informed the widow Of
what he learned. aud the widow and Elsie also
ram" 70. {eadiuG, md made inquiries about
Robert W TAYLOR. From the dc>criptious given
10 was thought sure that the two Tavlors were,
one aud thc same person, although the TAYLOR
20 the PDttsyllle jail aid this was q mistake:
that they were COUSINS and re-emhled pnch
other n great deal. The widow believed 1aylur
but later was alarmed and asked to be- pro-
tectsl.
What killed Elsie ani made her mother III
i not vet known. The Coroner and his Jury
are awaiting the report Of the chemist who
i examining the stomach and ia contents.
The TAYLOR who Was In isil here was a Desperate
prisoner and broke Jail AZ his third attempt.
lie SQS r"uITe~t"d nine months later and
was tl"r sout"uced yor another year. lie served
about six wears In all.
~. Hrcndlr, who was rlleiin. said he thought
at Nr.t that Elsie suffered from Indigestion.
lie tasted water from N" same glass. II had
n uIttcr--w cet taste and made Ms lipS very sore.
Mhcthnr any ono placed POISON in tho clnss
NJ tie cooler 70 be l-ed ny the widow and her
daughter or by any ono else I'm the family
nfhe darkness remains 10 be developed. Judge
] won. who l. Ttylor's counsel. is confident
ruylor h.d absolutely nothing 10 DO with il
AID that - far a. his client f. concerned there
Va no plot 10 get the $4,000 Of the family.