Middletown transcript., 1909-02-06
SPEAKS FOR THE PIppINs
Tells Congregations MarydeI Couple are
Innocent of Intentional Crime

=
innocent of Intentional Crime
MARYDE1, Nd. February 1st.-Fron
the pulpit of the Methodist Episcopa
Church here there was delivered last
night "a spirited defense Of Mr.. and Mrs,
Samuel II. Pippin, whosigned statements
declaring that they had, by mistake. car.
ried q bottle containing poison to the
local opera house for use in an amateur
play, and as a result Of which their rela
tive, Charles I. Pippin, died from drink
ing 'stage wine'' mixed with the con.
tents.
Soon after mounting to the pulpit to
begin his sermon, the Rev. E. H. Der
rickson referred to the Pippin ''confes-
eions," and declared il to be his belief
that the Pippins were innocent of ''any
intentional crime" In addition to this
Mrs. Derrickson, wife Of the pastor, spoke
in behalf of the couple. Both the pastor
and his wife asked the congregation to re.
frain from discussing the case.
When the story of the admissions of
the Pippins became known among a few
of their most intimate friends several
persons visited the home to console Mr..
and Mrs. Samuel Pippin. Both are
highly respected in Marydel, and no one
believes that they Intentionally put poi
son in the wine. Despite the similarity
Of name, the PIppin families do not claim
relationship, but have been friends for
many years.
Detective Pohler says be has no evil
dence to refute the accidental poisoning
theory. He adds that at this time there
is no apparent motive for anyone to have
murdered Charles Pippin. However, the
detective expects to submit the case to
States Attorney Deem to-day. There are
still several details the detective wishes
to investigate before saying positively how
he regards the case.
One of the bottles from which Pippin
drank the poison is the color of amber.
Mrs. Maude Pippin said she was not posi-
tive the poison had come from her house
until, she heard this bottle described.
She had contended the stage wine was
drunk from white bottle until her hus-
band confirmed the report.
Mrs. Pippin said her reason for dispos'
ing OF the bottle which Detective Pohler
recovered from the well in the back yard
of the Pippin home was that che feared
she would be uniustly suspected by any
one conducting an investigation if poison
were found in her house. She said she
had no idea that the poison might have
come from her home until she learned
that bichloride Of mercury and corrosive
sublimate are practically the same.
Samuel Pippin said be did not know bis
wife had the old corrosive sublimate
bottle in the house. He admitted be
bought the corrosive sublimate in Will
mington and also that when be searched
for two bottles for the play he found
them in the garret-one an amber-colored
bottle and the other green bottle.
Samuel Pippin said the mistake might
have been made while he 6aFs labelling
two bottles to be used in the farce
"Chaps." One of the bottles, besaid, be
washed, but the other be did not. The
reason be did not wash the second bottle,
he said. was because it was not supposed
to contain anything, but was TO have been
labeled Poison" Samuel Pippiu said he
believed he marked the clean bottle ''Poi-
son" and the unwashed bottle SHERRY
wine" As Charles Pippin drank from
the sherry wine" bottle Mr.. Pippin be.
lieyes It was the one his wife bad used for
the corrosive sublimate solution.