Evening star., 1933-08-04
COSTELLO WIDOW
QU|zzED ON POISON
Says She Learned All She
Knows From Police
Inspector.

y,
Mrs. Jessie Costello testified today that
she knew nothing about fatal poisons
except what she learned from a police
inspector who questioned her.
Mrs. Costello Is charged with poison
ing her husband, William j. Costello, a
captain Of the Peabody Fire Depart
ment, who died last February. She was
questioned by District Attorney Hugh
A. Gregg, who Is prosecuting her before
a jury In the Essex County Superior
Court.
Leaned From Inspector.
O. Do you know Of poison that will
A. don't outside Of what Inspector
Grimm told me.
Q. can't you give us your meaning of
poison?
A. No, can't.
O. You never heard Of any one dying
from poison?
A. Yes. I've read Of it in the papers.
She said she read Of several who died
of poison after her husband died.
The widow testified that her husband
returned home early on the morning
Of his death and told her he had mixed
the poison for cleaning and put 1t on
q shelf in the pantry.
Walked Floor All Night.
She said "Bill' walked the floor all
night and that she suggested that a
physician be called She knew there
was medicine In the house that had
been prescribed for her husband by
physician, but that she did not offer
1t to him, she said.
Il knew Bill Costello. knew that
he would do what he wanted to himself"
She then described the finding of her
husbands body in an upstairs hallway,
when she screamed and ran down.
stairs to tell the maid he was dead.
Q. You had seen him on the door
before2
A. Yes
Q. Well. how did you know he was
dead this time?
A. could tell by his face.
Didn't Go Near Him.
Q. You didn't go near him that
day, did you?
A. No, I didn't.
@. You had gone near him on other
occasions and given him water and
famed him, hadn't you?
A. Yes, I had.
The widow said she did not remem-
Der the time at which Edward j. Nc
Mahon, Peabody Reserve policeman, ar
rived at the house on the morning Of
her husbands death. She said she
had called Mcmahon on the telephone.
@. You told him 1T had come"
didn't you?
A. No. / told him Bill had gone.
The widow repeatedly said she did
not remember remarks attributed to
her at the time of her husbands death
- k>yH
his wife that Bill had 'one foot In the
grave?
A. No. sir.
Q. Did you ever say Gin one way it's
q good thing?"
A. No. never did.
Continues to Quizz Her.
Gregg continued to ply her with ques-
tons concerning the bed and she usual
ly answered, Il wouldn't say" or Il
can't recall"
Q. Would you tell us that 1t was a
good thing that Bill died?
A. wouldn't say.
O. You didn't say that to Eddie?
A. No.
O. You weren't surprised to hear him
express 1t from the witness stand were
you?
A. No, wouldn't be surprised to hear
AAIAl CAkICoo dAytIAA6.
The widow said she had hex "own
thoughts" about whether it was a good
thing Bill died. but the others would
not understand" them.
Had Cross to Bear.
Mrs Costello, shaking her head, her
eyes smoldering, said she had not dis
eussed her husbands actions with In
spector Richard Griffin because Il had
my cross to bear and didn't intend to
pour out my private affairs to him"
Q. You said your husband acted pc
culiarly when he got out Of bed,
baby's crib. didn't you?
A. Yes.
@. Then when you tcld Griffin you
had noticed nothing peculiar in your
husbands death you were not telling the
truth?
A. I was in a way.
Gregg pressed for q "yes" or mo"
answer and Judge Frederick w. Fosdick
interrupted to tell Gregg that her an
swer would stand. Let her go, she will
say something she will be sorry for
eventually" the judge said.
No indication Of Feelingx
william @. Clark Of the defense then
asked for q conference at the bench,
after which the judge explained to the
jury that there was no significance in
his statement except that he was warn
ing the witness concerning the manner
In which she answered. He said it was
no indication Of his own feelings in
the case.
Gregg resumed his questioning with
inquiries as to the money which Mrs.
Costello borrowed from the undertaken
and while this was under way the noon
recess was called.