Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1909 — SAYS HER RIVAL PUT DRUG IN CHOCOLATES [ARTICLE]

SAYS HER RIVAL PUT DRUG IN CHOCOLATES

Woman Jailed For Attempt to Poison Journalist’s Wife. St. Louis, Oct. 22 Mrs. Maude Ridley, a brunette, thirty-two years old, who has resided here in fashionable apartments since her mother removed to her old home in Louisville, is under arrest. Detective Gaffney charges that she gave poisoned candy to Mrs. Nannette Lillard. wife of R. W. Lillard. a reporter for a newspaper here. Lillard is a member of a prominent Bloomington, 111., family and after working for Chicago newspapers was the managing editor of an Atlanta publication. Gaffney reports that last Sunday Mrs. Lillard handed him a box of chocoiates which she said Mrs. Ridley had given her. Gaffney turned the candy over to the city chemist, who announced that the confections were charged with poison. "One piece given to a rabbit killed the rodent almost instantly. Mrs. Lillard, according to Gaffney’s report, charges Mrs. Ridley with having come to her home and given her the candy as a peace offering. She had asked the police to keep Mrs. Ridley away from Lillard and stated that her husband as well as herself had been annoyed by the woman's conduct.