Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-03
Work of Securing Jury in Pratt
Poisoning Case Under Way
at Rockwell City
COURT ROOM IS CROWDED
Woman Who Is Accused of Poisoning
Hor Husband Botrays Great Uncasi-
ness In Court Room Difficulty In
Getting Jury Because Of Wide Pub
icity Given the Crime.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Rockwell city, Jan. 3.1he work OF
securing n jury for the trial OF Mrs.
Sarah Pratt. charged with the murder
OF her husband by slow poisoning, was
continued today Judge Church Will
preside at the trial. Several Jurors
have been selected. but II is not ex-
pected that the panel will be complet-
ed before night. The fact that the case
has been SO widely discussed In the
county Is making 1t somewhat difficult
ant with the details of the alleged
crime and have expressed no opinion
as to the guilt OF the defendant. The
court room is crowded with specta-
tors. Mrs Pratt is accompanied by
none save her attorneys in the court
room. Her case is being conducted
by Hon j. M. Parsons. Of Rock Rap
Ids, and Hon. j. r. Lavender, Of this
city Yesterday Mrs. Pratt betrayed
great uneasiness In the court room, and
frequently gave way to her emotions.
Today, however, she was calincr. The
prosecution is being conducted by
County Attorney Il. NJ. Hutchinson and
Senator Thomas d. ucaly OF Fort
Dodge.
The prosecution and defense Of the
case will be based largely upon the
same evidence as was submitted to the
grand jury, a summary OF which fol-
lows:
@.rhe report of the chemist and the
Verdict of the Jury.
.'ecullar symptoms during Pratts
Illness.
Inability of the doctors to diagnose
the case.
Apparent intimacy of Mrs. Pratt and
the hired man, Persng.
The scene in the death chamber
when Mrs. Pratt and Persing, with
clasped hands. stood near the foot of
the bed while Pratt was dying
Persing's appearance at the Bank of
Yetter early Saturday morning when
he made inquiries regarding the life
insurance OF the deceased.
The trip of Mrs. Pratt and Persing
to Lake City Saturday afternoon.
Her purchase of arsenic two days
before the death of Pratt.
The telling of Mrs. Pratt before the
report of the chemist Of the upsetting
of the tin of fly paper water and the
soaking of tablets which she adminis-
tered to her husband.
Claims of Defense.
The defense submitted the follow
ing:
Previous good character Of Mrs.
Pratt
Pratts employment Of Persing and
the cordial relations between them up
to the time of the death.
Persing's engagement to the Fonda
girl and preparations for the we'd
ding
Alleged enmity of Pratt's relations
urged as one of the reasons for the
prosecution.
Absence Of poison in the house and
the fact that Pratt was ill five weeks
and only one purchase of arsenic was
made during that time and two days
before his death
Amicable relations between Pratt and
his wife thru thirteen years Of mar
iried life.
Accidental soaking Of tablets in spill
ed fly paper poison, accounting for
poison found in stomach.
Embalming fluid containing poison
was injected into the body before the
autopsy was performed.
Mrs. Pratt gave her $2,500 bonds a
few days after the hearing and has
been living quietly on the farm near
Yetter since that time, but Persing
was unable to secure bonds and has
been in Jail all summer.