Old Case of Murder by Arsenic (Part One)

 

 

     Syracuse Daily Courier, October 1, 1879.

 

     Fifteen miles east of Syracuse in a narrow valley, on either side of which rises precipitous wooded hills, is situated the pretty but rather quiet village of Chittenango. At that place yesterday afternoon the funeral of Laney Barnard, a woman sixty one years of age, who died on Sunday morning last, circumstances of the

most auspicious character, occurred.

     Mrs. Barnard was the wife of Charles Barnard who departed from this world about three months ago. After his demise, the widow, of course, came into the possession of what property the old man owned. Barnard In his life time was a teamster and hauled coal for the villagers and transported merchandise for the tradesmen,

     He was the father of a female named Frances, who bore the reputation before

she was married of being a loose character. It was no secret that her morals were not the purest. In fact, it is even related, that she cohabited in the domicile of her parents with a man to whom she was not bound according to the usages of civilization and the rules of society.

     In May last she changed her course of life sufficiently, to unite in wedlock with a man her junior by two years. That she was attached to him, was evident from a scene witnessed yesterday, when she shed tears because she could not behold him. The disparity In years in no way lessened her affection for him. He, as the story goes, did not return the love with the warmth evinced on her part. In fact It was a matter of compulsion, that caused him to wed the damsel. He had been an inmate of the house for some time and affairs had reached such a crisis that the mother insisted that the two must be bound by the nuptial knot.

     The Benedict whose name is George Shrouder, has always been known as an individual who has an inherent taste for the beverages that Francis Murphy and other temperance apostles wage an incessant war upon. When under influence of intoxicants, he is a veritable fanfarrod and his truculent disposition has created an unfavorable opinion of him.

     To continue the tale, scarcely had the bonds of matrimony been solemnised, when the two families assumed hostile attitudes. Father and mother and daughter and son-in-law were arranged against each other. Domestic affairs were the cause of the rupture. When the old man breathed his last and his soul took flight, the breach was not bridged. The young couple proposed to manage affairs but the relic of the departed Bernard would not permit.

     Shrouder, however, was allowed to drive the team but instead of turning over the earnings he invested the receipts in liquor. Mrs. Bernard was not pleased with the disposition of the money derived from the team and she discharged Shrouder and hired a man to take charge of the horses for her.

     After this things within the family circle began to warm up and a fiercer controversy than ever was carried on. Finally patience ceased to be a virtue and Mrs. Bernard ejected Shrouder and his wife from her abode. They went to Chittenango Station, and quartered themselves at the residence of Shrouder’s mother. Five weeks ago today they returned to Mrs. Bernard’s and demanded admittance.

     Before domestic relations had been fairly resumed quarreling and bickering recommenced. Shrouder wanted to have control of the team, but Mrs. Bernard would not hear to this and her son-in-law brought strategy and artifice into requisition to gain possession of the animals, but without avail. Shrouder spent his idle time in drinking and carousing, and a week ago Saturday night when he was so drunk he could hardly walk, he went to a neighbor’s to prove to Mrs. Bernard that he was sober. On this occasion he said: “I’ll shut the old woman’s mouth in two or three days.”

     Last Sunday morning the mysterious demise of Mrs. Bernard put an end to all strife. The circumstances of the death and the nature of the sickness coupled with the knowledge of relations existing between Mrs. Bernard and Shrouder and his wife, and the threats made by Shrouder, raised the suspicion that the old lady had been disposed of by her son-in-law and daughter. Acting on the hypothesis that she had been poisoned, George Freeman, a constable, swore out a warrant for the arrest of George Shrouder and Frances Shrouder. Monday afternoon, Shrouder was taken to the village lock-up and a guard was placed over his wife at her home.

     Coroner Taylor, of Canastota, was notified and impanelled a jury consisting of the following gentlemen:  William J. Taylor, foreman, H. Elbert Barrett, Robert Kennedy, Thos. H. French, Levi F. Sherwood, Robert Harrison, Clement Cook, Richard R. Walwrath, Aber P. Bittinger, John Little. The testimony of three witnesses, Dr. John R. Eaton, Dr. M. Billington, and Albert E. Root, was taken, and Coroner Taylor and Drs. Billington and Eaton conducted a post mortem examination. A portion of the stomach was removed for a chemical test to ascertain as to the presence of poison. The investigation was adjoined until Monday of next week. The inquest was held in the room occupied by Justice Bettinger, and the apartment was filled by an excited and inquisitive crowd.

     A Courier reporter alighted from the train at Chittenango Station two and a half miles from the village, at 8:10 o’clock this morning. The reporter took a seat beside the driver in the conveyance which runs between Chittenango and the depot. He found the manipulator of the reins talkative and a lively conversation sprang up. The subject naturally chosen was that of the suspected matricide. The driver informed the scribe that there was considerable excitement in town over the affair, and people were of the opinion that Mrs. Bernard was poisoned. Suspicion, he said, rested on Shrouder and his wife on account of the threatening remarks. On arrival at the village the reporter got about to get at the facts of the affair.

     “We’ve got a pretty clear case here; there is every indication of a murder having been committed,” remarked a citizen.

     Talks with the neighbors of the family and the townspeople disclosed the state of affairs and the fragments plucked up among the various informants furnished a full history of the case. The daughter it seemed took sides with her husband against her mother.

     While Shrouder and his wife were stopping at Chittenango Station, they frequently called out Mrs. Bernard and amused themselves during the visits by applying epithets to her.  When they returned to Mrs. Bernard’s to live, they frightened the old lady into taking them back by telling they had consulted a lawyer and that Frances was the daughter of her father and she had a right to stay, whether the old lady was willing or not.  When Shrouder was drunk a week ago Saturday, he exhibited a specimen of his disposition by pointing a revolver at some one. For this act he received a stunning blow over the head. A gentleman said to the reporter:

     “While talking with Webb’s bartender he said Mrs. Bernard was a damned old b---h and ought to be poisoned for taking the team away from him.”

     Last Friday, Mrs. Bernard, who was a large strong woman, was apparently in good health.  Three hours after eating her dinner that day she was taken violently ill with a severe pain in her stomach. She vomited continually. Dr. Merchant Billington was called to attend her, but her sickness baffled his skill. It was of a nature he could not understand. Evidently she was nearly recovered Saturday afternoon, but that evening she was again attacked and died at five o’clock Sunday morning.

     A very striking circumstance is that on the 17^th of September Frances bought half an ounce of arsenic at the store of F. W. Lamphere. She procured the drug of the clerk, Alfred P.Root. Frances told a friend yesterday that she purchased the arsenic to kill bed bugs with. People who had been afflicted with these pests regarded this statement as rather ludicrous and were of the Impression that arsenic was of no value in killing such bugs.

     Proceeding to the lockup, a little square one story brick building containing two cells and lighted by three windows, the reporter found the prisoner sitting on a stool in the cell on the north side, looking through the grating. The appearance of the man at once stamped him as an Ignorant, uncultured fellow. His brow was low and his hair came down upon his forehead. His features were coarse but not repulsive. He was dressed in a well-worn black broadcloth suit. It was evident that he felt his situation keenly and appreciated that he was about to pass through a terrible ordeal. His eyes were red, presumably from lack of sleep as he said he had not slumbered since Saturday night.

     "Would you like to give your version of this affair?" asked the reporter.

     "Well," he started off when a gentleman Interjected, "You don't know anything about It,

do you?"

     "I do not! Charlie, will you do me a favor," inquired Shrouder of Justice Bettinger, who was standing near.

     "What is it?"

     "Will you let me go to the funeral?"

     "I don't know,"

     "George can go with me," said Shrouder eagerly. "1 won't say anything to anyone ; I

swear that I won't." Changing the theme he exclaimed, "I don't believe that they can do

anything with me."

     "But don't you know?" queried Mr. Bettinger.

     "Well, I can't tell."

     " Do you mean to say that you are implicated?" was the rather pointed question put to Shrouder by the reporter.

     " No," quickly replied Shrouder, "I never gave her any poison. It makes me feel pretty bad to think I can't see her buried."

     "Do you deny that you are, in any way, implicated in this affair?"

     “I do; I know nothing whatever about It."

     "Have you any suspicion as to who Is the guilty party?"

     "No, sir; I have not."

     "Were your relations with Mrs. Barnard pleasant?"

     "No one but my wife--well--." Shrouder did not understand evidently, and the reporter corrected him. "Were you on good terms with her?"

     “I was at the time of her death, but had some trouble before with her. She was a woman who sputtered and blowed considerably.Ho, hum," ejaculated the prisoner with a sigh, "this Is a bad, bad place."

     "When were you married?"

     "The 14th of April."

     "When did you return to Mrs. Barnard's from the station?"

     “I can't say, but I think it was five weeks ago to-morrow."

     "Did you know anything In regard to your wife's having bought arsenic?"

     "No, I did not"

     At this juncture a tramp who had been arrested for drunkenness commenced talking in an unintelligible manner. He perhaps was congratulating himself on being incarcerated with so distinguished an individual as a person accused of murder. As soon as the turnpike philosopher subsided and found an easier position on the floor, the reporter again turned to Shrouder.

     " Ho, hum," sighed the prisoner. "George, raise the window, will you," he said to the

keeper. "I won't have a word of communication with anyone."

     It seems the village officers had enjoined him not to talk with anyone. The constable brought In a pail of water, and as he opened the door, Shrouder exclaimed, "Gosh, that air feels good!"

     "Do you think that you shall be able to prove your innocence?" said the reporter.

     "I do," Shrouder exclaimed emphatically.

     "Did you ever threaten the life of Mrs. Barnard?'*'

     "I never did."

     "Did you say at Webb's Hotel that the old lady ought to be poisoned?"

     “No, sir, I did not."

     "How old are you?"

     "I was twenty-one the 18th of June."

     "Where were you born?"

     "At Messing Springs."

     "How long have you lived here?"

     "Golly, I can't tell you how long exactly."

     "What Is your business?"

     "Most anything I can get to do."

     "Did you find steady employment before you were arrested?"

     "Not all the while. This Is a poor country to find steady work."

     "Did you ever hear your wife threaten the life of her mother?"

     "Never."

      A pint bottle half full of oxalic acid was found in the house.This the constable sealed

by putting a quantity of red wax on the cork.

     "What was the bottle of oxalic acid used for?" inquired the reporter.

     "I got that to take stains off my hands, or anyone else's hands who wanted to use it for that purpose. That is all it is good for, I suppose, but I don't know."

     "Do you know anyone who bore Mrs. Barnard any ill will?"

     “No.”

     "While she was sick did she charge anyone with having poisoned her?"

     "I did not hear her. I did not go to the house until 8 o'clock Saturday."

     Shrouder went to work for a farmer Friday morning and did not return as he claims until Saturday night.

     "Can you give any solution to the mystery?”

     "I cannot."

     "Have you any statement you wish to make to the public?"

     "Not at present."

     "Where were you Friday?"

     "At the old man Olmstead's on the Patch. I went there Friday morning. I did not go home that night. I staid at Myron Olmstead's."

     "Was it customary for you to return home nights when you were working out?"

     "Well, not always ; but sometimes; that night it was very late."

     "Did you go home as soon as you learned of Mrs. Barnard's sickness?"

     "I did not know anything about her sickness until on my way home; I met the doctor on the corner and he asked me how the old lady was; I said about as usual, I guessed; I did not know that, she was sick. She had been vomiting the doctor said."

     At this point I0:15 o'clock. Mrs. Shrouder, the prisoner’s mother, came to the lock-up. The constable refused to let her In, saying he had orders not to. .Justice Bettinger instructed the officer to admit her and she entered, remarking, “I only want to see him and tell him to keep up courage.” She was a plainly dressed woman and bore but little resemblance to the prisoner. She showed a mother’s love by the manner In which she inquired about the accused woman."

     Alfred R. Root said in answer to the query as to whether he was the one who sold Mrs. Shrouder the arsenic, "Yes, sir."

     "How much did she buy?"

     "One half an ounce."

     "What did she say she wanted it for?"

     "She did not say."

     "Did she appear nervous or excited?"

     "No, she did not."

     "Did you question her as to the use she was to put It to?"

     "No, sir"

     "Is it a common practice for people to buy arsenic?”

     "Yes, quite common."

     "Do you sell considerable?"

     "We do,"

     The main streets of the village form a Y. Taking the western arm of the Y, the reporter walked up for a few rods and then turned Into a thoroughfare running northward and known as Lake street. On this street Mrs. Barnard lived.

     Climbing the ascent for twenty rods, the reporter came into view of the residence she occupied. It was situated on the south, upon the side of a hill, fully fifteen feet above the road. The house Is a small, square structure, a storey and a half high, with a wing used as a kitchen attached, The building has been undergoing repairs and a staging used by the carpenters Is still standing on the west side. Cheap curtains screened the windows. The lower front windows lighting the room which contained the corpse, were raised and common lath were nailed across the frame for the purpose of keeping cats out of the apartment. No steps led to the front door, on the knob of which was carelessly tied a frayed and partially faded piece of crape. A miniature forest of weeping willows and lilac bushes, and the like, almost hid the plain, unpainted residence from view. Ascending two pairs of stone steps, which were rapidly crumbling away, the reporter stepped on the piazza, and In a minute more was In the kitchen, which was meagerly furnished.

     In a rocking chair, near a closed window, sat a dark-complexioned woman, of medium height and form, dressed in a plain brown dress. She was far from prepossessing. She looked as if she had been suffering from indisposition. This woman was introduced to the reporter as Mrs. Shrouder. She fastened her dark eyes upon the reporter for a second, and then diverted her gaze.

     "Do you know anything In regard to Mrs. Barnard's death?" the reporter inquired.

     "I do not," replied Frances in a faint voice.

     "While she was sick did she accuse you of having given her poison?"

     "No, sir."

     "Did she say that she had been poisoned?"

     "No, sir."

     "Charlie," she appealed to Justice Bettinger, "can't George come to the funeral?"

     "I don't know," was Mr. Bettinger's response.

     Bursting into tears, Frances said, "There is no one left here."

     "There are your neighbors, and you will be taken care of," remarked Mr. Bettinger.

     "What are they?" asked Frances, and then she relapsed into silence,

     "No one knew your mother was sick nigh unto death," said Mr. Bettinger.

     "Yes, they did."

     "She was a strong, healthy woman."

     "No, she was not; she could hardly crawl around the house."

     She commenced to cry again and sobbed, "I wish George would come. They would not let even mother stay with me. They drove her away. Where Is George?"

     "Down town In Marshall's charge," Mr. Bettinger laid.

     "He isn't in the lock up, is he?"

     "He is well taken care of and will not be abused or iII-treated."

     "For what purpose did you buy arsenic?" was the next important question propounded by the reporter.

     Just then Frances closed her eyes and sank back in her chair. She had fainted. What occasioned the fainting spell the reporter did not know; but probably the mental strain was too great that nature could no longer bear the tension. The reporter hastily called the officer who was sitting on the piazza. He picked Frances up and carried her into an adjoining room, and laid her down on a couch where restoratives were applied.     

     The reporter departed, but an hour later returned, and took up the broken thread of the conversation. Frances was still lying on the couch. The constable arose to leave the room.

     Frances cried, "Don't leave me," and the officer sat down and took hold of

her hand.

     "Did you buy the arsenic for killing bed bugs?" was the query put by the reporter.

     "I did and used it for that."

     "Did you ever threaten your mother's life?"

     "No, I never did."

     "If your mother was poisoned, have you any knowledge as to who is the guilty party?"

     "I have not and I don't think she was poisoned."

     "Were you on friendly terms with her?"

     "Yes, sir.'*

     "Were you with her at the time she was taken sick?"

     “Yes sir."

     "And when she died?"

     "Yes, sir."

     "How old are your" "I shall be twenty three the [13^th?] of next December."

     "Has your husband ever said anything about killing or poisoning Mrs. Barnard?"

     "No, sir: he never did. He never had any words with her."

     Frances again broke Into tears and cried to Mr. Bettinger, "Charlie, let George come

home."

     D. D. Walrath Is the counsel for the accused man and woman. He was asked, "Do you expect to clear your clients?"

     "I don't know, sir, what I shall do. I suppose they are Innocent as they told me they

were.”

     The next person called upon was Dr. Billington who attended Mrs.Barnard In her sickness.

     "When you were called from what was Mrs. Barnard differing?"

     "Vomiting, diarrhea and a pain in the bowels. The vomiting was not excessive, It was more of the order of retching. She was endeavoring to vomit but could not eject anything to speak of. It is a wonder that I did not suspect poisoning, I could have

emptied it out. I saw her first Friday night at 5 o'clock. She died Sunday morning at five

o'clock."

     "Did you suspect poisoning until after her death?"

     "There were some things which I noticed about the case which attracted my attention, particularly the unyielding character of the difficulty--I mean by that it did yield to treatment."

     "You assisted In the post mortem?"

     "Yes."

     "What did you discover?"

     "We found large black patches, some as largo as apples.The appearance of the stomach externally showed inflammation."

     The reporter afterwards learned that the black spots are indications of poisoning.

     The doctor continued :

      "I was stopped on the street when I left the house Saturday noon, by a party who said 'threats have been made and I warn you so that you'll be on your guard.'

Saturday afternoon I apprehended the old woman was recovering and I thought I should

not have to call again. In the evening she was beyond aid."

     Some of the people In Chittenango are Inclined to think that as soon as It became

evident that the old lady was recovering she was given another dose of poison.

     "Who called you to attend Mrs. Barnard?"

     "A young follow who said Mrs. Barnard wants you.''"

     "Did you notice anything suspicious about Mrs. Shrouder?"

     "No I don't know as I did."

     "Did Mrs. Barnard die in convulsions?"

     "No, she had fainting fits just before she died."

     "Did she appear to be in any agony ?"

     "She complained of intense pain in the bowels and pressed her hand on her abdomen."

     "Did any one beside Mrs, Shrouder wait upon Mrs. Barnard ?"

     "Yes, a Mrs.[Daybash]. There was no indication of distension of the abdomen

when the autopsy was made .If a person dies of inflammation, decomposition will set in and the body will bloat. Arsenic is a powerful disinfectant. It is used in embalming. I met Shrouder Saturday evening at nine o'clock. I asked him If he had not better go down with me and take back some medicine to Mrs. Barnard. ‘Is she sick?’ he asked. ‘I guess you will think so when you get up there,’ I replied.”

     Dr. John R. Eaton, who took part in the autopsy, said that the bowels were injected

highly showing that before death she had suffered violent inflammation of the stomach and bowels.

     "Did you find anything else?"

     "There were no marks about the heart. The liver and the whole back of the alimentary canal seemed to be inflamed."

     "You discovered black spots in the stomach?"

     "Those were the result of the inflammation."

     "Did you observe anything indicating arsenical poisoning?"

      "We found the stomach In the condition it would have been In if had contained

arsenic."

     Dr. Eaton took the portion of the stomach to Syracuse Monday and submitted It to Dr. William M. Smith, who will announce the result of his Investigations and tests in a few days.

     "Do you consider that Mrs. Barnard was poisoned ?"

     "That Is an unfair question. The case looks suspicious. I will say that."

     When the reporter returned to the station to take the train for Syracuse, he Interviewed Frederick D. Comstock, the bartender at Webb's Hotel.

     "Did Shrouder say the old woman ought to be poisoned?"

     "I don’t want to get into a scrape."

     "You need not fear that."

     "About a month ago he said something."

     "What was his remark?"

     "There was a follow here talking with him in regard the woman and her property. George (Shrouder) said the old woman left a paper, giving his wife some money.

This fellow told George he lied. They both got mad. George had been drinking cider. The fellow went out and George said, the damned old b---h, a dose of strychnine would do her good. He said she pulled his wife's hair and he told her not to do that again or he would give her hell.” Comstock continued: “I was going to Chittenango, and asked him to take me up. I supposed he had a team, as I had seen him driving, He said the old woman don't want me to have the team, but I am going to.”

     When the coroner sent to the house for the arsenic that had not been used, Frances said that she had burned It up. It is also reported that Frances stated that she used it all in killing bed bugs. When Mrs. Barnard arose Friday forenoon, she said she was feeling slightly unwell. The day before she was given a head of cabbage by Elisha Lester, a man who was boarding at the house. This she had Frances cook and she ate a quantity of the vegetable prepared with vinegar at ten o'clock. Frances affirms that all ate of the cabbage.

     Shrouder and his wife used every endeavor to obtain possession of the team, which It appears was the bone of contention. The property owned by the old lady consisted of the house valued at about $1,000, the team worth $800. And a mortgage of $1,800 given by a Mrs. Pope to Mrs. Bernard. Mrs. Pope lived at Barnard's and died about four years ago. The people of Chittenango think if Shrouder and his wife poisoned Mrs. Barnard they performed the deed to obtain the property. Some nine or ten hundred souls inhabit Chittenango and the majority of them are firmly of the belief that Shrouder and his wife are guilty. They think that Frances administered poison to the old lady and that George was accessory, although he was not home at the time.

     A physician said yesterday that all the poison may have been ejected from the

stomach by the excessive vomiting, and at the same time death may have resulted from the effects of the drug. There Is but little or no doubt that Mrs. Barnard’s death was caused by poison,

     On account of the non-arrival of relatives, Mrs.Barnard's funeral was postponed from 2 o'clock till 4 o'clock. The remains were enclosed in a handsomely trimmed coffin, which bore a plate on which was inscribed "Laney Barnard, died September 28, 1879; born June 16, 1818.'' The interment took place In Oakwood cemetery, a few rods northwest of the house.