The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-04
Walt Mason in the Kansas City Star.

w I'VE live in these enlightened
w times, when our lives cannot
easily be sworn away in the courts, when
medical men know something of medicine
and hanging judges" are few and far
between. A few weeks ago some merry
picnicers in a western town refreshed
themselves with ice cream and shortly
afterward they were tying themselves in
sailors knots, and several narrowly es-
capped death. The learned physicians who
were summoned said that ptomaine pois-
oning was responsible and nobody was
hanged.
Had that occurred a hundred years ago.
the doctors would have said that arsenic
was the cause of the calamity, and the
officers of the law would have gone
hunting for the poisoner; then woe be-
tide anybody who was known TO have a
grudge against any of the sufferers. How
many innocent people, accused OF poison
ing. have been legally butchered will
never be known until the roll is called
up yonder, but their name is legion.
Among these sacrifices to medical ignor-
ance and stupidity. as well as to the
blood-thirsty rapacitys of prosecuting law
yers, none ever gained the public sys-
pathy to such degree as did Elizabeth
Fenning. who suffered on the tireless
British gallows nearly 100 years ago.
For a long time her name was a house.
hold word In England When she was
sentenced to death some of the greatest
and most famous men in the country ex-
erted themselves in her behalf; poets
wrote verses about her; men of high
standing circulated petitions; the plain
people held mass meetings and passed
resolutions; but all in vain. The British
idea of justice 100 years ago, was that
it is better to hang a hundred innocent
people than to let one guilty person es-
cape.
Elizabeth Fenning was the daughter of
poor but worthy parents, and she grew
up with the knowledge that she would
have to work for her living. Being a
sensible girl, she determined to excel in
her humble calling, so she became an ex-
cellent cook AT odd times she studied
ton that was unusual in one of her sta
tion.s She was pretty. modest and self re-
pecting. an. made a good impression ev-
erywhere.
On an evil day she accepted port
folio as cook in the family of Robert
Gregson Turner, London stationer
Turner's father lived with him. and also
two or three clerks. Mrs. Turner was one
of those imperious, Queen Elizabeth sort
,,r xryt,n
than kheaven.--a century ago than they
are now She looked upon her servants
and handmaidens as being a trife less
than human, and always was reading the
thank heaven.-a century ago than they
a burden She rebuked Eliza beth for i'm
aginary offenses. The girl, who did her
work conscientiously, was more used to
praise than criticism, and Mrs. Turner'S
lecture wounded her deeply.
Elizabeth was a good cook, and she
took special pride in her apple dump1ings.
She felt that when it came to apple
dumplings she could please the crowned
heads, and upon several occasions she
asked Mrs. Turner's permission to pre-
pare these delicacies. The old girl al
ways vetoed this proposition. saying that
her folks didn't care three whoops for
dumplings. At last the girl got permits
sion to dish up some of her celebrated
dumpings, so she secured some yeast
from the brewer and some milk from the
milkman, and went ahead. Perhaps she
was nervous; perhaps she forgot to put in
some necessary ingredients. However.
that may be, the dumplings We're a dis
NAL failure They were fiat and heavy
and Off color, and Elizabeth, who was
heart broken over it, wanted to throw
them into the alley, or give them to the
deserving poor, but Mrs. Turner didn t
like to see anything go to waste. SO she
had them served up.
The members of the family ate some
steak and potatoes. and then tackled the
dumplings After eating small por-
ton. old Mr.. Turner reared up and
yelled, and bit piece out of the back
Of his chair and then began' rolling
around on the floor. Then Robert Greg
son Turner gave a good imitation of q
contortionist. and presently Mrs. Turner
and the clerks did some ground and lofty
tumbling. Chrurgeons and apothecaries
were summoned. and, Of course, they de-
cided that the family had been poisoned
with aresnic. And who but Elizabeth
F>enning could have administered the
poison? Her guilt was manifest Sc
Elizabeth went to Jail.
= A great. mass Of evidence was intro