The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-21
Pleads Not Guilty to Charge
of Poisoning Her
Hush |
WIFE MAY Nas.T BE
BROUGHT TO TRIAL
Arrest Follows Investigation by Cor
oner's Jury, Which Found Ad
miral Eaton's Death Due to
Arsenical Poisoning

Plymouth, Mass, March as-Mrs. Jennie
May Eaton was locked up in the county
Jail here late today, pending a hearing
on the charge that she murdered her hus-
band, Rear Admiral Joseph Giles Eaton,
by poisoning him. She was brought here
from bingham. where she had been ar
raigned earlier in the day following her
arrest. Through counsel she pleaded not
guilty. waived the reading of the COM
rlaint and was held without bail for ex-
animation March 2S.
| It has not been determined whether the
| inquest into the sudden death of the ad-
miral will be resumed. 1t was intimated
tonight that Mrs. Eaton might not be
| brought to trial The possible appoint
ment of commission to pass upon her
sanity was suggested
District Attorney Barket went to Boston
this afternoon and had a conference with
Chief Justice Aiken of the superior court.
II was thought his errand might be in
connection with the convening of a spe
cial grand jury to consider the case.
Dressed i'm Black
| When Mrs. Eaton, who Is a stout wom
an, 45 years of age. entered the jail here
she was dressed in the black suit she wore
at her husbands funeral. A mourning
veil partially hid her face. She had been
weeping. but generally maintained the
composure that has characterized her
bearing from the first.
! Admiral Eaton died in his bed at the
home in Norwell, where he lived with
his wife, her mother, Mrs. George Har-
rison. and his stepdaughter, Dorothy
Ainsworth. The death was unexpected
and due, the other members of the family
said, to an attack of Indigestion, which
! followed too hearty meal of roast pork.
Circumstances led to an investigation,
and, according to statement by Dis
trct Attorney Baker today, evidence Of
arsenica poisoning was discovered by
Prof William f. whitney, who analyzed
the contents Of the stomach. The formal
report of Professor whitney has not been
made and the arrest was ordered upon
| verbal communication to the district
attorney.
| For ten days the authorities have known
that the admiral died of arsenieal poison
| ing and their efforts have been directed
| To finding where and by whom the poison
was obtained, and to laying bare the
home life of the Eaton family.
Wealth of Evidence Furnished
| In the first quest they have not been
successful the district attorney said
Along the second line of inquiry wealth
of evidence has been furnished by friends
of the family and neighbors. The picture
was not an altogether pleasant one. The
admiral and his wife, who was 20 years
III; al w <
said. regarding those who should be re-
ceived at their home.
Both had been married before, The ad-
miraTs first wife was Mary Anne Var
mum, whom he married at Dracut In 1871.
when he was a lieutenant in the navy
His body was buried beside that of his
first wife. From his graduation at An |
napols until his retirement with the rank
of rear admiral in 1905 the life of the
naval officer was filled with honors and !
he acquired a fortune.
Soon after his retirement he met Mrs. |
Jennie May Ainsworth the daughter %
George Harrison of Alexandria, Va. Mrs. /
Ainsworth later divorced her husband |
D. II. Ainsworth, an employe of the
Senate at Washington, and she and the
admiral were married In 1907.
Their courtshp was described by the
admiral in. statement which he made
during a brief estrangement from his wife
four years ago. He said:
Il met Mrs. Ainsworth In Chicago, and
at that time | thought she was widow.
At that time, however she was not ac-
tually divorced from her husband 1t was
not until just before my marriage that
| learned she had a husband Then she
told me that her husband was alive and
that she had just obtained divorce from
him on the grounds of drunkenness and de-
sertion.
Helped to Support Her
During the time that paid attention
TO her, knowing her Strengthened circum- |
stances and thinking that her husband |
was dead ! helped toward the support of
herself and children. giving her money. |
fConfinued on Page Nlne)