The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21
mrs. HUNSoN'S POISON QUEST.
CORONER BILL INVESTIGATING
DRUG STORES RECORDS.

woman suspected Of Kiiiins Mrs. Wilson
Prostratesi--Asks for something 70
Mako Her Sleep and Never wake Up
Tried to Buy Arsenic Recently.
WILLIMANTrc, Conn. Dec. 20.--The state
OF Mrs. Lille Munson. who is In Jail at Brook
Ign In this State. charged with poisoning
Mrs Julia Wilson. the mother OF her young
friend. George Wilson. was reported to-day
to be pitt able. She has lain on the couch a.
the back OF her call ever since she was locked
up. She has protested whenever food has
been offered TO her and has begged ths
matron OF the Jail to bring her "sorne-
thing that would make her go to sleep 30
that she would never wake up"
The woman has also asked for quart OF
camphor spirits. Apparently she has had
the habit Of drinking this and, in the opinion
Of the county authorities. this may explain
the disposition OF the quantities OF alcohol
which Mrs. Munson was known TO have
bought of the drug stores all over the county.
She said that she bought it and favored II
with peppermint extract for Mrs Wilson TO
drink
The habit OF drinking diluted alcohol Is
familiar to the medical practitioners here
In some parts of the South are addicted,
but they have never had a case Of the kind
brought to their attention in this neighbor-
hood. Mrs Wilson was known as person
Of moderate habits No one can be found
who ever knew of her drinking or her
appearing TO be under the influence Of an
intoxicant. There is abundant evidence
that the contrary is true Of Mrs. Munson.
Coroner Bill to-day learned that on the
day before Mrs. Wilson's death woman
Of the description Of Lillian Munson, &C.
companied by man who rcsembled George
Wilson. went TO a drug store and asked
James Calnen, the clerk. for large quantity
Of alcohol and an ounce Of arsenic solu-
ton. Calnen asked what the arsenic was
to be used for. The woman said that IL
was TO given TO an invalid in doses Of
from two TO ten grains.
Although the doses seemed reasona ble
TO the clerk. he refused to sell the poison
The woman said that she could get what
she wanted at another store across tho
street. She went out and in few minutes
returned and said that the drug store across
the street would not sell her any arsenic.
The poison books Of both stores show that
no arsenic was sold in either Of them on
that day. but the clerk at the seco nd store
has no recollection of the visit OF any such
customer.
The Coroner lie continuing his investiga-
lions among the drug stores Of the county.
he says that he is satisfied that the applicant
for the poison was Mrs. Munson, because
Calnen describes the woman as one he had
frequently seen about Mrs. Johnston's
boarding house, Amos Chaffees and the
European Hotel. in all of which places
Mrs. MUnson spent much time when she |
was in this city
George Wilson. against whom there has |
been much comment since the death Of |
his mother and the arrest OF the woman |
whom he introduced into his mothers |
house. disappeared from the little hamlet Of |
Ashford to-day
The disinterring Of the body. which was
TO have taken place to-day, has been poet
poned until tomorrow. DR.. A. J. Woln |
Of Hartford, the poison expert. told q Sun
reporter to-day that he had only asked |
for the second autopsy because he wanted |
TO ace whether any poison had been alb
eorbed by the muscles and brain Tissues.
he has not yet had an opportunity to ex-
anime the substances submitted to him,
and refused to discuss the case in advance
OF his analysis. II is known that the re-
suit OF his experience Is that carbolic acid
or any mineral POISON might have pro-
duced the paralysis Of the limbs and the
the only symptoms Of which there Is any
record In the case Of Mrs Wilson.
a, william Z. jackson. the agent OF New
York insurance company, came to the front
to-day and told the Coroner that he re-
Gently asked Mrs. Slunson to take out some
in.,rance, He says that she replied:
I'm not ready to die yet, thanks. But
! wish you could get my father to let me
insure his life. III gladly pay the pre-
The Coroner thought that this was sis.
nincant In view OF the statement to him Of
John A. Young Mrs. Munson's father, that
ne was In terror for fear TINT Lille would
put rouRh-on-rats in his food.
Another case Of poisoning, which oc.
CURED In family In which Mrs. Munson
vas llvinE,, Was reported to Coroner Bin
To-day. While she was living at the homo
g 7; a; Weeks Their, was need for a mild
insisted on sending for carbolic acid Within
2 day or two Ella Simpson, Mr.. Weeks's
housekeeper, made strenuous effort TO
put Mrs. Munson out Of the house. The
next day the housekeeper was taken vio-
len'iy III with symptoms indicating the
enect OF an irritant poison.
There will be no session of the court here
until March. aud Mrs. Munson will probably
lie In jail, under commitment from the
Coroner, until the Grand Jury can pass upon
her case
James seaton. in charge OF the Ashford
cemetery, has been instructed to have the
grave Of Mrs. Julia Wilson watched tonight
There seems to be fear that the body may
be removed in order To prevent the securing
OF further evidence Of poisoning.
James Muhson. Mrs. Muusoi. 3 husband
went to Ashford to-day and took Eat her,
his o-year-old daughter. awav with him.
GRAND OPERA IN RUSSIAN.