Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-02-16

She II Accused Of PoIsosiuG Two Hulbahda and
the Wife or Her Firat HusbAnd.


She Il Accused Of POIsosIug Two HuIbsnds and
the wife OF Her First HusbAhd.
From the Louisville (Ky1 Ledger, Feb. Al
Some twelve years ago there came 10 Louis
vile, from Germany, very attractlve-look.
ing German girl Of about eighteen years OF
age, named, II our recollection serves US
right Catharlne MelchIor. She was what Is
termed beautiful woman, finely developed,
with faultless form and graceful motion-e
woman who would attract attention wherever
seen. She remained at Louisville but short
time, when she left the city for the town OF
Rockport, on the Indiana side Of tho river,
about ffty miles above Louisville, where Ane
soon obtained service IN the family OF an OLD
and wealthy farmer named Sharp, residing
some two and half or three miles ABOVE the
town.
Mr.. Sharp and his aged wife lived alone to-
gether, their children having all married
and removed from the old homestead. The
old people were very highly esteemed, and
were well known to nearly all the citizens OF
the county. CAtharine found her new homo
very pleasant one, and was apparently well
contented and very happy. About two years
after she had entered tue Sharp family, Mrs.
Sharp was taken Ill. She was confined 10
her bed for some time; but growing better.
her speedy recovery was fondly hoped for BY
her husband and children. Very suddenly,
however, she was taken WORSE, suffering In
tense palms In the abdomen for some hours,
When she died. The symptoms OF her fatal
illness, II was remembered few years later,
were decidedly those OF poison from arsenic
or strychnine.
Mr.. Sharp and hls children mourned her
death, but no one seemed TO feel ID more
deeply than Catharine, aud this was re-
marked throughout the nelghborhood; and
80 Mr.. sharp prevailed upon her, which was
not difficult, 10 remain In his house a. his
hou.ekeeper and general superintendent Of
the domestic department of his expensive
farm, paying her handsome salary for her
services. Time wore on, as time Is always
doing, and the wounds that grief at the de-
mise Of his wife had inflicted upon the heart
Of Mr.. Sharp were healed. And then II be-
thought him that with Catharine a. his wife
his declining years would be full Of comfort
and so he paid court to the young maiden.
She was ayense 10 the union proposed by the
old man; 1t would DO too much like uniting
June with December, she argued, M she
looked up langulshingly from her lustrous
black eyes and beautiful face Into tho coun-
tenance Of her aged lover. Those giances,
as sue well knew, were not TO be withstood;
and 80 the old mans passion was only In
famed and his suit pressed with more earnest
determination.
over the matter, aud then she returned
answer to her persevcrlng but gray haired
lover that she would marry him gu condition
that he would deed her his farm, valued At
about ca, 900. and certain other moneys aud
property. This the old man agreed TO do,
and In due course Of time all the necessary
papers for the transfer were legally drawn
and placed In Catharlne's hands. Then the
wedding took place, and for q couple OF
years or more the Infatuated old man bRthed
Ia the sunshine OF her smiles, and received
her toying with all the delight Of . child;
but suddenly he died. HIS disease was Ian,
gushing one at first and Indicated toward
Its fatal termination a speedy recovery. But
those dreadful palms that had been noticed
In the illness Of his wife Immediately prior 10
her demise superyened, and as suddenly and
painfully as his aged wife had died 90 died
be. His children and maay Of his nelghoor.
believed that both he and his nrst vile had
died from poison at the hands OF Catharine,
but they dared only breathe their suspicious
suppressed Ia whispers, lest the law should
take hold of them In the shape Of an action
for Islander. -r'
Catharine was rich. She had out Just
reached the prime of womanhoOd, was The
most beautiinl woman In the county, and u
Is not at all surprising that the days Of hei
wldOWhood were made bearahle by the A.
tentons she received from both men and
women. In due course Of time her grief wa
90 much assuaged that she received a. I
suItor for her hand q Well-known and popu
lar merchant named Bachelor, who az
business, we believe, At Rockport and Evans
Vile. Mr.. Bachelor was supposed 20 b
wealthy, and 50 his suit for Catharlue's hear
aud hand prospered, and they were married
The course Of their marriage liferan smooth!
enough. Indeed, their apparent happlnes
became subject of remark. Both were ap
parenuy deeply DEVOTED 70 each other.
But alter year or two OF bliss Mr.. Batche
lor was attacked BY q lanWuishing illnesl
which Increased and diminished In seyerit
by turns, until the disease which puzzled th
skill Of the physicians, tooka favorable turn
"a All. aa NRR
speedy and favorable termination. II was
noticeable feature Of Mr.. Bachelors dlsease
as II had been OF the disease of which Nj
Sharp and hla ilrst wlfe had died, that Il wa
Feated Ia The stomach, and no medicine
seemed TO reach or control 1t. His partia
recovery was therefore unaecountable TO %
physician on any other hypothesis than III
great physical recuperatlye powers OF NJ
Batchelor. But In the midst OF the fond al
ticipatious OF his friends for his recovery
Mr.. Bachelor suddenly died In great agonj
suffering intense pain 10 the stomach.
lie was buried, and the widows wall souui
ed over his grave, and was re-echoed froI
the old forest that skirted the cemetery. BE-
Il the dead husband was Mason, and In u
lodge his sudden aud similar deceaAe OF Mr.
and Mr.. Sharp were discussed, and the COZ
clusion ARR ed at was that poison had aide
their sudden exit from the world, and tn
Catharine Bachelor was the polsoner. And
the remains OF Mr.. Bachelor were quiet
dlsinterred, the stomach taken from them Al
sent to q noted physician and chemist 4
anAly Eatloni The result Of the analysis VI
the discovery Of enough mineral poison
produce deaIh, and the evidences that N
Bachelor had died from poison.
Mrs. Bachelor was arrested, lodgedin jal
indicted by the grand Jury, and In dae tin
arraigned Tor trial. But upon affidavit ma
by her that she could not have fair trial
Rockport 10 consequence OF the exclteme
against her, . change Of venue was grant
aud the case taken 70 Perry county. II
trial will commence at Cannelton on the %
OF tho present month, before Judge Laii
when, II proved guilty, IL Is TO be hoped {
modern Lncretia borgia will be placed whe
she will have no further occasion 70 practl
her murderous arts. Mr.. Bachelor was W
known to the merchants Of Louisville.
-
The flesh Of the panther Is considered I
cradle food for human beings In reggie