The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-04
Ferguson. on Witness Stand, Tells
of His Trip to Insane Asy-
lum With Box of Candy.
MRS. M'WILLIAMS BOUND OVER,
Chemist Swears He Found Strych.
nine in the Stomach of the
Dead Man Evidence
Brought Out.

REPUBTLC SPECIAL
Jacksonville. ILL.,. June s.-The preliminary
hearing of Mrs. Mary /. Mcwilliams.
charged with completely in the poisoning of
Doctor Joseph l.. Barnes at Central In
sane Asylum May :. was held to-day and
the defendant was bound over to the Cir
cult Court I'm the sum Of 5000
Mrs. McWilliams was represented by
Judge W. l.. Vandeventer and Albert Akers
OF Quincy and J. Marshall Miller OF this
city. The States case was looked after by
Judge Charles A Barnes and State Attor-
ney Smith.
Mrs McWilliams. as she appeared in
court. Is a woman 61 years of age and
rather feeble. She entered the courtroom
supported by Sheriff Widemayer. Once in
her chair she seemed undisturbed by the
gaze Of spectators.
Before the trial commenced Mr.. Akers,
who said IL was 4 peculiar circumstance for
the State to put on the stand q man who
Is accused of crime. asked the Court
to adTonish him that his testimony was
voluntary and that he need not answer
questions that might incriminate himself.
FerEusOn's story.
Ferguson took the stand. and. in answer
tc questions. gave his story about as fol-
lows:
I went to the home OF Mr.. Mcwiiiams in
Quincy by arrangement the afternoon OF May
8. There ] met Mrs. Barnes and her mother.
Mrs. Mcwilliams. and they asked me to 10 to
jacksonville and take box OF candy TO Doctor
Joseph Barnes. husband Of Mrs. Barnes. con-
scented 20 do 50 ard Mrs Mcwiliiams took the
box. which was open. to the table. tied II W
and gave 1t to me. She stated that she was
afraid l would have some trouble In getting
Barnes at the hospital owing to the fact
that it was known that she Mrs. Barnes) was
not on intimate terms with his relatives. who
claimed that he not really insane.
Mrs. McWiliiams said that I could take tho
name Of william Winn. n servant In tho
family. and that she would write q letter of In
PRODUCTION for and sign II II. f HILL the
name Of a sister Of Doctor Barnes. She did this
and then Mrs. Barnes addressed the letter. The
box and letter were given to me. together with
a round-trip ticket to Jacksonville and $50 to
pay my expenses.
came to jacksonville on the evening Of May
g. and about 10 O'Clock the next morning visited
Barnes at the Insane Hospital. We near each
other with the open box on nv knee. Barnes ate
freely and I ate piece myself. at the
hosritai about half an hour
As was leaving the room I was interested In
talking to him. and without thinking put the box
in nv pocket. Nnen ! returned to the hotel 1
lef, the box In my room- dt was found there
after Ferguson's departureD Al o'clock that
night I returned to Quincy and. according TO in
structions went to the McWiliiams house to re-
port.
daughter had received a telegram that Mr.. Barnes
wa, dead Mr.. Mcwilliams then told me Of the
poison. I told her that had eaten several pieces
my.elf She exclaimed. My God. 1t Is a wonder
YOU are not dead yourself
she asked me to go away from Quincy. but
refused. The next DAY she came to my home and
asked me again. saying she would give me sl.e9
life insurance Doctor Barnes carried u i would
60 asked her where the poison came from. ana
she said Mrs. Barnes got 1t at drug store.
Strychnine In Stomach.
Ferguson was then severely cross-exam-
lied by Mrs McWilliams's attorneys. but
his story was not changed to any extent
His examination lasted for three hours.
Professor Grindley OF Urbana. who made
the chemical analysis OF the stomach. ex-
planned the method OF analysis and testified
to the finding Of strychnine.
Other witnesses who testified were Doctor
F. G. Winsiow and Doctor E L. Crouch.
Attendants Hagerstein and Ballard OF Cen
tral Insane Hospital: Coroner J. q. Rey-
nclds Hattie Buchanan. waitress at the
hotel where Ferguson stayed In Jackson
Vile; Mrs ID. e. Kelly of Monticello. n sis
ter Of the dead man: Abraham Mettler OF
Quincy and W. y. Smith of Monticello.
The last two witnesses testified that Mrs.
McWiliiams had said to them. that IL her
daughter ccu uld secure a divorce. she could
marry a wealthy man.
AT the conclusion Of the evidence. Mrs.
McWilliams was bound over to the Circuit
Court in the sum Of $500. continuance
until the November term Of court will be
asked for.