The St. Louis Republic., 1903-08-02

| caused Ewarts death. ana that he was
| practically certain who had given the boy
| the candy. He said that he testified before
the Coroner's jury substantially as follows
| "Ewart never told me lie in his fife
| He was an exceptionally truthful boy ant
| would rather stand the consequences Of his
| occasional acts of misbehavior than to lie
| out of them.
"wednesday night he started for the milk
| depot as usual. l was in the front yard
| when he returned and noticed that he was
| splitting as he came up TIE walk As he
| entered the gate he said: Mrs. Cutler gave
me piece OF candy while 1 was at the
| depot, and 1t was bitter
Il asked him II he wanted something to
drink to take the taste out Of his mouth.
and he said that milk would be nice.
1.-The boy seemed to be suffering from the
effects Of whatever he had eaten. and did
not waste any time in getting glass. but
took the cover off Of the milk pail and let
him drink from that. The milk did not give
him any relief and opened his mouth to
look into his throat. as he complained that
something was sticking to the top of his
throat.
WOMAN DID NOT EAT CANDY.
'T could not see anything there except a
small brown mark. to which I did not at
tach any Importance. AS the bad taste still
remained, I gave him piece Of celery.
II don't know whether or not he swal-
lowed 1t, as he had hardly got 1t into his
mouth before he began to tren1ble. and in
few minutes he was writhing in con-
vulsions.
Before we gave him the celery my wife
asked Ewart IL the woman who gave him
the candy was eating any herself.
No." he replied, she took it out OF
her pocket 1t was wrapped in piece
OF paper
"My wife then screamed 'Ewart has been
poisoned and l at once telephoned for n
doctor. Before the doctor arrived, Ewars
was unconscious. and he did not speak
again"
Mr. Checksfield says that he has known
the husband Of the woman suspected OF
poisoning the boy for several years. ana
that as far as he knows there was no
cause for emnity between them
Checksfield is an Engllshman and has
been in the United States for ten years
He was married in the Old Country. but
the little boy was born in Tennessee. He
first entered the employ Of the Union
Dairy Company six years ,ago. He was
assigned TO the depot at Pocahontas. Ill.,
and four years ago was transferred to ST.
Louis. yv-.s,,
PUZZLE TO ALL
HER NEIGHBoRS.
Mrs. Checksfield had been in poor health,
and 1t seemed that the climate OF St. Louis
affected her lungs. and her husband applied
for country station.
Superintendent Solomon of the East st.
Louis Office Of the dairy company arrived
here this morning and assumed charge CT
the local milk depot. He will remain here
until Monday. when Checksfieh says he
will be able to take charge OF the work.
The latter has announced that he will re-
main in Bunker Hill indefinitely.
The personality of the woman suspect
ed Of giving the child the candy is puzzle
to persons living here. She and her husband
came to Bunker Hill about twelve years
ago and have lived here since.
Contrary TO the usual custom in this part
Of the county, the woman has always been
more or less of recluse. She belongs to
none of the women's clubs or sewing cir
cies, and has made no overtures to the per-
sons with whom she has come in almost
daily contact.
Tho statement that the woman has an an
tipathy to children is founded on very slight
foundation. Several persons are said to have
heard her remark on various occasions that
she did not care for children, especially
boys. Beyond this no one has ever heard
her make any remarks on the subject, and
Mr.. Checksfleld says that his son never
made any complaints against the woman
The death OF the little boy has acted on
Mrs Checksfeld's nerves and she enter
tains the idea that some one is trying to kill
her husband. Last night she would not al
low Checksfleld to go near the front door.
as she said she knew some one was there
to shoot him. H. G. NICHOLAS.