A FATAL WEDDING FEAST.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3025, 7 March 1881, Page 4

A FATAL WEDDING FEAST.

Particulars have been received of a terrible poisoning ease in Tennessee. The marriage of Mr Joel Hembree and Miss Jane Dale, of Roane County, drew together a large company of their friends and relatives, who belong to the prominent families in the vicinity. The wedding had long been talked of and was the social event of the year. After the ceremony the company ■was invited to the hospitable board of Col. Dale, the brido and the bridegroom in the meantime withdrawing, 'ihe table was bountifully supplied, and all ate heartily. The evening was spent in festivities. Another supper was served. After the second meal, several guests began complaining of illness, but it was laughed off and the gaiety continued. About eleven o'clock a sudden lethargy seemed to overtake the whole company and in a few minutes 27 were unconscious. The few who retained consciousness set themselves at work to resuscitate their companions, bub without avail. Twelve were removed to other houses in the neighbourhood, and as the news spread, the whole country around was aroused with excitement, as nearly every prominent family had members present afc the fatal feasfc. Such medical aid as could be summoned could give little relief, and two days after the occurrence six of tho wedding guests were dead. Robert Dale, the bride's brother, died next clay. Mike May, a relative of the groom, died in a few hours. Albert Callagher and Miss Mattie Lovelace, well-known young people, died next day. Two young girls, Emma Peters and Kate Lowey, died within twentyfour hours. Colonel Dale and his wife were very low, and their death was momentarily expected. The cause of the tragedy was the use of arsenic instead of salt in seasoning the chickens. Colonel Dale purchased a quantity of arsenic a day or two before to kill crows, and carelessly left it in the kitchen. A blundering servant mistook it for Bait, and hence the fatal results. Only those who partook of the chicken were poisoned.