The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-31
THE Law VINDICATED
Execution of Martha Grinder
THE MURDER. OF
Mary Caroline CarutherS,
BY Means OF Poison.
From the Pittsburgh Evening chronicle.I

From the Pittsburgh Evening Chronicle.]
In pursuance of the sentence of the
law, approved by his Excellency, Cover
nor Andrew G. Curtin, Martha Grinder
was executed in the yard of the county
prison to-day for the murder Of Mary
Caroline Caruthers. Mrs. Grinder, from
facts developed OF her trial, and since
discovered, was probably the most hellish
fend who ever lived, completely outstrip-
ping the Borgia, Brinvilliers or Madame
Gottfried in deeds of murder. Her exc
cution is meet and proper, and we
hope it may serve as a warning TO all who
feel inclined to take the lives of their fell
low. beings. The following interesting
resume of the case of this unfortunate
woman, carefully prepared from official
data, will be read with interest:
ARREST OF MARTHA GRINDER.
On Friday morning, August "a, James
A. Caruthers appeared before Mayor Low
ry and made information charging Mrs.
Martha Grinder with the murder of his
wife, Mary Caroline Caruthers, by means
of poison. A warrant was issued and
placed in the hands Of officers Messner
and Heron, who proceeded to her house
in Gray's alley, Allegheny City and after
considerable trouble succeeded in secur-
ing her arrest, and brought her to the
Mayors Office, where she was locked up
in the tombs for examination. At the
time of making the information Mr.. Ca
ruthers made the following statement:
STATEMENT OF JAMES A. cARUTHERs.
In June last I resided in Gray's alley,
Allegheny City, in an adjoining house to
Mrs. Grinder, and my wife's health up to
the 9th day of that month was good
On the evening of the 9th she was invi-
ted to take tea with the Grinder family.
by Mrs. g., and while at the table eat
some peaches and cream. On her return
home she was taken suddenly i'll, and at
nine o'clock was much worse. At twelve
she was seized with violent vomiting ,pur-
cling, nausea at the mouth, and headache.
These symptoms continued two hours rem
dering her PROSTATE and weak; she also
complained of great thirst. At daylight
she requested me to go for DR.. Irish,
which | did, and then went to my work.
About eleven o'clock | returned home and
found my wife still in bed, but somewhat
better, gave her some water to quench
her thirst, cooked my dinner and return
ed to the store. In the evening she was
worse. and she continued bad al. night
Went to the store in the morning and re-
turned at eleven o'clock. Ny wife com
planned of being hungry, and requested
me to make some rice soup. Went down
to the kitchen and kindled a fire, and
while so engaged Mrs. Grinder came in
and said she had filed the kettle and
tried to make a fire, Blu. it would not
burn. 1 made the soup and a pot of tea,
and when it was ready my wife came down
stairs and partook of the soup quite hear.
tily, after whichshe returned to her room
and I went to the store. About two
O'Clock Mrs. Grinder came to the store
and said my wife was quite sick again.
hurried home and found her affected pre-
cisely as she had been in the first attack
DIR. Irish came and said she was poisoned
On Friday morning Mrs. Grinder brought
in some coffee, toasted bread and crackers
which my wife partook of and was soor
after taken with vomiting, spasmodic at
lection of the throat and burning at thu
stomach. At noon Mrs. Grinder brough
another lot of crackers, coffee and toast
of which my wife eat sparingly, and il
twenty minutes after was seized with thu
old symptoms. DR.. Irish came soon afte
and informed US that there was something
wrong about the house, and advised us tt
leave and go to the country. Told NJ!
wife not to eat anything more prepared b.
Mrs. Grinder; she did not do so, and Oh
Saturday afternoon we went to New Cas-
tie, Lawrence County, where my wife sool
recovered her health.
[Mr. Caruthers, after eating of the ric'
soup. was also affected with symptom
similar to those experienced by his wife
and was in consequence confined to hi
bed until Saturday morning. He did no
eat of any %victuals prepared by Mrs. G.
however, and escaped further injury.
ATTEMPT TO POISON MR.. cARUTHERs.
On the 7!h of July I returned to ALE
gheny City and took boarding with a Mrs
Love, sleeping at home. A few days al
ter heard that Mrs. Grinders child wa
dead, called upon her, and at her reques
consented to accompany the funeral t
Leechburg. Called at the house earl
next morning, when Mrs. Grinder invite
me to partake of some breakfast; drank
cup of coffee, which had a strange me
talic taste, and shortly after felt sick. 0
the way to the Allegheny Valley Depo'
4 Mrs. G. remarked that l looked pale, an
inquired if 1 was sick. After eating dir
ner felt better, and on my return to th
city in the evening left the funeral part
and went to DIR. Irish's Office, where I RI
t NAMED about half an hour and then wei
e to Mrs. Grinders house. She requisite
t me to wait a few moments for supper
J, went into my house, and returned in
short time, and eat quite hearty of ii
meal. After supper Mrs. Grinder told n
lift | got sick during the night to let h,
Q know. Then returned to my house an
sat down to read, and after awhile becan
e quite i'll, and commenced vomiting, A
terward went to my window, put my he's
out and again yomited. Grinder came
his window and asked if I was sick. R
plied in the affirmative, and request'
him to 60 for DR.. Irish, who came and r
NAMED with me until twelve o'clock. {
the next morning Mrs. Grinder came