Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-09
SENT IN
CREAM PUFF IS
CAUSE Of DEATH
Mrs. Hattie E. Oakley to
Be Arraigned in Rhode
Island Court on Charge
of Murder.

woonsocket, R. l.. Feb. s.-Numerous
cities and towns throughout the coun-
try have gotten into print from time
to time with poisoned candy" cases,
but Woonsocket has the distinction
of furnishing the first poisoned cream
puff case in record So far the case
has remained a deep mystery, but the
police believe that strong light will
be shed upon it next Saturday, when
Mrs. Hattie E. oakley is arraigned in
court for a preliminary examination on
charge of murder.
The mysterious case had its begin
ming two weeks ago today. in the death
of Almand Nadeboncoeur, and the
serious illness of Henry Cassavant,
which followed their eating poisoned
cream puffs, received through the
mails.
The police story of the case indicates
that Vadeboncoeur was an unexpected
victim of the poisoned cream puffs.
The box containing the puffs was sent
to Cassavant and was addressed in a
disguised handwriting which, the po-
lice stated at the time, resembled a
woman's. Cassavant opened the box,
gave OIlt VI lllt tdlIl PullS W v duS-
boncoeur and ate two himself Wade
boncoeur died the same night, but
Cassavant was saved because he had
an overdose of poison and because of
heroic efforts by a physician.
Admitted Buying Cream Puffs.
Mrs. Oakley was arrested on suspi-
cion and later was held on a charge of
murder. She denied having sent the
package or knowing anything about 1t
until after she had heard of the pois-
oning. She admitted having bought
cream puffs at different times, but
maintained she had not purchased any
recently. She also admitted having
bought arsenic.
The police have conducted their in
vestgation of the mystery on the
theory that jealousy furnished the mo-
tive for the alleged murder. Mrs.
Oakley told the police she had been
acquainted with Cassavant for about
seven years and for FIVE years had seen
him almost every day She had been
his companion on motorcycle rides and
later when he bought an automobile
rode with him in that.
The woman was shown the box in
which the cream puffs were delivered
to Cassavant and also the wrapper in
which it went through the postoffce.
She denied ever having seen either be-
fore and stated most emphatically that
nothing in the nature of a quarrel
had taken place between Mr.. Cassa-
want and herself.
Explains Purchase of Poison.
Mrs. Oakley said she knew Cassa-
want had gone out one night TO visit
another young woman, because he
told her the girl had invited him down
and was going to give him a good
supper. She said she did not object
to his going and was not at all jeal-
Gus. She admitted to the police that
she had on two occasions bought ar
case II was bought on the suggestion
of Cassavant and the arsenic was for
the purpose of mixing II with kero-
sene in order to rid the Cassavant
house, in which she lived, of insect
pests.
DIR. Harry s. Bernstein, state path =
ologist reported that an analysis had
disclosed at least two grains OF arsenic
in Vadeboncoeur's stomach. The ply
sician also reported he had found a
grain of arsenic in the paper wrapper
of the box which had contained the
cream puffs.
Vadeboncoeur died without inform
ing his physician that he had eaten
the cream puff.