Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-09-24
A Wisconsin Borgia.

Judge Hough of Prescott, distric
attorney for Pierce county, furnish.
es US with the following particular.
of several terrible cases of poisoning
in Trimbelle, Pierce County.
The person charged with the no.
torious crimes, is Mrs. Chariot,
Lamb, and the history of her alleged
operations we give as accurately a,
possible.
In September, 1871, Mrs. Lamb.
husband was taken violently sick
complaining of severe pains in hi.
stomach, and in half an hour was
dead. 1t Is now stated by those
who saw him before his death that
be showed symptoms of having been
poisoned, but nothing was said about
1t, and the matter dropped.
In May Of this year a son of Mrs
Lamb, aged 10 years, was taken sick
In a manner similar to his father, and
in less than an hour was dead.
ln June daughter of Mrs. Lamb
s years OF age, died very suddenly,
aud with symptoms resembling
those of her father and brother.
Last month Mrs. Jane Gilman. a
neighbor living near Mrs. Lamb,
went over TO her (Mrs. Lambs
house to get pail of water. On her
return she complained of violent
pains, in her stomach. She vomited
freely, and felt somewhat relieved ;
her husband being alarmed sent to
Prescott for DR.. Cotton. The doc
tor went out and made prescrip-
ton, leaving a couple of powders to
be taken under certain circumstan-
ces. After the doctor left, Mrs. Lamb
who was at Mrs. Ottman's assisting
and caring tor her, suggested that
one OF the powders be administered,
and Mrs. Ottman acquiescing, Mrs.
Lamb went into the pantry aud pre-
pared 1t, and it was taken. Imme-
dlately Mrs. Ottman complained of
violent pains again, such as those
complained of before, and in a few
minutes was dead.
Last week, Royal Garland, also a
nelghbor OF Mrs. Lambs, died under
circumstances alike suspicious with
the deaths mentioned. Mrs. Lamb
was cooking for Mr.. Garland during
harvest, On the day of Mr.. Gar
lands death, Mrs. Lamb was there
as usual. There was large crew OF
harvest hands. AT dinner Mrs.
Lamb waited upon the table. Dur
ing the meal, she said "Why, Roy
al, | forgot to give you any tea. She
went into the pantry, where she re-
manned short time, brought out a
cup and filed it with tea from the
teapot which was standing on the
stove. Mr.. Garland drank the tea,
and shortly after complained of Sc,
we're pains in his stomach. Howev.
er he went to the field with the 9TH
err men, but was so sick that he was
taken Immediately to the house, and
in few minutes was dead.
Such an array Of suspicious circum-
stances, caused the arrest of the
woman. She is now confined in Jail
at Ellsworth, and is to be examined
at River Falls on the 5th Of Septem,
Der.
The stomach was taken out of the
body of Mr. Garland, and sent to DR..
Hoyt, of this city, to be analysed
We lear that the doctor has found
poison in the stomach. The bodies of
the other victims have been disir or
red and the stomachs taken out. and
are now in DR.. Hoyt's hands for an
alysis.
After Mrs. Lamb was arrested her
house was searched. In bureau
drawer a bottle was found said to
contain strychninc, and a paper said
to contain arsenic.
As TO the motives that actuated this
woman TO her terrible crimes, we
are left only to conjecture. OF
course all sorts of rumors are ahOat.
1t is said, but we do not know with
how much truth, that Mrs. Lamb has
repeatedly expressed a desire and in
tention to get title TO the farm on
which she lived, and that by poison-
ing her husband and children she
hoped to do so. 1t is also said that
she has often expressed her strong
dislike to Mrs. Ottman. We have
heard of no reason being assigned
for her poisoning Mr.. Garland.
If it is true that Mrs. Lamb is gull
ty Of the charges preferred against
her, the annals of crime will furnish
the name Of no blacker criminal.
The result Of her examination will
be watched with great interest,"
Hudson Star and Times.