The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-31

The Green Ridge dog poisoner is to
be given over to the officers of the law
for punishment. He failed to live up
to his part of the agreement with the
men whose dogs he caused to shuttle
off and they will ask the district at
torney to indict him.
1t was largely through the efforts of
Deputy Constable T. S, Hutfling, of the
Thirteenth ward. and c. p. Jones that
he was apprehended. He is an old
man, Charles Sivelly by name. and he
gives every evidence of being a mano-
maniac.
About six months ago several valu-
able dogs in Green Ridge were poisoned
and died in great agony. From that
time on there were at least half
dozen dogs poisoned every week and
on one particular morning there were
no less than seven different animals
found dead.
The symptoms displayed by the AMI
mails who were seen dying were those
of strychnlne poisoning and scraps of
poisoned meat We're found in many
instances near the dead dogs. AS
might be supposed, the citizens of
not, became very much enraged and
every effort was made to locate the
poisoner, but they were unsuccessful,
and nearly every day came the an
nouncement that another dog had been
killed.
Druggist G. p. Jones, who lost two
especially valuable dogs, which had
been household pets for some time, hap
lA 10
about six weeks ago and noticed an old
man, who was endeavoring to purchase
some strychnine to poison some old
cats" as he told the clerk. Matthews
Bros. had heard of the Green Ridge
dog poisoning, and had instructed their
clerks not to sell any of the poison.
TRACKED TO HIS HOME.
The old man was accordingly refused,
and Mr.. Jones followed him out and
down the street until he saw him take
Green Ridge Peoples car He at once
decided that he had located his man,
and by little private detective work,
upon his arrival home, he learned that
his name was Charles Sively and that
he lived at the corner of Breaker street
and Dickson avenue.
Mr.. Jones consulted with several of
the citizens who had had dogs poisoned,
and it was decided to call meeting.
This was attended by several of the
leading citizens. including Select Coun-
Gilman +. G. Merriman, &. II. Pond, A.
G. Thomason, James ID. Mason, T. J.
Snowden, j. y. Marvine, and a number
of others.
1t was unanimously decided to secure
a Of tn
evidence against Sivelly, and Deputy
Constable Huffling, who has done much
work for the Municipal league, was en-
ga ged. Mr.. Hufling did some excellent
work, as after events prove.
He got introduced to Sivelly, and by
spending all his spare time around the
latter's house, soon got him talking.
The old man told him that he had a
most ardent hatred of all kinds of ami
mails, hut more particularly of dogs,
whereupon Huflling pretended that he,
too, didn't like dogs and would like to
| take a hand at killing a few of them
| off.
Sivelly told him that strychnine was
| the best kind of poison to use, but said
that he had great difficulty in securing
any. Huflling volunteered to get some
Green Ridge drug stores. Sivelly was
| much elated when the poison was shown
him, and got quantity of meat, which
| he cut into small pieces.
PUT POISON IN THE MEAT.
| Assisted by Hufflng, he cut a slit in
| each piece and placed some of the
poison in it, tieing the whole together
with a piece of red string. Huffiing
wanted to go out with him that night,
but the old man wouldn't have it, evil
IDENTIFY desiring to test him. Huffiing ac-
| cordingly took some of the poisoned
meat, and next day got an item in
serted in some of the papers to the ef-
| feet that three dogs had been poisoned
on Larch street
He showed the paper to Sivelly, tell
ing him that that was the result of his
nights work Sivelly appeared to be
very much pleased and arranged to go
out with Huftlng that night. More
meat was procured and poisoned and
the two started out about midnight
and visited several places on East
Market street where dogs were kept.
Where there were Kennels Sivelly
| threw the poisoned meat into them,
but if the dog was not to be seen he
scattered it about the yard. The next
morning three of the dogs died and
| Huffiing secured the stomaChs of two
| of them. These were taken to a COM
| petent chemist who analyzed the con-
| tents and announced that the animals
had died from strychnine poisoning.
| This constituted perfect case
! against Sivelly, but when he was ap-
preached by several citizens he denied
having done any poisoning, The next
| night he was confronted by Huf1ng
who told him that he was a detective
| 1t is said that the old man weakened
at this and confessed to having pois-
oned the dogs.
TEN DAYS TO LEAVE TOWN.
A meeting was held and a conference
was had with Sivelly's relatives who
were told that II they got the old man
out of the city and paid the costs no
prosecution would be instituted. This
they agreed to do, it is said, and they
were given ten days in which to do it,
| The ten days expired over a week ago
| and as there was no sign of a settle
ment another meeting was held on
| Monday night.
1t was then decided to wait no long
er, but to lay the facts before the dis
| trict attorney at once and request that
he act Immediately. This has been
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