The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-06
POISONED NEEDLES
JAbbEO into WOMEN
BEFORE R0bBER|ES
Arrest of Young South Ameri-
can Charged with Poisoning
Youthful Bride Results in
Startling Disclosures.
New York Exercised Over Story
Told by Woman Who Was
Stuck with Needle While in
Theater and Discovery Of
Similar Cases.

NEW YORK, Dec 5.--Armand
Meagro. arrested In Newark on Thurs
lay afternoon. charged with jabbing
poisoned needle In the hand OF
Mrs Marjorie Graft. the bride Of
Wesley M Graft, civil engineer, as
she was watching moving pictures in
a box at the Lyric theater, Newark.
was beld today in $4,000 bail for
the Grand jury by Judge Hahn in
that city He emphatically declared
that he Was not guilty OF the accuse
ton. but the young bride insisted that
Meagro was the only person in the
box when she felt the sting.
An usher In the Lyric picked up
darning needle, 2 1-2 inches long,
In the theater today. There II no evil
dence that this Is the needle that
wounded Mrs. Graft. but needles are
nor common In .theater sweepinRs. and
Chief of Police Long and Captain
Tuite. OF the Newark Detective bu-
reau. considered the finding OF this
particular one significant.
Chemist to Analize.
The chief said tonight that ne
would send the darning needle TO a
chemist SO that an analysis may he
made 20 determine whether any pR
son still remains on IT. 1t is the opin-
ion of Long and Tuite that the needle
that stung the brides hand may have
been doctored with a curare. n black,
brittle, resinous extract OF strycnnos
-4ax4sa1.--ar- a.Aar-aanth- American
species OF strychnos. with which In
dams were wont TO smear their arrow
heads The fact that Meagro was
horn In Argentina. caused them 10
find out all they could about South
American poisons,
Although many stories have been
atfoat OF late that white slavers have
adopted the practice of shooting
poison by means Of needles into the
arms Of young women in motion pic
ture houses and other dark places
with the idea ~ abducttng them
while they were IN a da3e- Chief
Long and Captain Tuits are con-
WINGED that in the case IF Mrs, Graf.
md several other cases that have
come under their notice, the motive
was probably that Of robbery.
Robbery the Motive?
Roth pointed out that Mrs Graf
wore $500 diamond ring and other
jewolry, and suggested that the per-
son. who worked the needle possibly
hoped thai the poison would reduce
hRF 10 iFlAi f0UQfi1RH NNeAF S&it "VtfF
he unable to move or scream, and
he would he able to make on with
her gems before anyone noticed what
was going on
The Newark detectives are inves-
tigatiag several other. poisoned needle
stories that have REACHED their ears.
and expects before long to have n
number Of alleged victims Of mys-
terious Jobs look at NeaRro To see II
they remember seeing anyone who
looks like him.
In court today Mrs. Graf repeated
her story. 1t was substantially the
same as che told when Meagro, ac-
cused of pricking her with the needle,
asked Mrs Graft II she noticed a
stout man with glasses in the box.
He insisted that when the bride got
III, to go out. the stout man hurriedly
left the theater. He denied that he
ever used or had any knowledge of
poisoned needles.
After holding Meagro for the grand
fury Judge Hahn said that he had
heard of a similar case. and might
have been needle victim In court in
a day or so.
Terrible Situation.
The fudge said that II was a terri
bile situation when women are not
safe on the street or in public places,
and promised that he would do every
thing in his power to cooperate with
the police In running down the needle
Jabbers.
Assistant District Attorney CONAN,
who In in charge of the complaint bu-
! reau Of District Attorney Whitman's
ONCE. received his first complaint Of
needle 1abbing today. The woman
refused to have her name made pub
lie She was accompanied by male
friend.
1.-THE woman's escort told me-" said
Mr.. Colnan, that as she was descend
ing In elevator in department
store she felt a pricking sensation.
There was but one man In the car,
and when the main floor was reach
ed the man disappeared. When she
returned to the upper part of the
building she again noticed the man
following her. Later when she met
/. her friend. after leaving the store, sne
found a small needle prick wound and
a cut in her dress.