The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-12-05
THE TRAGEDY At GREENSBORO
Dr.. Matthews, Alleged Wife Poisoner,
in Prison
Officers Found Accused Man in Bed
When They Went to Arrest Him
The Victim and Her Husband Were
From Durham-The Most Awful
Occurrence i'm the History of Greens
boro

Mrs. J. B. Matthews died last nign-
at abo1t 1880 o'clock and DR.. J. B
Matthews, her husband, was arrested
at IL O'Clock, charged with her muir
der. He was locked up in the city
prison to await a hearing.
The affidavit charging him with
the dreadful crime was sworn to by
Drs. J. P. Turner. z. T. Brooks, and
NJ. K. Farrar, three physicians who
were with Mrs. Matthews most of the
day yesterday treating her for poison
taken, her husband said, with suicidal
intent
About the middle of the forenoon
yesterday the three doctors mention
ed were called to Dr. Matthews resi-
dence on Gorrell street. They found
Mrs. Matthews on the point of death
from poisoning of some kind.
DR.. Matthews said that about eight
O'Clock Thursday night his wife came
to his Office and asked him what poi
son she could take and remain con-
scious up or nearly up to the time of
death. DR.. Matthews, according to
his statement to the attending physi-
clans, declined to give the informa
ton. But he said that about II
O'Clock when he was undressing he
discovered his wife in the act of TAX
ing several tablets of strychnine from
a bottle which she had extracted from
his pocket without his knowledge. He
then. so he told the physicians, be-
gan administering morphine, consics.
ering this the best treatment for her
under the circumstances.
The doctors. though listening to his
account Of the shocking affair, lost no
time IN giving the usual treatmen. for
poison. Powerful restoratives were
administered and every thing possible
done to save her. Although the case
was most serious one, as the day
wore on the chances seemed to be in
favor Of recovery.
At o'clock Dr. Matthews, accord
ing to the statement of the physicians,
asked that they retire and permit him
to pray with his wife. They declined
to do so, telling him that he could
pray as well with them in the room
He then, the doctors stated, kneeled
down by the side of the bed. Dr..
Turner noticing peculiar movement
stepped to the side Of the bed and to Six
from DR.. Matthews hypOdermic syc-
inge, but not before an injection in
the arm of the patient had been made.
During the day, it was stated by the
physicians, there had been no symp-
toms of strychnine poisoning But
Immediately after the incident just
described pronounced strychni1e
symptoms developed and Mrs. Mat
thews rapidly grew worse, dying at
1870 o'clock, or about that time.
DR.. Turner went at once to his Of
flee and ana1yzed the contents of the
syringe. He found it to be strychnine
He then conferred with the other pny-
sicians and Solicitor Brooks, and the
mayor was communicated with. May
Or Murphy came to his Office, swore
the physicians, and signed the war
rant, charging murder, which wa:
then Llaced il the hands of Officers
Skenes. Patterson. and Oliver. They
found DR. Matthews in bed. He made
no special objection to accompany
ing them though he spoke as If he
thought an arrangement could be
made by which he would not have TO
be locked up.
Among the witnesses is a sleeping
car conductor who rooms at Dr.. Mat
thews' house. He states that he had to
force his way into the room where
Mrs Matthews was. DR.. Matthews be-
ing unwilling for him to come in. Tbs
was some time yesterday morning. His
attention was attracted by hearing tina
labored breathing of Mrs. Matthews.
The affair was q very disagreeaEle lie
one to the physicians. DR.. Turner
who. as coroner. has had rather va
ried career, SAID that he had never
before had such a disagreeable duty
to perform The opinion was genera
that it was the most awful occurrence
in the history Of Greensboro.
A little boy, Ben, is the only child
He was one of the first to let the ont
side world know of what was going
on in his mothers bedroom.
The affidavit on the strength o1
which the variant was issued was as
follows:
In the Mayors Court.
Before T. J. Murphy. Mayor
State of North Carolina
and City Of Greensboro
J. B. Matthews.
Drs J. P Turner. 2. T. Brooks. and
NJ R. Farrar. first being duly sworn
each for himself says: That Mrs. j
B. Matthews died on the first day 81
December, 1905. in the city of Greene
5oro. n c., from poison That each
of the atlantis saw the said ]: E. Mat
thews administer the said poison tt
her. and they verify believe that hel
death was directly caused by the poi
son so administered.
Subscribed and sworn to
before me this 1st day OF
December, 1905.
T. J. MURPHY. Mayor.
J. P. TURNER, II. ID.
T. T. Brooks, NJ d.
NJ r. FARRAR. NJ. D.
The witnesses in the case thus IA
| summoned are in addition TO tn,
| physicians mentioned Mrs. A. NJ Ha,
and Mrs. j. C. Bishop, acquaintance