The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-08
THE VINE Vas POISONED.
Mrs. Duckt Dead and Her Husband
and Cousin Seriously Ill

New Haven, Conn. Feb. G-Wild
cherry wine served at 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 Prebylitz himself. both
OF whom are in critical condition.
Arsenic. it was first 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 he had company to dinner
Prebylitz sent his seven motherless chill
dren in care of the eldest, Anna sixteen,
70 the home OF their cousin, Trashy
Zants. Zants was hidden to the dinner,
but waited for the children to. arrive be
fore starting for Prebylitzs home
While the Duckts and Prebylitz were
waiting for them Prebylitz brought up
from the cellar jug of wild cherry
wine which had been made by his wife,
who died on December 10 last The wine
had been left in an uncorked jug. in the
cellar from the time it was made with
out having been tasted.
After the dinner Duckt and his WIFE
who live on the James Webb estate, six
miles away, started home arriving
about o'clock With their six chill
dren they 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 morn
ing. DR.. George H. Joslin, medical ex-
aTniner, arrived
Shortly after his arrival Mrs. Duckt
suddenly began to stagger, as if from
vertigo, and cried out in pain, with the
same symptoms that had marked her
husbands illness Mrs. Duckt's condi-
ton was more serious than that OF her
husband. Both soon became delirious
and att O'Clock in the evening the wo-
man died. Duclxt was then brought to
the hospital here.
Prebvlitz MEANWHILE had heen taken
III. He went to work as usual yesterday
morning, but about 3 p. m. began stag
gerfng about and screaming from pain.
Before he could be got to his home he
was delirious- A physician learned that
the Duckts had been i'll in the same way,
and lost no time in notifying Deputy
Coroner Philip Pond
Mr.. Pond secured the contents of the
jug Of wine and part of the dinner,
which, were taken to Prof. Herbert E
Smith, of Yale college, for chemical ex-
animation, and the police were notified.
It was found that Presbylitz had not
been taken i'll for nearly twenty-seyen
hours after dining with the Duclxts- It
is believed that the first drink of wine
failed to effect him, but that before
going to work yesterday morning he
again tasted of the jug and that the
second drink poisoned him. Because Of
the failure of the first drink to effect
him the physicians are of the belief
that it was probably ptomaine poison
ing.
An autopsy on Mrs. Duclxt's body was
held tonight but no arrests have been
made in the case and none is expected
unless the chemical analysis Of the wine
or of Mrs Duckts' stomach shows the
presence of arsenic Though it was
learned that a neighbor of Prebylitz is
being watched by the authorities
He is reported to have said that he
and his wife were at Prebylitz,S Sunday,
terward, but to have denied it after
ward.