The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-13
COUPLE POISONED BROTHER OF WIFE OFFICIALS CHARGE
Attractive Woman Described As Friend" In Anonymous
 Letters

NEWARK, N. J., May 12.-Mrs. John Creighton and his wife were arrested today on the charge of mur dering Raymond Avery, IS.
 Mrs. Creighton is Averys sister. It is alleged that the Creighton's caused the young mans death by slowly poisoning him with arsenic.
 Anonymous letters addressed to the district attorney caused the ar rest
 One letter stated that Mrs. Creigh- ton, an attractive woman of 26, was a "fiend,' and that her brother fears her as he fears death.' It also in sinuated that she had caused the death of her husbands father and mother. by poison.
 Mrs. Creighton, an eXpectant mother, came into court with her 2-year-old daughter. The child was later taken by friends.
 Woman Denies Charges.
 She denied the charge. Her hus- band, an office worker of 25, denied all knowledge of the affair. Both were held without bail to answer a grand jury indictment of alleged murder Tn the IlTSl ueSTee.
 The first anonymous letter was re- ceived by Prosecutor Bigelow the day after the boys death. It was dated April 20. He died at midnight of that day.
 The letter said:
 Will you please investigate at once. Raymond Avery is ill at his sisters home. The doctor says the boy has bilious attack. But he has been atsnding one week for some. The sister. Mrs. John Creigh- ton. says he has kidney trouble. She refuses to have another doctor or nurse Also says he is too weak to be moved to hospital. His limbs are beginning to stiffen. Will you please act immediately. He has come into an inheritance and shortly will come into another. The boys lawyer is suspicious. Please communicate with him. The Railway Guarantee is lis guardian.
 Mother And Father Died
 MT. and Mrs. John Creighton, Sr., died three years ago under the same circumstances. Limbs began to stiffen and death came.
 "Is death not ground for sus- picion? This boy feared his sister as he feared death. Will you please go quietly and catch this fiend at work am sorry l cannot sign my name I am just a> outsider who is very fond of this boy,
 This was signed "A Friend of Jus tice.'
 The second letter, received by Bigelow on April 22, said:
 q hope you will investigate fur thtr the death of the young man who died at 359 North Seventh street. The circumstances are most peculiar. A thorough investigation should be made"
 Bigeltw is considering the advis- ability of eXhuming the bodies of MT. and Mrs. Creighton. the elder. and having their stomachs examined for traces of poison.
 Find Arsenic.
 pr. Albert E. Edel, chemist. who examined the Avery boys stomach. informed Bigelow death was caused by slow administration of a power full poison. He said large quantities of arsenic were found in vital or gans.
 The indictments resulted. Mrs. Creighton was arrested at noon. Her husband was taken into custody at his office. When taken before Judge Caffrey, they were accompanied by their two-year- daughter. After the charge was read, Mrs. Creighton said SlOWly:
 'I didn't"
 Her husband said:
 T don't know anything about it.'
 o O 0
 Enter Not Guilty Plea.
 A plea of net guilty was entered and they were taken to cells.
 Efforts are being mace to locate the writer of the anonymous letters. Helen Avery, sister of the dead boy, said she Quarreled with Mrs. Creigh- ton over his condition, and was afraid to go to the house. Mrs. Louis F. Batchelor wht said she knew the writer of the letters. but refused to give the name, asserted that she had remonstrated with Mrs. Creighton for making her brother go to the bath room unassisted The dying youth told Mrs. Batchelor. she said, that he was mot getting a square deal" and that he could get nothing to eat but chocolate pudding. The physician wht attended Avery said he appeared to be recovering on the morning of April 20. but that when he reached the house in re- sponse to hurry call that night. the patient was dead. Mrs. Creighton was standing at the bedside, he said. and marked that she thought her brother had had q love affair and that he might have taken some thing
 HAII, CATSES DAMAGE