The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-03-27

A startling development il TIE Fred
Batchelder poisoning case came last
night when Ray Mullen, b ledger in tho
same house with Batchclder at the time
Of the latter's mysterious death on
March 16 and who nursed him during
his short and very painful Illness was
arrested on a warrant charging MUIR
der. The examination Of the stomach
Of the deceased at the state laboratory
in Burlington has progressed far enough
to determine that there was arsenic in
the stomach. An autopsy, conducted by
local physicians on the same day Of the
death, revealed the fact that the stom-
nch and intsnstines we're In an infame,l
condition, due probably to poison, and
the examination at the state laboratory
was ut once authorized.
The accused was q roommate of Roy
Sykes, young fellow who was taken
violently III and with the same synp-
toms as those which Batchelder had
later. Sykes, however, recovered from
his attack and went to his home near
Windsor, remaining about a week. IL
was during this absence--on Wednesday
night, March f4--that Batrhelder was
taken violently III, suffering intense pain
all day Thursday and dying Friday
morning at 7:3n o'clock, three quarters
Of an hour after Dr. w. i. Lazelle had
left him, apparently In not 50 serious
d condition as to warrant unusual an
xiety AT the time Of the physicians
visit that morning ii was thought best
to notify Batcheldsr's parents at Plain
field that their son was ill., This was
done, the impression being conveyed to
them that Fred was not id dangerous
condition, however. Miss Alice Batchel.
der, sister, was preparing to come to
Barre when the second telephone mes
sage came that Fred was dead. The
nurse, Mullen, was the only one in
the room at the time of the young
mans death, and in fact, he had been
with Batehelder most Of the time during
his brief illness.
A Sandwich Theory
The theory thst the young men were
poisoned by eating candy has apparently
been discarded by the authorities. A
sandwich il now brought into the Sykes
sickness. II is alleged that one night
sykes went home late and that he was
offered sandwich BY Mullen. who de-.
clared that he thought Sykes might be
hungry and so had prepared the sand
wich. Sykes took the sandwich and
ate it. Az the same time Mullen ate
another sandwich. Sykes went to bed
and three hours and half later was
taken very I'LL He recovered, however
and went to Bis home in the southern
part Of the state. Then Batcheldcr, who
ro0med in the same house, became i'll
under similar conditions and died Thus,
suspicion became directed toward Null
len, and the report Of the finding Of ar.
senie III BatcheldeF's stomach was
thought sufficient to warrant his arrest.
Took Arrst Calmly
Mullen was arrested BY Chief Brown
at Ills rooms IN the residence Of y. IT..
Cutler. 81 jefferson street, at G o'clock
Last evening. He was lying In bed,
partly undressed, when the officer ar
rived. Mullen showed no great pertur-
bation over the officers arrival. When
told what be was being arrested for
he manifested some surprise and said:
"This Is q strange piece Of business,
arrestinG me for that"
He dressed himself and went along
willingly to tho Jail, where be was
searched and put in cell for the night.
When searched two tablets were taken
from his pockets. These tablets he en-
treated Tie police to let him have, as
he said that bis physician had ordered
him to take onc every hour The officers
Ala not let him have the tablets, but
turned them over To States Attorney
Jackson, who had issued the warrant
for the mans arrest. Mullen claimed
10 hs suffering with tonsilitis, and he
undoubtedly was i'll with d bad cold.
Thel cell room was kept at a COM
Portable temperature during the night
and Mullen seemed to have passed the
nirht well, although the police thought
n best to have physician sec him this
morning.
vsttla Ronxyn af Him