Vital Records, Greene, NY, August 1866

 Chenango American, Greene, NY, August 1866

Marriage

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 2d inst., by Rev. E.H. Payson, Mr. Silas Lawton, to Miss Clara E. Skillen, both of this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY].

Deaths

In this village [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., Polly P. [Holdridge], wife of Amos D. Holdridge, aged 21 years.

In this town [Greene, Chenango Co., NY], on the 6th inst., Mr. William D. Wheeler, aged 78 years.

In Ninevah [Broome Co., NY], on the 1st inst., Mrs. W.S. Wedge, aged 83 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], suddenly, on the 4th inst. Mr. Andrew J. Carpenter, aged 38 years and 7 months.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 31st ult. Mr. Aaron Newkirk, aged 47 years.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 26th ult. Theron H. Robbins, aged 28 years.

In Preston [Chenango Co., NY], on the 14th ins.t, Acher L. [Packer], wife of James B. Packer, aged 37 years.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, August 16, 1866

Deaths

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Mr. Daniel Norris, aged 75 years.

In Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 12th inst., Mrs. Hannah Smith, aged 73 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst., Miss Lydia A. Lewis, aged 47 years.

In Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 13th inst., Almeda A. [Main], daughter of Thomas Main, aged 22 years.

Chenango American, Greene, NY, August 23, 1866

Marriages

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst. by Rev. F.B. Peck, Mr. Samuel Balcom of Campbelltown, Steuben Co., N.Y., to Mrs. Sarah L. Foote, daughter of Henry Balcom, of Oxford.

In Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst., by Rev. Wm. Burnside, Mr. Joseph E. Hicks to Miss Emily Price, both of Guilford.

In Coventry [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th, inst., by Rev. A.J. Buell, Mr. W.A. Cowley, of Stamford, Del. Co., to Miss Annah B. Smith, of Coventry.

In Sycamore, DeKalb Co., Ill. on the 1st ult. by Z.B. Mays, Esq., Mr. Leonard Petrie, of Sycamore to Mrs. Ellen Sawyer, formerly of Laurens, Otsego Co., N.Y.

Deaths

Killed by the falling of a tree, in Norwich [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th inst., Mr. David Squires, aged 49 years.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 15th inst., Miss Rachel Bundy, aged 63 years.

In Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], on the 16th inst. Sarah M. [Brabazon], wife of George Brabazon, aged 23 years.

In Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], on the 1st inst. Mrs. Mary Jane Hopkins, only daughter of Willis Walker of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY].

A Sad Occurrence

Chenango American, Greene, NY, August 16, 1866

A sad occurrence took place in the usually quiet town of Preston, in this county [Chenango Co., NY], in the death of one John Moore: charging his wife with poisoning him.  It appears upon examination that he had drank from a teapot in the contents of which were found corrosive sublimate.  It was also developed that Moore was addicted to drunken frolics; that at such times he was raving wild, and abusive in his family; that during one of these drunks some two or three years ago there was a man peddling medicines came along, and in his course stopped at Moore's house, and seeing him (as he was in his drunken delirium) said to Mrs. Moore that he had given men in the condition her husband was, something that would quiet them, and he would give her some if she said so.  She consented.  He gave Moore a powder in a glass of water.  It caused him to vomit, after which he became quiet, went to sleep, and awoke without complaint of sickness or pain. The medicine peddler gave her two powders for future use, as she supposed, the same as he gave to her husband.  One of them she gave to him subsequently while he was in a drunken fit and it had the same effect as the one the peddler administered; and the other one she gave him at the time he charged her with poisoning him at which time he came home drunk and threated to shoot her and was very raving.  It appears the reason for putting the powder in the teapot was, when he had been drinking, he always wanted cold tea, and would have the teapot stand by him that he could drink from it when he pleased, and hence that was a convenient way of giving the supposed harmless powder.

From the facts in the case, as well as from the appearance of the woman, and the way she gives her statement, there can be no doubt as to her innocence of intention.

The verdict of the coroner's jury, which was rendered on Wednesday of last week, was that Moore came to his death from swallowing a solution of corrosive sublimate from a teapot; that the sublimate was placed there by his wife for him to drink; but whether it was done with the purpose and intent to kill, or from a belief that it was an innocent and harmless medicine, that jury were unable to determine.

The finding is approved by Mrs. Moore's neighbors, who respect her for her industry, kindness and patient forbearance under long and continued harsh treatment at the hands of her husband.