The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-20

PrrrspuRG, Pa Jan. TO- 1899.
In August last Q murder Of most cIc.e nature was
brought TO light in this city, and investigation revealed
the agency of q named Martha Grinder, who
to-day underwent the death penalty In expiration OF the
crime.
- HISTORY OF THE CASE.
From the testimony adduced the trial II appears
that Mis- Grinder in June last began the systematic
poisoning Of an acquaintance, Mrs. Mary Caroline Ca
ruthers who with her husband had been visiting at her
house. Both the latter subjected to her attempts
but the husband succeeded In surviving the effects or
The polsons II was his evidence tho trial which
afforded the most convincing proof Of Mn. Grinders
guilt.
The poison which the medical autopsy revealed to be
arsenic ADD anthony, administered In coffee during
period extending over nvs wecks Or until the first day
Of August, whom the victim died. During this time
both husband and wife had removed from the city at the
suggestion Of their medical attendant recupetc their
health, which the deadly minerals had, been slowly
undermining. On their return TO Pittsburg their &C
Quantance with and visits Mrs. Grinder renewed
resulting in the death Of the wife.
Tho husband objected what he called the metallic
Of the coffee furnished and though taken sick for
some time, survived During the Illness Of his wife
Mrs. Grinder was In the habit Of visiting her and each
time took occasion administer the fatal draugh while
her countenancs bespoke oommisseration end her
tongue uttered words OF kindness and cheer to the
doomed invalid.
NJ. Csruihsrs who seems TO have passed through this
ordeal Of suffering without suspcAng the trae at
WORK, though pcrhapss isncraoce s excosabie Ia view
Of tho fact that even the physician Who attended him
aud his wife did not detect the effects Of poison in his
patient. o. length had his suspicious aroused by
other facts that his wife had been fouy dealt with, aud
accordingly the 2oh Of August last he preferred the
necessary complaint against Mrs Grinder who was taken
tato custody.
OTHER CRIMES.
The Other facts alluded TO were OF q most startling
nature, and reveal the cuIprt IN the light OF most
waatony cruel monster The death OF Mrs caruthers
caused an Investigation Of circumstances which in teIr
curscsy occurrence they had received and though
the particular crimo mentioned above was ths only one
for which tho prosecuting attorney saw a. 70 sAgn her
there are fearful histories IL her record Of seis AZ
deaths which had taken place al her house.
or among hss acquain,anscs was remarked
Samuel Grinder, hor brother-iniaw. after hR return
from the war; attacked Ike her other victims, and
died great agony. little child ett her care,
ca1 as. '. ma I ss sas
slon, had I'll died In the same mysterious manner.
(, THE MOTIVE FOR TIE HrEpER.
The s,rec,y Of hsrcrmes !: only eaSallsa b Tie nys
her object may have been Monty bat such hardly seems
have The inst, gallon Of the others Many have
but commission appointed e .aasoc iaqur,ndo fully
examined her, and after several onsihy nisrvews. in
which they sought The slightest traces OF mental aerra
tion pronounced her not insane Her crime Is, there
fore unmitssed by any Ilea this score On the con-
trary the gentlemen OF the commission found her
woman Of srcat ntelgence and great conversational
powers Daring The last Interview she betrayed most
uufeminine acquaintance with numerous poisonous
drugs. ~...-.... ,s.fs~s'~
BEB own HISTORY. 49,
Prom her Own statement and other sourccs Of infof
confirm
Die among the criminals OF the world and la her special
meshes OF the law achieved a fame hardly less gnoble
than that OF the Italian Borgia.
AZ the age o: fourteen she was married 10 Der nrt
husband. Subsequently,, Ia Louisville Kerturky she
married her second husband George Grinder and with
ba moved 70 rttsburg about six years since where at
insde ouits show or wealth, which Mr. Grinder -
paued by stating that largo incoas had besu le her
woman in confinement, ana an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IA Mrs
Cunningham Burdeil TOOK place the pretended fruit Of
which died and Was buriee from heF house az <hosgh
was her own Offspring Tho deception would hayc been
complete, and the matter have passed into Oblivion
had not the real mother OF the child quarellsd With Mrs
Grinder aqies.ar Of money and disclosed the facts
~ above
HEa onJrcf
n this transaction is mysterious a. everything else
councoted with the incentive her crimes; but when
subsequently dsc2vered, also appeared that the
sss WA the trut OF illicit love % Kentucky widoer
Who had hired her 20 Il A. her OVID, sad when also
,he legacy Of the rich relative Is remembered, Sigh,
.iew discovered 70 her purpose.
usR CONVICTION AND sErTErcE.
Having been duly convicted Of the murder o. MS
caruthcrs she was sentenced on the Isl o. pccemoer
ut 10 30 executed today, and was Tsnsnded 70 TIE
care OF sheriff stuart who has since had charge Of her
shs was conansd In the county JAIL, and daring The
period intervening attended BY Rev Dr. Holmes aud
tev Mr. siuaabaugb, " thodst clergyuen who uncess-
ingy arordsd her to consoaiicns within ther power
ard prepared her for her na exit IN The asf san sci on
her lie eventfu crsma
rus IrrHtsorsKsr UsDge sySrEScs or pIATH.
Durng this time she was In Tho most detected isis o.
mind aud feared indeed that her physical strength
x9nd have 10 loft her under the dependency u her
situation she would n The last moment have TO he
20, her by iho rySican Of ths ait AMI SIC seemed to
nave contemplated suicide on Two occasions by meme 81
poison Which she osiaiocd c.hsr rcs'ltiousy .. ~
ssving and collecting dosca OF morphia ordered her
on one ccoalop, vhcr in oonsuliaion WIN ~
Holrnoa she argued the point q her right % commit
nc act d self Destruction and when she bad been
vn-ed u the wrong of 70 fnng -bs prosaesi avsnty
al N. poson and hapded 10 him, With tho cxcinf1s
tlon--.E,rrc. thsr, take tcnptson away non me"
On Subsequent OCCASION shs wa fornd y Th,s q ~
brt she explained 70 Dr. Holmes ashn thai ts ga On
thc point Of taking her fe when The .moilous At the
%s,psd unss.fsd ~ her ada u seems - ,hcceh ne
and Of Pro,idoncs hnd lnfered 70 compel her y 20
an 70 ibp punishment which the crtrssed a~ hsi . 'e
y,s,.rtsy shs wu- infofmsd thH, al hope oi psrdon,
,s ,rs.S,h and aiion she entered zsaopsly uto
Zoe rel gous SERVICES which The overwhelming Gerry
CONDUCTED on hsr oetat
rpr coSprestox.
L1s, uzhi paper and writing material were sent 70 ne
cell and conjecture va t~ me was about y make
confesson Tie csnjeCurs proved coTrccti for, tbs
nofnnE lust before sAe removed froin We cell she
-elterated The siapmeu OF Tie ioliowns dotumeni m
presence Of The wi,pssas whose namss are stiaehel y
vas taken down by Rev NJ Holmes from Der dictsion
sst night and male pabe jds' previous o hef e.
stutiou go a. -.
IN view Of my departure in fe~ bolrs iron erth J
-sn, 70 say ,ss, sekno ledge my gii, IN ns case o.
grs Caruthers and also IN the case % 80 bachaasn
ut AIN Innocent Of 81 Other 1hares maae assin', me
the papers for p0ieoning people But bpa a.
lave been, feel that God, for Chnts sake,
iss forgiven me. AMI through his rercy !
,.p. 10 nna auseasre tsta hesrea