Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-08-19

Search at st. Louis for Evid enco
Against the GAINESVILLE Wife Pol.
Soner.
From the st. Louis Republican.
Many persons will remember that last
year one DR.. William Duvall, who pro-
claimed himself able to cure persons
afflicted with any of the diseases known to
suffering humanity by the ''laying on of
hands" appeared in the city and set HIM
self up Us Il rival Of the regular practition-
ers. Whether those who draw their fees
from the poorer classes found him n for
midable rival we cannot toll, and do not
care to inquire.
It is sufficient for our purpose to say
that, after boarding ut tho st. Nicholas
Hotel time, he moved to No. 513 Walnut
street, where his wife. Catherine King
Duvall, died suddenly on tho 18th day Of
July, 1868. Catherine was his third wife.
Two former consorts of the Doctor had
died before, how or where is not known.
When the third one 10y stretched corpse,
DR.. Duvall himself signed certificate that
she had died of apoplexy, on the strength
of which certificate for interment was
granted at the Board of Health Office, and
and undertaken Smithers buried the de-
ceased in Bellefontaine Cemetery. Whether
Duvall was too much shocked by the death
of his third vito to stay in city where he
Would be constantly reminded by the sur
roulIdngs, Of his bereavement, or found
tho dimes and dollars coming in too SLOW
lv, we do not know; but he left town, it is
said somewhat suddenly, and in manner
which would cause Mr.. Smithcrs and the
proprietor of tho st. Nicholas to desire
to DO kindly remembered to him when
he next appeared upon the medical boards.
1a %o% hot ~, 1,n
ioro she was married to the doctor, had
been living with him during the lifetime of
his second wife, rs governess to his chill
dren. When Mrs. Duvall No. 3 stepped
off the stage sho appeared upon it as Mrs.
Duvall No 3.
So the doctor, in tho depth Of lis be-
reavement md with ten children left moth
erless, made his exit, and tho next we hear
of him is that he is confined in tho Jail of
GAINESVILLE, Wisconsin, Oh the charge OF
having poisoned his fourth vito with
strychninc. Whom and where he got mar
ricd tho fourth time, and to whom he de-
voted his affectionate attentions, il again a
question that we cannot answer. It must,
howevcr,be evident TINT he did not venture
very deep regrets for any length of time
for tho unfortunate demise of his poor
third wife. We have not information as to
VIII viz As11ly WIS WIZ DcChulo NILS. Du-
vail No. 4, but have to lament that she
followed Mrs. Catherine King Duvall SO
quickly.
DR.. Brewster, we'll known physician of
GAINESVILLE, is now in town, having como
here to make some inquiries in regard to
the death of Catherine, and, if possible,
to have her remains, now lying in Belle
fontaine cemetery, disinterrcd, and a
chemical analysis of some parts of them
made.
DR.: Speigclhalter will, we have no doubt,
do all in his power to aid DIR. Brewster,
and clear up any mystery respecting tho
death of Mrs. Duvall, if there is any.
We understand that one of Dr.. Duvall's
sons visited him in Jail at GAINESVILLE, and
the Sheriff observed that he slipped q piece
of paper in his hand. The Sheriff acted
rs if he had not seen anything, but, rs
soon rs the boy left the cell, searched him
and got the paper. This, we are told, in
structcd the boy as to what he should tes-
tity in regard to the death of his mother in
st. Louis He was to say that she died OF
sunstroke, and had to read the paper over
twelve times every day, SO that he would
get it fixed in his mind before he might be
called upon the witness stand.
There is certainly mystery here, and
further developments or explanations will
be eagerly looked for.