The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-25
NO ARRESTS IN POISON CASE
CORONER NIX WILL REST OTElt
CHRISTMAS.

Hart still Under Police Surveillance but
| His Whereabouts ts Not Kmown-Was
| Mt the Grand Avenue Station ALI Day
Yesterday, but Was Taken Away By
| Detective Ward Last Night.
| Contrary to the statements made by
the evening papers last night in regard
to the Rathbun poisoning case there
were no arrests ordered. Coroner Mix,
who was out of town, arrived in the
city about / o'clock, and when seen
last night he made the statement that
no arrests would be ordered by him
during nor through to-day. The coro-
ner said he was going to rest to-day,
and would take no action. Whether he
meant that arrests would be made at
any subsequent time he did not state.
nor would he commit himself on that
point.
John F. Hart the fellow victim OF
Rathbun, has been under police sur
veillanle since he left the hospital, and
yesterday morning he was taken to the
Grand avenue stotion by Detective
Ward. Here he was questioned by Cap
tain Brewer who has also taken a hand
in the case, and Detective Ward also,
and was on the rack for two hours.
Hart was kept in the station all day,
and was not allowed to go out to din
ner. Instead lunch was brought In
for lin.
Coroner Mix would not say whether
Hart was under the eye of the police
hy !, ic Hnuynunr a
last evening Hart was taken from the
police station by Detective Ward, and
no one knew where the two men went.
William Rathbun, the unfortunate
victim, was buried yesterday afternoon
from his late residence There was
slight delay over the failure of per-
NIT being taken out. DR.. Bartlett,
however, made his return Immediately,
and the permit was issued
In general accord with the secrecy
maintained by everyone the officials of
the Yale Medical school refused to talk
of the progress of the analysis of Rath-
buns stomach and it's contents. 1t is
impossible to say any more of the re-
suit of the autopsy at present.
1t Is certain that Rathbun came to
his death as the result of poison, and
the murder theory is being entertained
more strongly than at any previous
time.
Dr. Klenke, who attended Rathbun,
said yesterday that the man had un-
doubtedly died of some irritant poison.
The result of the analysis would disclose
the kind of poison.
Asked if it might have been cyanide
of potassium, the doctor said he thought
not; tina. would have worked more
quickly. He said it was apparently a
slow poison that had worked similarly
to arsenic.
Yesterday there was disposition on
the part of the family to feel that the
engineer on the train on which both
Hart and Rathbun were employed was
a bitter enemy of the deceased, and
Walter, the son of the dead man, said:
This man, John Weber, the engin-
eer, had threatened that if he ever got
my father where he wanted him on the
road he would squeeze him. He got
down on my father because father
wouldn't let him take lubricating oil
out of the caboose. Father told him to
go to headquarters and get 1t the same
as he had to. This was last summer
1t made Webber mad, and he had quar-
relied with him since. He also told him
ne would kick him if he reported him.
The deceased brakeman was native
Of Collnsville, but removed to Bristol
where he resided several years, and
hen came to this city. Mr.. and Mrs.
were married twenty-six
1ears, and the widow says that during
Ill that time they never had any dis
,utes. He was kind to his family, and
lardly ever spoke cross word. There
Ire four children and they speak in the
zindest terms of their father
Brakeman Hart came to this city
rom New Jersey. He has been rail-
'oad man for a number of years. and
or six years past had run on the train
With Rathbun A member of the fam
ly stated yesterday that there was a
)elief among some people that Mr.. Hart
vas in some manner concerned in the
lffair: SS4gA
"But I don't see how they cam" was
he reply. "We do not suspect him at
H."
1t was stated that the two brakemen
pent the evening of Thursday together
n the Rathbun home. Hart read for a
ew minutes to Rathbun, and both men
we're cheerful and jol1ed together. 1t
vas stated that when Hart went on to
lis present train the job was procured
trough Rathbun.