Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-23
ON TRIAL FOR HER LIE
Mrs. Rathbun Faced a New
 Haven Jury To-Day.

She is Charged with Giving Poison to
 Her Husband = Many Women in
 Attendance at the Opening of the
 Trial-Some Sensational Testimony
 is Looked for During Progress of
 Case
 New Haven, April g. Ann Maria Rathbun was put on trial i'll the su- perior court to-day, before Judge El- mer for the murder of her husband, William Rathbun by the administra- tfon of poison. The early part of the session was occupied with the draw ing of the special jury selected from list of sixty summoned for the panel. None of the sixty are New Haven men.
 An assembly of spectators sufficient to fill the court room attended the op- ening of the, trial the number includ- ing many women, despite the incle- ment weather, and it is evident that the case will be followed with great interest.
 The crime with which Mrs Rathbun Is charged was committed, according " IAC lihdldS O1 tA0 COIOACIs OlI 1CS- cember 20, 1900, by means of arsenic placed in coffee. It is the theory of the prosecution that Mrs Rathbun put the poison in the coffee with the inten- tion of Killing John r. Hart a board CT, with whom she is alleged to have been intimate, and that her husbands death was in sense accidental
 John F. Hart had boarded with the Rathbun family for ten years. Both he and Rathbun were brakemen em- ployed on the Springfield division of the Consolidated railroad, and on the morning of December 20, they went to work together, as usual, each carrying a dinner pail containing lunch prepar- ed by Mrs Rathbun as was her custom. When they reached their freight train at Belle Dock, Hart opened his pail and drank coffee, He says he did not like it, and turning to Rathbun, said That tastes funny. It's bitter" Rath- bun, although not coffee drinker CT dinarily, immediately took a drink from Hart's pail; and he also detected a peculiar taste. Both men were af- terward taken sick, and were obliged to leave their train and return home. Hart was attacked with violent voIa- iting, which according to the states story saved his life. Rathbrn died about D. m., an hour after he reach ed home.
 Hart was at first suspected of com plieity in the crime, but was afterward released on that charge and held for alleged adultery with Mrs Rathbun, while the woman was taken into GUS tody on the grayer charge. The report of the coroner was in substance an al- legation that in trying to murder Hart Mrs Rathbun killed her husband. The report declared that Mrs Rathbuu had become ,incensed against Hart with whom she was said to have been inti- mate, because he had neglected her, and a life insurance policy made out in her favor had been withdrawn and made payable to another woman. That Hart did not die as we'll as Isath- bun from the arsenic which it is al- legged Mrs Rathbun put in Hart's cof-. fee is said to have been due to the fact that Hart took an overdose.
 Recently Hart was tried and found guilty in the superior court on tie charge of adultery with Mrs Rathbun. He was not sentenced, however, and will not be until after the conclusion of the murder trial.
 Up to 2 o'clock this afternoon only three jurors had bean accepted and at that hour it looked as though the jury would not be completed today. The three jurors are Elmer Brooks of Prospect, William Hosley a milk deal- CT. of East Haven and Henry G. Frost of Cheshire Attorneys. Blydenburg and Martin appear for Mrs Rathbun and the state is represented by Attor- ney Williams. Recess was taken at half past eleven this morning and when the court reopened. John r. Hart was brought into the court by the sheriff. Hart is expected to be an important witness for the state. At ? o'clock another recess was taken at which time the court warned the jur ors already accepted to talk with no one concerning the case.