Daily Gazette And Comet

DIABOLICAL CRIME.

On Thursday evening a dispatch was received from New Orleans by the friends of Miss Josephine Bulnez, stating that she had been poisoned the day previous at a dinner party, given by T. L. Lemley. The line quit working and it was impossible to obtain any particulars. Yesterday morning letters were received from which we learn that Miss Bulnez was not one of the party at Col. Lemley's, but at the residence of Mr. Phelps, in the neighborhood, and it was here that she made the narrow escape from death. It appears that the poison (arsenic perhaps) was placed in a Charlotte Russe served for the table at the party, and some of this article of the feast, sent round to the neighbors. But for this circumstance there might have been a more fatal delay to ascertain in what particular article on the table the poison was infused. We are gratified to learn that Miss Bulnez was not considered dangerously ill yesterday morning.

From the Evening Picayune of Thursday, we get the following particulars:

A most hateful crime has been perpetrated in the Fourth District, by which the families of some of our most respected citizens are sufferers. Last Tuesday, Mr. T. L. Lemley gave a dinner party at his residence, on Jackson street, near Chippewa; during the night and the next day, his whole family and all the guests who had partaken of his hospitality, were a prey to the terrible sufferings of poison. Some eighteen or twenty persons were attacked; but thus far only one has perished—a little son of Mrs. Young (Mrs. Lemley's sister), a fine, intelligent lad, of some ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Lemley and their youngest child are better to-day; their daughter, Miss Lemley, a young lady of some seventeen years, is still in a dangerous condition, and but little hopes are entertained of her recovery. Another child of Mrs. Young is also dangerously ill; Miss Young and Miss Hall, two young ladies, are doing better.

In Rev. Mr. Markham's family, Miss Searles, sister of Mrs. Markham, had a dangerous attack, but is now out of danger.

In Mr. James Phelps's family, his lady, their young son, and a young lady residing with them, were taken ill, but are comparatively out of danger this morning.

Another neighbor, Mrs. McKee and her daughter, are dangerously ill. Several servants in the different families mentioned are also sick.

Young Dr. Wunt, who graduated Tuesday, was present at the dinner, and left early next morning for Alabama. It is not known whether he has been attacked.

A young lady had a narrow escape; having only tasted of the dish supposed to be poisoned, she was not taken sick.

The poison, which the physicians think must have been arsenic, is supposed to have been given in a dish of Charlotte Russe, from the fact that some of the persons poisoned were not present at the dinner, and ate only of this dish, sent to them by Mrs. Lemley.

The suspicions rest on Mr. Lemley's cook, but thus far, the only clue there is to suspect her, is that her son, a slave boy of some 14 or 15 years, had become so unruly and vicious, that Mr. Lemley, a short time ago, had determined to sell him. The boy then ran away and has not been heard of since. His mother seemed to take this much to heart, and it is supposed that she has sought revenge on the whole family. She has been arrested, together with another of Mr. Lemley's servants.

There is no doubt as to the poison having been given, and the mind shudders to think of the horrible consequences had it been taken in greater quantity, or had not prompt medical attendance been obtained. It was a painful sight, as we approached the house so terribly visited, to see the anxious crowd of neighbors, inquiring and waiting for the hourly report of the progress of the poison. A gloom seemed to pervade the whole neighborhood. The sufferers are all well known, respected and beloved, and expressions of sympathy and deep concern could be heard from every lip.
We learn from a private dispatch, that the son of Mr. Phelps is dead.