The New York herald., 1922-11-23
FAMILY OF SIX dies
in POISON MYSTERY
Murder Plot Suspected in
Deaths of Ohio Man, Wife
and Children.
LIVED LONG IN FEAR
Victim Had Been Strike
Breaker and Had Feared
Punishment.
LETTER ASKED ANALYSIS
Found in Home 1t Requested
State to Examine Food
From Pantry.
LETTER ASKED ANALYSIS

LANCASTER, Ohio, Nov. 90 (Associated
Press).-Sir persons--a father, mother
and their four ch,ldren-sre dead here
Of poison, their bodies having been
found in their home to-day by neigh
bors
The father was Irvine Henderson,
who was employed by the Pennsyi-
yania road as stationary engineer
during the strike and the authorities
have learned that he believed he was
being poisoned by persons who re-
sented his taking employment on the
railroad.
DR.. r. w. Mondfank said Henderson
had consulted with him last Friday and
several times since over a mysterious
inalady which had affected members OF
his family and had told him he feared
he was being given poison. Henderson
gave the name of a man he suspected,
the physician declared, and this was
turned over to tho authorities without
being made public.
Seek Traces of Poison.
Prosecutor Charles Radcliffe said lie
was investigating the situation. and was
awaiting word from Columbus. where
vital organs OF two OF the dead persons
had been taken for analysis by tho
State chemist. From the first. 1t was
said, the authorities believed the deaths
had been the result OF either poisoning
or asphyxiation. Their minds stiii were
open. 1t was said, On the question Of
whether the deaths We're accidental, the
result of self-destruction or the work
OF enemies.
investigation was being made tonight
OF statements that Mrs Henderson had
been acting peculiarly for several days.
5or. Mondhank said he had visited the
Henderson home several times recently
and each time Mrs. Henderson had been
sitting with her face IN her hands near a
stove. She did not speak to him during
any OF his visits, he said
The supposition that enemies might
have been responsible for the deaths was
strengthened. police say. by fears ex-
pressd by Henderson In letter written
10 the State Board OF Health and found
unsealed on the floor OF the Henderson
home. that some one Nigh. have got
into the house while he was away at
night at his work IN the Pennsylvania
Railroad shops.
Feared for Lives.
The letter expressed the belief that
members Of the family were taking
poison into their SYSTEMS some way and
asked for advice. The man wrote that
perhaps the cornmeal they had been
eating contained something deadly and
asked what fee there would be for an
analysis OF It,
Breaking down the door of the Hen
derson home this morning anxious
neighbors We're met with the spectacle
Of the six bodies. That OF Henderson
was sprawied on the floor: his wife's
was found upright In a chair before the
fire and those OF the four children I'm bed.
The Henderson family came here from
Jacksonville several months ago. A week
ego to-day. the mans letter said. his
wife took the children for visit In Nell
ronville, returning the next day. Friday
morning. according TO the letter. the
first symptoms OF illness appeared. Hen
derson, his wife and two children were
stricken Monday the other two chill
dren became III. and all six developed
the most acute attacks after having
eaten the evening meal yesterday. at
which cornmeal had been consumed.