Norfolk Virginian, February 14, 1889

The Peculiar Death of Taylor -- Evidence Before Coroner's Jury.

Moral -- Murder

ONANCOCK, Va., February 8. -- About the last of December Wm. J. Taylor, a thrifty young farmer, residing near Modestown, in the upper part of this county, died under very suspicious circumstances. A coroner's inquest was held and the evidence produced was as follows: Taylor and his wife had not lived happily together, had frequent quarrels &c. Mrs. Taylor was intimate with a young man employed on the farm, named James Dix. A week before the alleged murder, Mrs. Taylor went to Temperanceville, a neighboring village, and purchased thirty cents worth of strychnine. On several occasions she was seen to give her husband a watery-looking liquid with about a tablespoonful of white powder resembling sugar, in the bottom of the glass. She insisted on his drinking it. After each dose he was taken with severe spasms, and on the night of his death, when the fourth and last dose was given him, in apparently a larger quantity than before, he was seized with violent convulsions and died soon afterwards.

Dix, who slept on the upper floor, was called shortly before Taylor died, but would not go to the sick man's room, for the reason, assigned by him, that he did not want to see a man in his condition.

The stomach, of the dead man was sent to State Chemist Taylor, and it is reported, though unofficially, that strychnine has been found in it.

It is estimated by the prosecuting attorney that more damaging evidence will be introduced at the trial.

Mrs. Taylor, who was lodged in jail immediately after the inquest was held, has employed Messrs. Neely and Russell as her counsel.

The Commonwealth's Attorney will be aided in the prosecution by Hon. Henry Page, of Worcester county, Maryland.

The case will come up for trial at the February term of Accomac County Court.

T.R.B.