The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-03-29
ATTEMPT TO POISON
AN ENTIRE FAMILY
VICTIMS SAY FORTUNE TELLER
READ DEATH IN A TEA
CUP
FOUR LIVES ENDANGERED
STEPMOTHER AND HALF SIS
TIERS OF, GEORGE O'GARA
SAUK CENTRE

onOA SL4> AsH
The following story from the Min
neapolis Journal of Thursday evening
March %, will be of interest to Her
aid readers as the ladies in question
are the step-mother and half sisters
of George O'Gara of this city:
"Tea with "a funny TASTE" which
the city chemist said he was virtually
certain was due to bichloride of mer-
curry, poisoned four members of the
Leo Meloche family, 3453 Fifth ave-
nue. S., shortly after an amateur for
tune teller, guided by the cups con-
tanning the poisoned tea leaves, had
foretold "death Or serious illness" in
the home. The poisoning mystery
was the second confronting the police
today, as they hunted for clues to the
person who tried to wipe out the fam
lily. D..
''Three of the victims are out of
danger, physicians said; the fourth.
Mrs. Elizabeth O'Gara, still is seri-
ously ill. The only member of the
family not poisoned was Marceline
Meloche. aged 9, who was not per
miteed to drink the tea.
"The case was almost parallel to
the poisoned coffee case, a week ago
in which Mrs. Mary Loyles, aged a..
became violently ill at her home, II
East. Twenty street, but was
saved by physicians after she was
taken to=a hospital.
}"Mr. and Mrs. Meloche, Miss Alice
O'Gara, who is Mrs. Meloche's sister,
and Mrs. OGara, her mother, were
poisoned.
"Mr. Meloche said he believed he
was saved from death because he re-
membered the Loyies poisoned coffee
case and had the tea examined before
much of it had been consumed. %
"Mr. Meloche drank two cups of tea
the first time the poisoned mixture
was served at dinner, and became i'll
that night. His wife, mother -in-law
and sister-in-law did not become IL
until after drinking a second cup, a.
luncheon Ene following Gay.
Suspicious when the mysterious
ailment affected everyone but his
daughter, Meloche said he investigat-
ed The package of tea from which
the leaves had been taken contained
bichloride of mercury, he said, but
chemists said the mixture was not
strong enough to cause death unless
the victim drank several CUPS of tea
Meloche said he searched the house
for further clues, and found small
bottle containing bic,1loride of mer-
curry in crystalline form, in the pocket
of an apron hanging on hook in the
bathroom. The bottle was about half
filled he said.
"By coincidence, on the night the
poisoned tea was first served at din
ner, members of the family group
prevailed upon their maid to "tell
their fortune"
"The poisoned tea leaves predicted
death or serious illness, in each
case" Mr.. Meloche said. "and we hal
a good laugh about it."
"About two hours after his for
time had been told. Mr.. Meloche be-
came i'll. The maid has left the
household. he said today
&C. C. Ehleim. druggist, 1901 Fourth
avenue S. said he tested the tea and
found that it contained bichloride Of
mercury. Goodwin Joselowitz, in the
City chemist office later also began an
analysis to determine the nature of
the mixture. He said every indira-
ton pointed to the fact that bi"'loridn
of mercury had been mixed with the
tea leaves. but that he would not be
able to determine the exact contents
until he completed his analysis late
today. 81 strongly suspect it is bioh-
loride of mercury" he said.
"Mr. Meloche is proprietor of a
barber shop at the Curtis hotel.
"Mrs. Loyles, victim of the first
poison mystery, who became i'll after
drinking coffee with which someone
had mixed bichloride of mercury, was
reported out of danger today at her
fathers home at Lacrosse. Wis. Her
father is John Silha, farmer.
~ am coming back to MINNEAPOLIS
as soon as / am able, mrs. Loyles
said. "and will work with detectives
urt;l we find out who poisoned the
coffee"
detectives said they were search
inc for two persons, and predicted at
least one arrest within "a hours"
"a woman who PLAYED at fortune
telling and who. reading from tea
leaves which later were found to be
poisoned, predicted death or serious
iIlness for four members Of the Lee
Meloche family at 3453 Fifth avenue
S., Tuesday Of this week was ar
raigned for a preliminary hearing or
a charge of assault with intent to kill
ri see tears in the cups" the for
tune teller said, according to Mrs
Meloche. "Do you see that line
(pointing to the tea leayes) That's 9