The Caucasian., 1905-04-13
STRYCHNINE WAS FOUND
IN STOMACH OF ". II. WHITE
OF R\N\ILIE. Ia.
Manfred Cook and NrS. White Indicted
discriminating Letters Intercepted.
VIII Go to Trial at Once

! R2vEiIlc. I.a April Ill told yo
that ! was going TO do it. and you ar
the last one on earth ever though
would give me away. You always sal
you loved me. and wanted to marry me
and, while | may have to spend my lif
in the peniteniary, do not want to Sc
YOU suffer. Burn this letter as soon a
you receive it.
| This letter. one of the several cndear
ing ones written by Mrs. W. H. White
aged ,38 years. to Manfred Cook, agee
| p years. is the basis for indictments re-
turned by the Ricllland parish gran,
jury against both Mrs. White and Cook
who arc charged with poisoning and con
spring to poison W. H. White, husband
Of the woman, who was 80 years old and
addicted to the Use of morphine.
Court is now in session, with Judge
w. J. Gray presiding, and the cases will
go to trial at once.
Another letter from Mrs. White to
Cook reads: "1,hey say you got the poi
son that was given him. You know it
was poison, and unless YOU save me |
will have to go to the pen. or die On the
galoWs."
Mrs. White and Cook have been in
jail here for the last week, and the let
ters were intercepted by Sheriff w. n.
Taylor and Deputy c. c. Chcnault. They
were written several days ago. and the
woman had attempted to smuggIe them
into Cooks cell.
The following telegram to Coroner H.
p. Wrenn from Dr. /AIetz Of New Or
leans, State chemist Ito whom the stom-
ach of White was forwarded for exami
nation, was received today, after the
grand jury had adjourned:
"Postivc chemical and physiological
reason for strychnne in contents of lar
labeled Stomach of w. H. White No
other poison found"
This alleged poison conspiracy is the
most sensational case brought to light in
Louisiana in several years W. H. White
owned little farm in Richland parish,
and earned very good support
Mrs. White, who is 3S years of age
is considered a pretty woman She is
very attractive brunette The family ap-
parenty was very happy one. She was
devoted to her husband, who was twelve
years older than Mrs. White, and he re-
turned her affection. Mrs White has
-wo chlldrcr-a boy u years old and a /
girl of 10 ycars-Who are in constant
attention upon their mother. Il
White died on March 70 last, after al
orief illness It is said that no neighbors
we're called in at the funeral services
md those who did visit the home of
heir own accord were not received very
It is said that the body of
White, clad only in suit of underclot11-
ng, was incased i'll a rough pine box and |
buried with little ceremony.
Neighbors, becoming suspicious at the |
unusual circumstances. caused an inves-
igation to be made with the result that |
he body was exhumed about a week.
ater and the stomach forwarded to State |
Chemist Metz in New Orleans for ex-
animation. Dr. H. B. Wrenn, parish |
:orCner, assembled jury, and immedi |
lte1y began accumulating evidence.
Ed Evans, witness before the cor
'ner's jury, sworc that Manfred Cook,
Who. with AIfs. White. was indicted to-
lay, told the witness that White was
,oisoned~ with strychnine, and that Cook |
Intended to marry the widow It is said
hat Mrs. White was desperately in love |
With young Cook.
A man named Courtney was another
witness before the coroner's jury. He |
estihed that Cook obtained strychnine
rom him to poison coons.
Cook made a statement to the cor
'ner's jury charging that Mrs. White |
,olsoned her husband. Cook declared |
hat the woman, on three different occa-
ions, administered poison to her hus-
'and, doses of strycl1nine being admin
stored at intervals of about three weeks |
part. The first two poisons had no ef-
ect, and the third was increased to two
,rains. Cook in his statement before the I
croner's jury declared that Mrs White
Intended marrying O. F. Bagwell with |
whom, Cook alleges, she was conducting
correspondence. Cook denied that he
old Evans he intended to marry Mrs
White after her husband was put out OF
he way. He says that he had nothing
0 do with the affair outside of being a
onhdant of Mrs. White
Fred Etier, who appeared before the
oroner's jury, testified that Manfred
rook told him he intended to marry
Irs. White, that the won1an's hus-
an1 had been poisoned before, but the
lose was not large enough to kill. Etier
ays that he heard Cook remark that he
vould soon own the White farm