The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-12-04
POISONED HER CHILDREN.
Mrs. Hattie L. Whitten of Dexter Killed
Her Two Little Daughters, and then Hung
Herself from Bed Post.

Her Two Little Daughters, and then Hung
Herself from a Bed Post.
DEXTER. ME-, November 30 Mrs. Hat
| tie l.. Whitten, who was charged by q
coroner's jury yesterday with the murder
on Thursday of her nine-year old daughter
| by administering poison, and who was
suspected of causing the death OF an eleven
year-old daughter, September 10Th, last, by
| q similar method, committed suicide to- day
by hanging from bed post while in the
custody Of Deputy Sheriff Leslie Curtis
| Mrs. Whitten, who pleaded not guilty to
| the charge of murder in the Municipal court
yesterday afternoon and was held for pre-
fiminary hearing next Thursday, that the
| stomach and inteStines of her daughters
might be analyzed by Prof. Robinson at
| B0wdoin college, remained at the home of
her son, Lewis Whitten, in charge of an
officer last night. She slept apparently as
quietly as ever, with her mother, Mrs.
David Livermore of Milo. AT ten O'Clock
to-day Deputy Sheriff Curtis took her to his
home, after an affecting parting from her
parents and son. She was allowed to re-
! main alone in the room while changing her
dress and was given two towels from her
grip.
Deputy Curtis then remained in the room
until two o'clock when he left her for five
minutes to feed his horse. In that short
time she tied the towels together, made
moose and fastened one end to knob on
lOp VI lHe Olu-ldSLlOIl6u D6u posi-, WHICH
was five feet from the floor. When
Mr.. Curtis returned he found her hang
ing from the post. 4 physician was
unable to restore respiration. Another
i towel found inside her dress showed the
attonement for her daughters murder had
been carefully planned before leaving home.
1t was learned she told her parents that all
would be well after two o'clock.
Information was given out to-day that
George Z. Brewster, the local druggist, tes-
titled at the coroner'S inquest yesterday
that Mrs. Whitten purchased poisons at his
store on the following dates; September 13,
laudanum; September Is, an ounce of arse
mic ito kill rats :; November 90, five grains
of Strychnine; November %, One-half ounce
laudanum; November "a, one ounce of arse
mic and small bottle of castor oil.
The next day after the purchase of the
ter, died suddenly after suffering many con-
vulsions. Monday, November "a, the day
the arsenic was purchased, Jennie was
taken sick and died three days later.
Dr. Murphy, the attending physician,
says the poison was undoubtedly given
through the stomach into the intestines to
prevent the successful use of stomach
pump.
Tuesday morning Mrs. Whitten left
postal card at the post office, calling Dr.
Murphy to attend the girl, regardless of the
where she was stopping and has tele-
phone.
Tie autopsy showed evidences of poison
ing in the stomach, intestines and brain,
warranting the sending OF these parts for
analysis. The usual symptoms of strych-
nine poisoning were shown in the rigidity
of the muscles of the feet, legs and hands.
The body of the daughter who died Sep
tember 10Th was exhumed and the stomach
and inteStines sent to Prof Robinson The
body was so far decomposed that traces of
poisoning could not be distinguished except
by analysis.
Mrs. Whitten was taken in custody at the
close of the funeral service at the church,
where she mourned over the caSket of her
murdered daughter. yesterday noon. but the
warrant was not served until the result OF
the autopsy and verdict of the jury empan-
nelled by Coroner George NJ. BarrOws, which
charged her with murder, were known.
She was about As years old and came here
from Dover, Me-, three months ago. Her
husband, Harry f. Whitien. died at Dover.
January "a, 1901, under similar suspicious
circumstances, but there was no inveStiga-
ton. The two daughters were insured for
500 and SS5 and it was believed their deaths
were sought for this trivial sum.
An affecting incident in connection with
the sad affair was that last Monday Jennie,
While apparently in good health, was sell
ing small wares from house to house, say
ing that with the proceeds she intended to
purchase set of furs for herself and buy
her mother d Christmas present. At the
same time her mother was at the drug
store purchasing the poison presumably to
end the life of her devoted daughter.