Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-04
Attempt to Poison w. L.
Sargent, His Wife and
Father.
sTRYCHNIN, : SN CHEESE.
Emerald Hamilton, dlve-Year.oId
Servant Girl, iconfes % the Crime
administered the 9 in Spirit
Of Revenge.

+ 4
Emerald Hamilton, twelve year
colored girl, is charged with attempt
ing to poison W.L.Sargent, his wifea
father last Monday evening, by plac-
ing large quantity of strychnine in
jar of club house cheese, of which
the family partook. Mr.. Sargent's
fathers life was undoubtedly saved
by the prompt action of the son in
administering an emetic. Mrs. Sar-
CANT had not eaten any of the cheese.
Had it not been for Mr. Sargents tech
nical knowledge, which enabled him
to quickly recognize the fact that he
had taken the poison he might now be
a corpse.
Confessed the Crime.
1t is a strange story of young
girls depravity and she also seems to
be without sense of the realization
of what her act means. She was.
calm and collected when charged with
the crime, but finally broke down and
confessed ALL She gave no reason for
the act, but it is supposed to be in
retaliation for being discharged by
Mrs. Sargent, who had but lately
learned that the girl had been charg-
ed with larceny of clothing from a
neighbor's house. Mrs. Sargent was
the girls benefactor, had taken her
in and clothed her, sent her to school
and done everything that could be
suggested for her comfort She is
very bright and has an older head
than her years would indicate.
Details of the Case.
Last week Mr.. Sargent brought home
fifteen grains of strychnine which was
to be used for the purpose of poison
ing mice. The drug was placed on bits
of cheese and scattered on the base
ment floor. The girl had been warn
ed that the drug was deadly one and
but very small portion would
cause horrible death. She listened
with wide open eyes and among other
things she was told that people who
died by it's use passed away with their
eyes open. This fact seemed to inn
press her, as will afterwards be
seen
Planned Revenge.
On Monday Mr.. Sargent purchased
a jar of club house cheese, and took
it home to dinner. The family, in
Guiding Mr.. Sargent's father, partook
freely of the cheese and experienced
no ill effects. During the afternoon
Emerald had been accused of taking
a lot of women's clothing belonging
to Mrs. Carey Willin, who resides
next door. She denied the charge
and said that she had received the
articles from colored girl The cloth
] ing, however was identified by Mrs.
Will1in, and it was determined that
the girl must leave. Her mother is
domestic in the employ of Dr. Brock
man, and she was called up by tele-
phone and told that she must find
some place for her daughter to stay
that evening. The girl heard the con-
yersation over the phone and disap-
peared. 1t was supposed that she in
stantly thought OF the strychnine and
of the cheese in the cellar and con-
Meeting the two with what she had
been told about the drug causing
death, and in a spirit of revenge took
the box containing the strychnine and
placed some in the jar of cheese. At
forwards, in the evening she cried and
said she did not want to leave Mrs.
Sargent relented and told her she
might stay during the night, but the
girls mother said that she would find
another place for her.
Ate the Poison.
About 7 O'Clock in the evening Mr.
Sargent came home to supper, and
was seated at the table with his wife
and father. Sandwiches were made
of the cheese, the father and son eat
ing them, while Mrs. Sargent was
busy. Will took one bite when he in
stantly noticed an intense bitter taste
which his technical knowledge of
drugs told him was strichnine. He
Immediately motioned to his father
not to swallow the bite he had taken,
but it was too late. Mr.. Sargent sr.
had swallowed a portion of the poison.
Both Immediately went to rear door
where they discharged that portion of
the sandwich in their mouths. Will
Immediately administered an emetic
to his father and his prompt action
undoubtedly savNd his life.
The Girl Confessed.
1. Will took the drug to the store and