The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-01
A MOTHERS SUICIDE.
'aused by Arrest Tor the Murder of Her
Child.


Dexter, Me-, Nov. 30-Mrs. Hattie l..
Written, who was arrested on suspi-
cion of having poisoned her nine-year-
old daughter, from whose funeral she
had just returned, committed suicide
to-day by hanging from a bed post
while in the custody of Deputy Sheriff
Leslie Curtis. Her death ends a case
which promised, from the suspicious
held against Mrs. Written, to be as
sensational as any inquired into in
Maine for long time. Mrs. Written
was suspected of having caused the
death of an elder daughter, aged eleven
years, on September 10 last, and this
body has been exhumed. Both children
died suddenly, when previously they
had appeared to be in the best of
health, and now it Is pointed out that
Mrs. Whitten's husband died suddenly
two years ago. The children were in
sured for $50 and $S5, respectively. AS
cause of death the physicians certi-
ficates mentioned meningitis and heart
failure.
Suspicion was aroused by the death
VI the yOulSeI StII Oil IAuI ouhSb anu
physicians decided to hold an autopsy.
This was done after the funeral and
while the body was at the cemetery
awaiting interment. Traces of arsenic
and strychnine were found. Mrs. Whit
tens arrest followed. Without delay a
coroners jury was empanelled, and, on
evidence presented, it reported that the
girls death was due to poison admins
tered by the mother. Mrs. Written
was arraigned in court, pleaded not
guilty to the charge of murder. was
held until Tuesday for hearing and
was remanded into the care of Deputy
Curtis. She was taken to the home of
her son Lewis. who is married and
lives here, for the night She slept
quietly with her mother, Mrs. David
Livermore Milo.
To-day Deputy Sheriff Curtis took
her to his home and kept her in sight
until late in the afternoon, when he
had occasion to go to the barn to feed
his horse. In this brief interval Mrs.
Written took two towels, tied them to-
gether and with a moose hanged herself
from the top of an old-fashioned bed
post. When Mr. Curtis returned he
found life to be extinct.
Since Mrs. Whittens death some of
the evidence presented before the cor
oners jury has been made public 1t
was shown that she bought laudanum,
arsenic and castor oil the day prior to
the death Of one daughter in Septem-
Der, and strychnine and arsenic on
three days the past week. DR.. Murphy,
who attended both children, said the
poison was undoubtedly given in oil so
that it might pass through the stomach
into the intestines, and so make useless
a stomach pump. AS regards the sec
ond child, it was shown that on Tues
day Mrs. Written left a postal card at
the postofice calling Dr. Murphy to at
tend the girl, regardless of the fact
that he lives only half mile from
where she was stopping and has tele-
phone.
The autopsy showed evidences of poi
soning in the stomach, intestines and
brain, warranting the sending of these
parts to Professor Robinson, of Bow
dom college, for analysis.
The stomach and intestines from the
body of the elder daughter, which was
exhumed yesterday, were also sent to
Professor Robinson.
Mrs. Written was about forty-five
years old and came here from Dover,
this state. three months ago. An Incl
dent just brought out is that last Mon
day Jennie, then in good health, was
selling small wares from house to
house, stating that with the proceeds
she intended to purchase her mother a