The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-03
WARRANT FINALLY SERVED
MRS. RATHBUN rs ARRESTED AND
CHARGED WITH MURDER.

|
Morning from Which She VIII I'm
doubtedIy be Bound Over to Present
Term of Superior Court-Full Text of
Coroner's Finding.
Mrs. Rathbun, the widow of the man
who was poisoned about ten days age,
has, after much questioning and cross
examina ton, been placed under arrest
on the charge of murder. The warrant
was made out yesterday afternoon by
City Attorney Webb after much con-
Sultation between him and his assistant
Attorney r. H. Tyner and State Attor-
ney Williams.
1t has been announced for the past
four days through the columns of the
Courier that while the public were anx-
ious and curious to see the report ana
finding of the coroner ON this case there
would be nothing definite announced
until yesterday, when the criminal side
of the superior court came in. And so
it proved to be. The first step taken in
the court yesterday morning was the
request of the state attorney for bench
warrant for John f. Hart, charging him
with murder.
The warrant was issued, but it was
subsequently changed to one Of aduf-
terry, of which there are five counts.
This step is looked upon as technical
one, and is thought to be designed to
hold the accused as a witness against
Mrs. Rathbun. 1t was thought that
Mrs. Rathbun would be arraigned on
bench warrant, but instead the warrant
for her arrest came through the regular
channels of the city court, where she
will be arraigned tomorrow morning.
From there she will be bound over to
the present term Of the criminal side of
the superior court. The warrant was
served on Mrs. Rathbun by Detective
McGrath at the Jail and the calm and
collected manner of the accused as the
document was served upon her was
most marvellous and was commented
upon by all who knew what was going
on and were aware of the situation.
The coroner's finding, which is given
below, is most interesting, especially as
it sets forth the facts that the public
nave Deell uSSllOuS VI hllDN IilE lOl SCN~
eral days.
THE CORONER'S RECORD OF THE
INQUEST.
The coroner's record of the inquest
held on the body of william Rathbun
of the city and town of New Haven,
who died December 81, 1900 is as fol-
lows:
Having been notified on the 21st day
of December, 1900, that William Rath-
bun, white male forty-three years of
age, late of the town and county of New
Haven and state Of Connecticut, had
come to a sudden and untimely death;
that his dead body was lying at his
home, 100 Chestnut street, New Haven; /
l at once on said December 81, 1900, |
went and took charge of said body and |
made all proper inquiries respecting |
manner and cause of said death. After I
viewing said body and having reason |
to suspect such death was caused by |
the criminal act, omission or careless
ness of another or others, | held an in
quest and caused an autopsy to be per-
formed upon said dead body by Dr. |
Charles j. Bartlett, medical examiner
for the town of New Haven, in order
to determine the manner and cause Of
said death. Said inquiry was commenc- /
I'd on the 23d day of December, 1900, at
said town of New Haven, and a sworn
report of said inquiry as required by
aw was rendered to me on January /,
1901
THE following persons were examin-
I'd as witnesses: John f. Hart, DR..
Henry r. Klenke, DR.. Charles j. Bart
EFT, Aonzo S. Johnson, John Corrie,
Samuel c. Coopey, Walter Rathbun,
Ann Maria Rathbun, Nellie Rathbun
md Percy Rathbun.
Having considered all the evidence
aiken at the inquest and reports of the
autopsy, on January 2, 1901, make the
finding concerning said DEATH
o wit: ID
civilian Rathbun was a railroad |
brakeman in the employ of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- ,
Dad company residing with his family ;
t 100 Chestnut street. For the past ten ,
ears John f. Hart had been boarding
With them Hart was employed as a
brakeman upon the same train with ,
2athbun. ,
For the past seven years Ann Maria {
wife of William Rathbun and
ohm Hart had sustained relations of Il
licit intercourse with each other up to
5ithin three or four months since, ,
,hereupon Hart gradually broke off
aid relation and finally ceased the
anne altogether, upon which the said r
Irs. Rathbun became angry and jeal- =
us and believed that his conduct was =
ue to his preference for another wom-
n. n
said Harris life was insured, and the r
olicy, as Mrs. Rathbun believed, was ,
ayable to her in case of his death.
Some time in December, 1900, Hart G
alked of making a change in his in =
trance policy, making it payable to \
is sister, Mrs. Harrison, of New Brit
in Mrs. Rathbun learned of this and
as very much displeased thereat.
con Thursday, December 90 1900,
Trs. Rathbun procured a box of rough s
4 rats, a compound consisting mainly s
, arsenic, and on the night of De- c
,r7 her 20 1900 the whole or 2 mart Of Il
lid box of rough on rats was placed t.
Y her in a quantity of coffee which C
as to be taken by said Hart in his t.
inner pail as his supply for the fol- Z
wing day. {
ION Friday. December q, about q s.
clock, said William Rathbun and said q
lhn Hart left their home together, the 6
lid Hart taking his dinner pail With b
m, which included the coffee so pois- Z
red as aforesaid and the said Ratb- n