Unidentified photographer / artist
1860, 15 May
The Weymouth Poisoning Case - Miss Mary Tirrell Disinterred

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Published in "Vincent's Semi-Annual United States Register: A Work in which the Principal Events of Every Half-Year Occurring are Recorded, Each Arranged under the Day of its Date" edited by Francis Vincent (Philadelphia: Francis Vincent), 1st January - 1str July 1860, p.410-411 (May 15, 1860).
 
We have now to record the particulars of new developments in regard to the death of Betsey Frances, who died on the evening of the 3d of May, which seem to directly implicate Hersey.
 
On Monday last, John M. Dunn, detective police-officer of this city, taking a daguerreotype of Hersey, proceeded to visit all the druggists' stores in the city, to trace to him, if possible, any purchase he might have made.
 
During the afternoon he visited the apothecary-store of E. F. & W. D. Miller, corner of Hanover and Union Streets, where Mr. Alfred W. Coburn, the clerk, recognised the daguerreotype as the likeness of a man who had several times visited his store about four weeks since. He represented himself as a son of a Mr. Tirrell, of Weymouth, who was doing business in Boston, on Pearl Street. At one time he bought some hair-brushes, perfumery, &c., and at another time sixty grains of strychnine. He spoke of having recently lost a sister by death. He had a heavy beard at the time, but has since shaved it off, probably to avoid identification.
 
Mr. Coburn visited Hersey in jail at Dedham. He was placed among a large number of prisoners, but was at once recognised by Mr. Coburn. He pretended at first not to know the latter; but when Mr. Tirrell, who was present with other friends of the deceased, upbraided him for the enormity of his crime, he hung his head for shame, and paled before the accusation.
 
LL/34978