Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-10-24
Suicide Theory
Now Advanced
DEFENSE IN MCFARLAND CASE
ON NEW TACK.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE
Employed as stenographer by MeFar-
fand-SmaIl Son of Mcfarland to
Be Placed on Witness Stand.

Newark, n. j.. Oct 23-On the eve
OF the presentation of the mcfarland
poison mystery" to the grand jury
new light was thrown on the case by
a statement made this evening through
counsel for Allison. Mcfarland, who is
now in a cell at the Essex County
jail, charged with the murder of his
wife by the substitution of cyanide
OF potassium for headache medicine.
Suicide Theory Now Advanced.
Mcfarland, who had previously been
quoted as positively regardine the death
as wholly accidental, now believes that
his wife committed suicide: state
ments which he is previously credit
ed with having made to the effect that
any friendship he might have had for
another woman was unknown to his
wife, are altered by the belief now ex-
pressed that Mrs. Mcfarland had dis
covered some of the letters received by
him from Miss Florence Bromley OF
Ph11aQeiphIa and that, knowing where
the cyanide of potassium was kept. she
deliberately drank the fatal draft.
Relations With Wife Strained.
Frank A. McDernott, who has been
retained by Mcfarland as counsel,
spent several hours in the cell with his
client today and later made public the
new phase of the case. He said that
Mcfarland positively declared himself
innocent of the murder but admitted
that he had not been on the best of
domestic terms with his wife. The re-
lations We're SO strained in fact, that
the woman started divorce proceedings
some time ago at her home city,
Rock1and, Maine, but finding that the
papers were not satisfactory, after
wards discontinued the suit.
Agreed On a Divorce.
I'VE were never mated" Mcfarland
is quoted as saying, "for she was a
demestieated woman and I was not a
0omeSticated man. We finally agreed
that she should get divorce with
out contest on my part. She wanted
the custody of both children while
wanted to keep them both with me-
The "Other Woman" His Stenonrapher.
Prosecutor Wilbur A. Mott says he
has in his possession letters received
by Mcfarland from Miss Bromley as
late as Friday last, continued rsticent
tonight as to their contents but de-
clared that the grand jury would be
asked tomorrow to indict Mcfarland
for the murder on the basis of facts
III hand. Miss Bromley, whom the
authorities refer to as the "the other
woman in the case was employed as
his stenographer when he was in
the automobile supply business in
Phila de}nIlia.
A Litter FROM Wife,s Parents.
Advices from Rockland, Maine the
former home of Mrs. Mcfarland, are
to the effect that George NJ. Crockett
and his wife, the parents Of the dead
woman, have written long letter to
Mcfarland, outlining their view of the
case.
McFarland's Son as Witness.
To six-year-old Mcfarland, son of
Mcfarland, the prosecution turned to-
day to strengthen its case. The
youngster accompanied his father to
Philadelphia the day after Mrs. Nc
Farland's body was found and the
prosecutor has indicated his intention
of placing the boy on the witness stand
to tell what occurred during the trip
to the Quaker city.
Children ignorant Of Fathers Plight.
The original intention to send Robert
and his two-year- old sister Ruth to
their maternal grand father, George
A. Crockett. at Rockland, Maine has
been abandoned. The children have