The case of the poison potato cake

[Eldorado]

"On the day before he died, Nicholas Ledwithe went to the market at Carrickmacross.

"Taking an ass and cart, he went for the purpose of carrying goods back to the home of his neighbour Margaret McCormack – a huckster and keeper of a small shop in Drumconrath, Co Meath.

"Margaret accompanied Nicholas, whom reports called a “young lad” – death records show he was 16 years old.

"It was 3pm on Thursday, October 7th, 1869, when the pair left the market and set out for home.

"About three miles outside the town, Nicholas spotted a paper parcel on the road. He climbed off the car, picked it up, and handed it to his companion.

"“If it is tea and sugar, Nicholas, you’ll have a supply for a month,” Margaret – aged in her 60s – said to her helper, according to one report in the Irish Examiner.

"It was better than tea and sugar."

Full story at the Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/meath-murder-mystery-the-case-of-the-poison-potato-cake-1.4124634

[Anamandy]

Oy, this is such a convoluted story.  Trying to follow it is crazy. No wonder it's never been solved.