New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-18
PUT POWDER In COFFEE.
Tried to Poison His FiUe Children, y
Police Blotter Entry.

Accused by his daughter Rose fourteen years
old. the police say of putting green powder into
some coffee which he offered her TO drink ana
with forcing two Of his other children-Edith
eleven years old. and Lenox. nine years old-to
drink the coffee. James Grubb. janitor, or NO
1,642 Ameterdam-ave., was arrested yesterday
by Policemen Vreedon and Moore. of the west
hundred and twenty-fifth-st. station, and
taken to Bellevue Hospital charged with in
sanity.
At the hospital he was examined by Drs
Packer and Waterman. who declared he was
suffering only from alcoholism and would not
admit him TO the psychopathic ward He was
then taken TO the prison ward. On a record
slip of j. Hood Wright Hospital appears the
name of Grubb. with his pedigree, also the name
Of Policeman Moore, and then it says. Charge
attempted murder and insanity" At the west
hundred and -twenty-fi fth-st. station last
night the sergeant said the station biotter
charged only insanity. However. the blotter
states he attempted to poison his five children
by mixing a green substance, supposed 10 ne
paris green, with their coffee.
Policeman NreedOn says Rose told MN heT
father threatened to poison the children ana 10
kill them. and that on last Friday night ne
tried to asyphyxiate them with gas, but tnat
she was awakened by her brother Guy three
years old, in time TO save the lives or all. Inc
police have a letter written by Grubb 10 ms
inother-in-law. Mrs Catherine Lohr, of No. go
West Fiftv-fourth-st i'm which he intimated
,,,6
that he was going to do away with himself ana
asked that his body be cremated.
Crubb's wife Mary died about two weeks ago.
and according to his friend, DR.. August j.
Hecker a dentist, of No. 4II West One-nuh-
dred-and-forty- third-st., Grubb has been drink
ing heavily since that time.
The story told by Rose to the police and TO
DIR. Hecker, they say. is that her father wneti
he started to prepare the breakfast, told the
children he was going to poison them all ana
that they would soon be with their mother.
Rose saws she saw her father put green pow
der into the coffee and she became frightened.
He poured out cup and offered it to her, but
she refused TO drink It
Ienox TO drink small quantity of the coffee.
Rose ran to the apartment of Mrs. Stanley. on
the same floor. and told the woman of her faith
er's actions. The story spread quickly, and
Some one told Policeman Creedon In the mean
time however, Mrs. Stanley sent Rose for DR..
Hecker and then. going into the apartment, got
Edith and Lenox, took them to her own apart
ment and gave them salt and water as an
emetic The father followed. and when Police
man Creedon arrived he had taken them TO his
rooms and administering mustard and
water.
There Is a mistake" Grubb said. II was just
giving some medicine to the children
But Rose told her story TO DR.. Hecker. He in
formed Police Headquarters. and Policeman
Moore was sent from the West One hundred
and-twenty-ffth- station and DR. Wren with
an ambulance from the ]. Hood Wright Hos
pital DR.. Hecker went himself. and on the way
met DIR. Isobel Church, OF No lOI Hamilton
Place When Creedon who had left GTubb, met
this array he dumfounded, and FASTENED
back Being told OF the letter he at once placed
Grub under arrest.
ciety.
Edith told the police her father had put the
coffee in a milk bottle and hid II under chair
Creedon found IL. There was quarter Of ar
inch of dark sediment at the bottom of the
bottle 1t will be sent to the Board OF Health
for analysis