The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-11-01
WHOLESALE POISONING
IN COUNTY YESTERDAY - JOHN
CROSBY PROMINENT FARMER
DIES FROM TAKING
PARIS GREEN.
Two Relatives, Who Resided With
Him, We're Also Poisoned-Negro
Raised BY Mr.. Crosby From
Infancy, Charged With
Crime.

Mr.. John Crosby, aged n years, is
dead at his home on the Kennard
pike, his death having been caused by
some one having administered poison
In his coffee.
Mr.. w. F. Thomas and wife, near
relatives Of Mr.. Crosby, who have
been keeping house and taking care
Of his farm for him for several years,
we're also poisoned, but will recover.
A half-witted negro, about 40 years
of age, who is known as Ned or
Blackjack" is in Jail here, it being
thought that he is the one who ad-
ministered the poison.
Yesterday morning about o'clock
Mr.. Crosby, Mr.. Thomas, wife and
two children sat down to the break
fast table to partake of their morning
meal, all of them taking coffee ex-
cept the children.
Immediately after breakfast Mrs.
Thomas went to her room with the
children, leaving her husband and Mr..
Crosby in the dining room. Soon af-
ter one of the children hurried down
stairs and told Mr.. Thomas that his
wife had taken suddenly i'll. He hur-
ried up stairs but by the time he had
gotten to her he also felt sick. Then
one of the children came up stairs
and reported that Mr.. Crosby was al
so i'll.
Mr. Thomas, realizing that some
thing out Of the ordinary was taking
place and that the lives of all were
probably in danger, Immediately ran
to the phone to call on neighbors for
assistance. After trying to get sew
eral of his neighborsbors without
avail on account Of the line being
busy, he finally succeeded in getting
DR.. Berry at Washington, and was ad-
vised that all should take an emetic
of salt and water to get rid of the
poison Mr.. Thomas administered the
emetic to all and soon afterwards two
physicians arrived.
1t was seen that Mr. Crosbys con-
dition was critical and they and he
were given heroic treatment, but to no
avail, and he passed away about noon
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas, were also very
Ill, but soon began to improve and
were reported as being out Of danger
yesterday afternoon. It is not known
whether Mr.. Crosby got more Of the
poison than the rest of the family or
whether his heart was too weak to
battle with the poison.
Deputy Sheriff George w. Laycock,
Constable Jambes Mcnamara and
Coroner Charles Slack were notified
/ and left for the scene of the crime
at 1890 yesterday afternoon. After
making an investigation they went
out into the cornfield on the Crosby
farm and placed under arrest the ne
gro known as Ned, who has been with
the Crosby family since he was five
years of age, having been taken from
the County Infirmary by Mr.. Crosby.
He is a half-witted fellow and can
not talk very plainly. When arrested
he had corn knife in his hand but
he made no attempt to use it.
Mr.. Thomas said yesterday after
noon that Mr.. Crosby had reprimand-
ed Ned Tuesday for not tieing up
some fodder properly. This scolding
seemed to make the negro mad and
on Tuesday night he did not 60 to bed
\ at the usual hour and instead Of
! sleeping in his regular bed room went
to room above the kitchen. It is
thought that he arose early and put
Paris green into the coffee percu-
lator, there being small supply OF
Paris green in cabinet on the back
porch.
I Mr.. Thomas said that the family
noticed the coffee being green but
thought that it was probably because
it was too strong. He said that a
cup was given to the negro in the
kitchen and that he then went to the
dining ROOM When he returned the
coffee was gone, but 1t is not thought
the negro drank it as he never be-
came sick.
Ned is known all over the neigh.
borhood as one who will steal every.
thing he can get hold of and has al.
ways been considered bad negro
Several years ago he burned several
hay stacks on the Crosby farm and al
another time hung a valuable horse
1t is also thought that he is responsi.
BILE for the big fire In the gas main
near Washington about two months
ago as he came in shortly after the
fire started with his face burned and
his whiskers burned of.
An analysis will be made Of the
coffee pot and Mr.. Crosby's stomach
will be removed and analysed before
Coroner Slack will hold an inquest.
l Mr.. Crosby was very prosperous
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