Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-08

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appfchended at Bremen, under charge o
having committed murders Of unparalleled
atrocity The slow progress ,sade IN crimi
nal proceedings there, as IS common through
all Germany, has prevented her being bro'
TO trial and sentenced until lately Our las
papers from Europe contain the following
account OF the proceedings 10 the case OF Thu,
woman.
Marguerite Tim received a tolerably good
education. her father, a tai'or at Bremen. liv-
ed in easy circumstances. 10 1903. al the
age Of 90 years, she married one Mettem
berg, saddler, who also possessed some
property. Seven children were the fruits OF
this marriage, three Of them survived their
father, at whose desease the widow found
herself with an ample fortune In 1916. IN
the space Of Few months after the d~cease
o. her husband, death also carried of her
mother and her three remaining children -
The following year her only brother also di
ed, on his return home after a long absence
and when the property Of the father was
bout TO be divided.
In 1917, the widow entered into second
marriage, with a Mr.. Got,fried. with whom
she by her own confession. had carried on an
Illicit intercourse during ID. E.s Of her frs,
husband. Some days after the martiare.
Gottiried died suddenly Six years e.
lapsed, end she was on the point OF marry
ins MIR. Zimmerman. when he was attack
ed by a severe lines. and died. In 1926, the
widow Gottfried sold her house 10 Mr.
Runpt. cartwright, retaining. however, one
apartment ~ II for her own use. Svme months
expired, and the wife Of Rpmpt died in child
bed. when the widow Gottlrisa took charge
Of the household Of Rumpt lie was attack
ed from tune TO time with violsnt vomi,iogs
On the 9th Of March. is2s, he perceived that
piece Of bacon which had been cooked by
the widow Gottfri".. was covered with some
strange substance He caused Il to be exa
mined by his physician, and the widow Cot
fried was aPprebended.
The police then received considerable in
formation from different persons in relation
TO tho conduct Of this woman. II was pro
we'd on the trial, and she confessed, that she
bad given arsenic ~ a number or persons,
fifteen OF whom died in consequence, and se
vsnteen others survived On the trial, cir
cumstances caiue out which justified belief
that she had given poison to other iadivdl.
ais. to whom IL had not been fatal. La con
sequence OF the number OF mur,iers proved
against her. II was, however. thought unnr
cessary 10 90 INTO an investigation Of thest
cases.
The woman confessed that she was indi
ced by metives Of interest TO commit some
OF these murders, bui AS 20 others, she could
cnly attribute her conduct 10 an irresistible
desire TO give poison and to see her victims
perish The counsel, in Der defence, endea-
vored to avail himself OF this latter DECLARE.
ton that she was laborins nnder rnonon,af.ia,
and al Csln a. HIT tl,or
ipal intestioD Medical men who were exa.
mined on this point declared that they could
d,scoves in her no physical cause which could
give rise 10 such d n,onon,aDia, and this de.
fence IN consequence did not succeed. The
following is the Judgment given by the crin-
inal court Or Bremen on the 18th of Septem-
her, 1880.
Ia the trial held on Marguerite Tim, wi
dew Of the late Michael Christopher Colt.
fried, accused Of poisoning and oil ether
crimes, the Court declares the widow Gott
fried, (who has besides committed sundry
theits. acts Of safdiing and perjury, as well
as attempted to Cause abortion,) convicted
and guilty
let or having assassinated, by means oil
poison, her father and mother, her three chill
dren, her first and second husband. her bro
Their, her bctret1ed Paul Thomas thinner
pan. Mrs. Anne Louisa Myeerholfx. Mrs
John Moses, the wife of the cartwright,
John Christopher Rnmpf, the wile OF The
cooper Frederick Schrsidt, and lastly. the
wife Of the loeksmiih, Frederick krine, at
Hanover. as also Of having besides caused
the death by poison OF Miss Eliza Schmidt,
daughter Of the said Frederick schniidt,
which last act, however, was not pre.oedi
tated.
,. or having administered poison to the
SAID shn Christopher Rumpf, at divers times,
with the intention Of killing him, after hav.
ing by the same means destroyed his health,
$ Or having administered poison to 4 great
number Of other individuals, with premcd.ta
ton, but. without intention to kill them, tho
IT proved extremely pernicious to the health
OF these individuals
In consequence, and cogformably to the
130th article OF tile criminal code the court
condemns the widow Gottiried, for The crimes
she has committed. and as a useful warning
to those who may be tempted 10 initiate her,
to have her head cut off with the sword. aud
that the expenses Of trial, Judgment and tx
scniIon3 shall be betrayed from the property
Of the condemned person"
The execution of the widow Gottfried took
place the 2ist April, 1891. on the Cathedral
square, at Bromen. The Protestant clergy
men who had attended her during her impri
sonment. only au.tted her at the last mo
ment. Her hair was cut or s"I che wa 8
then clad in white Under dress, decorated
with black ribbons, white cap with ia.
same aelored ribbons. was placed on her head
She showed the utmost resignation, and en-
fAr a r. n A a.