The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-05-31
TRIES TO POISON POSTMASTER
W. NJ. Isenhart, OF Chelan, Takes Shot at
Man Trying to Put Poison in
Family Food

On Tuesday morning, May 81 Mr..
Isenhart discovered a man on his porch
and shot at him several times.
In the past six months poison has
been found in food left in cupboard on
the porch of the family residence. The
miscreant put the poison on in such
large quantities that it was discovered
everytime before the food was eaten
by the family. Samples OF the stuff
were sent to different chemists and
pronounced strychnine. Mr.. lsenhart
had arranged so that the opening OF
the cupboard door would wake him.
On the night above referred to he was
wakened and shot at the man as he
was in the act opening the cupboarp
door, but missed his aim.
The following story was given to the
Chelan Leader, in which Mr.. Isenhart
discloses his suspicious.
There is no doubt in my mind that
saloon sympathizers have been seeking
my life.
In the summer of 1905 l published
an article in the Chelan Leader, calling
attention to the manner in which the
saloons at this place were being con-
Quoted and, l believe, called the
matter to the attention of thescouncll.
In September Of that year my horse
which was kept in stable not Tar from
the rear of the postoffice, was taken
suddenly sick and died within three
minutes.
| continued my fight against the sa-
looms and after the municipal election
in December, 1905 had one OF the
saloon keepers arrested for giving
whiskey to the election judges while
on duty.
No new developments occurred,
however, until last winter, when Max
Weidner was so badly frozen while on
protracted spree. The part | took
in that affair is well known. On two
occasions, between the middle OF
February and the last of March, pota-
toes left in the cupboard on the back
porch tasted so bad that we could not
eat them.
The evening of April Is last we
used milk from a can left in the out
side cupboard. Next morning the
milk tasted so bitter that we could not
use it. We called in DR.. Mitchell.
He made an examination OF the milk
and said it contained about one fourth
of a teaspoon OF strychnine, enough to
kill all the people in town. The doc
tor placed a grain of the substance
taken from the milk in piece oil meat
and gave it to cat. The animal died
within three minutes. Tests OF the
milk were also made at Wenatchee by
Dr Meow and at the Washington
State college. Both pronounced the
substance it contained pure strychnne.
| was now thoroughly convinced
that my life was being sought and
began to watch for the mlscreant. |
fixed an alarm to warn me when any
one was tampering with the cupboard.
Food was still placed there as before
but none was eaten.
Last Sunday evening at 8 o'clock
Mrs Isenhart and | went to church
Parties whom we suspicioned saw us
20. Returning at 9 o'clock, Mrs.
Isenhart noticed that the cupboard
door had been opened during our
absence. Next morning DR.. Mitchell
was again called in, and found that
two plates OF food left in the cupboard
had been sprinkled with strychnine.
then renewed my vigilance, which
resulted in the shooting Tuesday
morning ."-Chelan Leader.
The river is still rising. The boats
lii. % n ,,o;Dt met halom