Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-21
Commission May Be Appointed
to Test Mrs. Eaton'S Men,
tai Condition.
$4,000 LIFE INSURANCE
CARRIED BY DEAD MAN
Accused Woman Tells of Pred
eCeSSOr Choosing Her as
Successor.

PLYMOUTH MASS March IL
After spending a night of nervousness
in the county Jail here, Mrs. Jennie
Harrison Eaton, widow of Rear Ad-
miral Joseph G. Eaton. under arrest
charged with numbering him by the ad-
ministration of arsenic poison to-day
displayed the same unnatural calm with
which she confronted the officers yes
terday when she was arrested and ar
raigned. It is intimated to-day that
Mrs. Eaton may not be brought to trial
The possible appointment of a commits
sion to pass upon her sanity has been
suggested.
District Attorney Barker has gone to
Boston for a conference with Chief Jus
tice Aiken, of the superior court. 1t is
thought his errand may be in connec-
tion with the converting of a special
grand jury to consider the case.
Carried $4,000 Policy.
A possible motive for the crime has
been found In the fact that the admiral
carried life insurance policy for $4,000.
The Eatons were in poor circum-
stances. Soon after their marriage in
1907 the admiral met with financial re-
verses, and in his last days led an un-
pretentious life on a poultry farm in
Norwell.
His principal income was from his al
Iowance as a retired naval officer,
which amounted to $4,000 a year 1t is
understood that his estate is represent
ed largely by the life insurance policy.
Admiral Eaton a native of Alabama
died suddenly on the morning Of March
8. He was Sc years old, but according
to his friends, had been in good health
Two days later the body was buried at
Dracut, his former home. There was no
service at the grave, and besides under
takers and newspa per men. only the
widow and her daughter by another
marriage witnessed the interment
The rear admiral had seen SO years
service In the navy. He commanded
the transport Resoluts a Santiago and
received a medal OF honor for his share
in that battle
First Wife Chose Successor.
Mrs. Mary Anne Varnum Eaton. first
wife Of Admiral Joseph Giles Eaton.
was a Lowell woman and related 20
the family of the late Governor VOL
colt.
Admiral Eaton married her in ORA
cut, August 8, 1871. Their life was
ideally happy. Admiral Eaton, accord
ing to members of the Varnum family,
was devoted and loving husband.
1t was during their residence in
Washington that the present Mrs.
Eaton came into the admiraPs life.
Mary Anne Varnum Eaton became
i'll. Mrs Eaton, at that time. acted a
her nurse and companion. She lived
with them for several months.
Mrs. Eaton got ill.," said Mrs Jen-
ME Ainsworth Eaton, and would not
let me leave her side day or night.
She chung to me like a child
AT last she died in my arms and
with her parting breath said: TAX
care Of Joe. Marry him, my dear ana
make him a good Wife"
Mrs. Eaton died I'm February. 1906.
Says He Poisoned Baby
Mrs. Eat ton made statement to 4
close neighbor In August. 1909, follow
ing the death Of her adopted son. of
the same nature as that made by her
oldest daughter, June. concerning the
admirars alleged proneness for exper-
menting with drugs and alleged
threats to poison members of the fam
lily.
She said:
You don't know-you can't real
ize what kind of man the adj
miral is in private life. While I
know the doctors say that the baby
was not poisoned. you can never
convince me that he was not.
left the baby that day lying asleep
on the veranda of our cottage at
Scituate Harbor He was in per
feet health. 1t was not possible
for any child as healthy and as
normal as he to undergo such a
change in so amazingly short a
time.
The child was asleep in a baby
carriage on the plaza when myself
and my daughter June went to
the bathing beach The admiral
was In charge of the child When
! returned with my daughter the