Evening journal., 1909-01-13
TRYING TO SOLVE
POISON MYSTERY
tcontlnued rrom rIrst PAGE,

Henry Davis testified that there were
1--WE or six bottles used In the play. and
one OF the bottles was labeled poison.
The witness testified that they teased
Pippin about Annie Jones" who lives sew
ersl miles from MarydeL In reply to a
question II Pippin and Grfith ever vls-
ited the same girl, meaning Miss Jones.
the witness replied that he did not know.
Asked II he saw a young woman go out
OF the schoolhouse crying and with "A
bundle under her arm during the play,
the witness said he did not
Davis added that after the play one Of
the bottles was found broken. Ho said
that Miss Eta Heather was the girl who
was to break a bottle over the pistol OF
the william as he was about to shoot in
the play. This was made unnecessary
by the illness OF Pippin.
Howard Grimth, after describing the
plot Of the play. said;
u poured some of the raspberry vine
gar into two glasses. Pippin was the
colored servant in the play. and as he
picked up one OF the glasses the fluid
burned his mouth. He carried glass off
the stage. Then I took the other glass
out. ] tasted the vinegar, FOR IN the play
was supposed to have been poisoned.
IL tasted like vinegar and pepper"
Griffith said he was positive there was
no unpleasantness among the members
Of the cast. lie asserted that he did not
see a glass half filled with a white noury
substance. that Mr.. Dean intlmated was
arsenic. This glass was found and is
now In the Office Of the state chemist for
examination.
Miss Maud Hummer. the sweetheart OF
Plppin, said she never heard that Pippin,
Griflth or Dr. Evans had enemies. Dur
ing the examination OF Miss Hummer
Mr. Dean placed much emphasis upon
the black flag incident Miss Hummer
said she thought the flag was placed
on the stan for Joke and stated that
only two boys IN her school knew how
to do such e trick.
Pippins deposition was road to the
jury.
II take no stock in the accidental poi
son theory" Mr.. Dean stated after the
inquest "If J do suspect any one now,
l do not care To- speak Of my suspi-
cion-"
Until this mrnlng Elmer Dean. Public
Prosecutor OF Caroline county. would not
state positively that he thought pippin
was murdered. After tho inquest COM
Quoted yesterday, Mr.. Doan conferred
With his officers. lie left for Denton late
last night and when seen this morning
said; II do not think there can be any
doubt that Pippin was murdered Whether
the poison was intended for him or some
one else we have not determined. II looks
{ me- however. that Pippn was not the
real victim OF the plot. and am inclined
to believe that the person who put the
poison In the raspberry vinegar used dur
ing tho show did not know who would
drink tho stun
The lack of a motive for the murder
is one OF tho most peculiar parts OF tho
crime All sorts OF theories have been
advanced but nothing tangible has de-
vcloped that gould tend'to show the ptr-
pose any man or woman had IN killing
any member OF tho cast that produ,cd
"Chons"
most remarkable theory. and tho lat
est 70 be offered 10 the authorities. IS
now being Investigated. The theory ir
nothing more than n supposition at tbis
time but as the authorities welcome any
suggestion from anyone. this new theory
Is given as much, II not more. consider
alton than anything yet advanced as a
motive Tor the crime.
The. theory deals with the war between
local option and tho liquor sentiment
Marydel Is located IN the heart OF The
local option district. Local option was
not effected without q bitter FIGHT be-
tween the temperance or church eiomont
and the liquor element Since Nocer,her
1907. the local option forces have c, rrie !
the counties around here. Before that tbe
counties went "dry"
The local option question aronse1 ir-
tense feeling among the people ln tnfs
particular section onDNaryland and nela-
ware Both sides put up strong light.
speeches were delivered IN Afarvdei on
the question a campaign was waged hos
] yby both factions. and when the lsral
option forces won the election the i.auor
people were angry, to say the least.
IL IS alleged that some OF the most
prominent members Of the AIarydei Meth
odist Church were active In the crusade
for local option. Whether Pippln was
against the local option forces Is not
clear, but It Is known that some. n mn
every member OF the cast OF the piqv
that was given New Years night ANA
nearly every member OF the cast Of The
Only Girl" which was TO follow "Chsrs. %
was a local option adherent.
The liquor people have had "their noses
put right 70 the grind stone" so 10 sneak
for more than a year. but why any one
save a crank. should single out Pinpin OF
tany member OF the Methodist Churcn 10 a
victim for vengeance Is a matter that can.
not be explained