The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-16
DISPOSITION
'''' ''' TO TO DROP IT
Poison Case at Salem That Has
Peculiar Features.
DAUGHTER BOUGHT THE POISON
SAYS a Woman Met u er On the Street and
Asked Her to Buy It A Note Found
That Furnishes a
Cine.

Salem, Feb. l4.--There is still great
deal of mystery attached to the poison
ing of the entire family of Jefferson
Crouch. The poisoning was done with
Rough on Rats and it has been shown
that the oldest daughter in the family
bought the poison She says she bought
it at the request of a woman in black
who accosted her on the street and ask
ed her to do it. This girl also partook
of the poison and there is more mystery
than ever.
Mr. Crouch, Mrs. Crouch, Ralph and
Helen are very sick yet They passed
restless night, and they have taken
very little nourishment since Sunday
morning. Grace, one of the older chill
dren, was able to go to work this morn
ing. She is employed at the Grove gum
works. When the family sat down to
breakfast Sunday morning Grace was
not there. She had gone to a neighbours
and did not return until the family had
commenced eating breakfast, so she did
not eat very much until some of her
brothers and sisters had taken sick. Mr.
Crouch is confined to his bed, and so is
one of the twins Ralph. Mrs. Crouch
is very sick.
The note which was found at the door
Monday morning, giving the only clue
the family has as to the poisoning, is
now in the hands of Mrs. Crouchs
brother, Patrick Redington, councilman
from the Third ward. The note Is not
plainly written. Every evidence is that
it was written by woman. Grace
Crouch found the note Monday morning
at the door which had not been opened
since Sunday. This door is never kept
locked Mrs. Crouch says, and she thinks
the family was poisoned by some one
coming in that door Saturday night and
putting Rough on Rats on the meat
which Mr.. Crouch brought home the
same evening. The note said the writer
was hired to poison the family by an
enemy; that she was sorry to poison
them but she needed money badly
Mrs. Crouch says several persons have
seen a woman watching the house; that
on Saturday Mr.. Ague, neighbor, saw
a woman on the street, who asked him
where High street was: that later MI.
Ague saw the same woman near the
Crouch home.
Helen Crouch says she does not know
the woman who asked her to buy for
her box of Rough on Rats Thursday
evening; that she would probably not
know her If she were to see her again.
She says the woman was dressed in
black. 1t was raining when she saw
her and the stranger had no umbrella.
Helen was on her way to attend night
school at the business college. She was
down town when this woman stepped
up to her. and asking her pardon, in
quired where there was a drug store.
The Crouch girl directed her to one
| across the street. Then the woman
asked Helen, she says, If she would step
in and buy the Rough on Rats for her,
as she was stranger In the city and
she wanted the poison for her sister
and the register of sales for Thursday
at the drug store shows the sale of the
poison. 1t was near closing time, 1880,
for the register shows only few sales
after this one.
Health officer Miles got a part of the
meat which the family ate Sunday
morning. He intended having it an
Lalyzed, but to do this will cost $25. He
does not feel like expending that amount
out of his own pocket, and unless he Is
instructed by some one having author
ity in the matter to have the meat an
alyzed, it will probably not be done
This fact is one of the queer features
of the case. Why crime so henious
should not be Investigated by the au-
thorities, at whatever cost. is inexpli-
cable.