The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-06
POISON TN 4 VINE JUG
4 Case That is Pulling the New
Haven Authorities.
4 Woman Dead and Two MeR in "A
Critical ConditiOn-Suspfcion That
Arsenic Was fn the Homemade
Beverage-TheOry Advanced That
Ii May Have Contained PtomaInes.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. FEB 6.-Wud
cherry wine served at Sundays dinner
at the home OF Joseph Prebylitz is
blamed for the death of his cousin. Mrs
Antoine Duckt and for the poisoning OF
her husband and PrebyIitz himself, both
of whom are in a critical condition.
Arsenic. it was believed. had been
put into the wine but the symptoms OF
the poisoning so much resemble those OF
ptomaines or acid poisoning that only a
chemical analysis of the wine and OF
Mrs Duckt's organs can decide the
question
Because ne had company to dinner.
Prebylitz sent his seven RS; herIess chill
dren in care of the eldest, Anne. six
teen to the home Of their cousin, Trashy
zants. zaD:s was hidden 10 the dinner.
but waited for the children to arrive be-
fore starting for PrebyIitz's home.
While the Duckts and Prebylitz were
waiting for him Prebylitz brought M
from the cellar jug of wild cherry
wine which had been made by his wife.
who died on December 70 last. The wine
had been left in an uncorked Jug in the
cellar from the tine it was made without
having been tasted
After the dinner Duckt and his wife.
who live on the James Webb estate six
mlIes away, started home. arriving about
O'Clock. With their six children fbev
were sitting at supper. when suddenly
Duckt complained OF dizziness and violent
pains in his head All night he was in
agony, and IN the early morning DR..
rived
Shortly after his arrival Mrs Duckt
Suo1ehiy began u stagger, as If from
NsrIlSo. ana cried cut in pain with the
same symptoms that had marked her hus-
bands illness. Mrs Duckt's condition was
more serious than that Of her husband.
Both soon became deIirious. and at :
o'clock in the evening the woman died
Duckt was then brought to the hospital
here.
Prebylitz meanwhile had been taken i'll
he went 10 work as usual Monday morn
ing. but about 3 p n. began staggering
about and screaming from pain Before
he could be got to his home he was deli
rious. physician learned that the
Duckts had been III in the same way. and
lost no time IN notifying Deputy Coroner
Philip Pond.
Mr. Pond secured the contents Of the lug
=
which were taken to Prof Herbert z
smith. OF Yale College, for chemical ex-
animation. and the police we're notified
It was found that PresbyIitz had not
beea taken III for nearly tnenty-
hours after dining with the Duckts. L
IS believed that the first drink Of wine
failed to effect him but that before going
TO work Monday morning he again tasted
OF the Jug and that the second drink poi
soneC him. Because Of the failure Of the
first drill to effect him the physicians are
OF the belief that /: was probably ptomaine
poisoning
An autopsy on Mrs Duckt's body was
held last night. but no arrests have been
made in the case and none Is expected IN
less the chemical analysis OF the wine OF
Of Mrs. DUclzt's stomach shows the pres
ence Of arsenic. II was learned. however.
that neighbor Of PrebyliIz IS being
watched BY the authorities
He is reported 20 have said that he and
his wife were at Prebylitz's Sunday. draal.
some OF the wine and were III afteruard.
but 10 have denied It aft5rward
The illness Of Mrs PrebyIitz last De-
cember was Of short duration. but puzzlsI
the physicians greatly. The symptoms
somewhat resemble those OF uraemic pJis-
oEing