The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-26
sfE AVE you ever heard how San B1A Perdita got rid of Juan Mo-
 reno down in F,l Paso2'' ask

ed traveller one night. "San Perdita was as far away from saintliness as any one could possibly be and I often won her name. Juan Moreno was a rather dashing young Mexican who was well known in Fl Paso. He was in love with Perdita, but it seems that the girl liked another chap, an American gambler who had won large sums of money playing in western gambling hells from Kansas City to Carson, and from Houston to Tucson. Juan Moreno was insanely jeal- ous of the girl and the two lovers had clashed several times. when the Ameri- can suddenly disappeared. Some of his enemies in the Pass City averred that the American had run away because Juan had threatened to stick a knife in him the next time they met. As soon as his rival was gone Juan redoubled his atten- tions to Perdita. About ten days after the gambler took his departure from Fl Paso Juan Moreno was found dead on the outskirts of town. His body was doubled up, his face was violently contracted and there was every evidence of poison. Just about this time the gambler returned to El Paso and became the veritable shadow of Perdita.
 'The authorities smelled a mouse and had the pair arrested. The gambler was cool but the girl finally broke down and confessed that she had poisoned Juan in order to rid herself of his unwelcome attentions Several doctors in town who were puzzled over the case and could not reach a conclusion as to the kind of poison Perdita had given Juan asked the girl for an explanation. She said that she had rubbed a deadly vegetable poison on her lips every day which she procured from Mexican across the bor- der. The poison would do no harm un- less moistened with saliva > from the mouth or touched by the tongue. With the fatal drug on her lips Perdita press ed kiss on Juan's mouth every day and then hastened to remove the poison from her own lips. Although only a small amount of the poison could be communi- cated to her lover in this way, the girl persisted and in about ten days Juan died a horrible death. No, Perdita was not punished for her crime. She got out of 1t. somehow, and in company with the gambler she led a meteoric career in the west which was terminated by a jealous quarrel that cost her life.
 A young white man was arrested in Birmingham last Monday, charged with breaking into caboose and stealing food which he declared he took to save his starving wife and baby. Haled to court, the man confessed his crime and told his pitiful story. His statement had the ring of truth. and when his deplorable condition became known a number of charitable persons offered to go on his bond. Later, the railroad company agreed to drop the prosecution, sympa- thetic judge and county solicitor decided to release the young man and he now has a position which was provided for him in his hour of trouble There were other offers of help and assistance from various sources An unfortunate man who is compelled to steal bread for his loved ones will not be permitted to continue in want by the people of prosperous Blr- mingham. The milk of human kindness In this town is unadulterated, although there is some talk of boracic acid in the milk we have been getting from our milkman