Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-19

remedies for ordinary ailments. Her
reputation was excellent, aud among
those who were readiest in her praise
are some gossipy country folk, who nov
recollect more signs and evidences Of
guilt about her actions, than they could
have imagined of her. prior to her ar
rest in the fall of 1879.
During the winter Of 1S71-72, Mrs.
Lamb remained alone in the farm house,
taking such care Of the place as she
could, and taking good care Of the chill
drcn. For tho season Of 1879, the til.
liable land on the Lamb farm, was let to
one Of the neighbors, named James W.
Ottman, to work on shares.
May 24th, Don Orrin Lamb, her
youngest son, died suddenly. The moth
er was alone in the house with him when
no died, and gave out that he died of
heart disease, but described his suffer-
ings aud spasms, probably, exactly as
they occurred, since her descriptions to
her friends, correspond exactly with what
is now known to have been the cause Of
his death. Don was about thirteen
years old at the time of his death.
June 2lst, 1872, Sarah A. Lamb,
her daughter, died suddenly under pre-
cisely the same circumstances as had at
tended the death of the boy.
August Sd, 1872, Mrs. Irene II. Off,
man, wife Of J. W. Ottman, also died
very suddenly. Mrs. Ottman had gone
over to the Lamb place to assist her
HUSBAND, who was Ut work there, AMI,
As was commonly her custom, called 10
to SEQ Mrs. Lamb. She felt i'll; Mrs.
Lamb gave her some medicinal prapara-
ton, which, tor the time, relieved her,
and she walked home-Mrs. Lamb &C.
companying her. At home, Mrs. Off,
man was soon taken i'll again, and worse
than before. Mrs. Lamb walked back
to her own house for medicine, and re-
turned and gave it t. Mrs Ottman. In
few hours Mrs. Ottman Was dead.
Whether these three deaths in sue
cession, Of persons whom Mrs. Lamb
had narsed and doctored, and whose
deaths were alike in their suddenuess
and in the symptoms which attended
them, caused any suspicion to attach to
Mrs. Lamb, we are not reliably inform
ed. But suspicion was soon after arous-
ed to investigation, and discovery fol-
lowed by another death in the neigh
borhood, Of a person under Mrs.
Lambs care
August 18th; Royal Garland, a bach
elor farmer Of that neighborAood, died
a. suddenly as the others mentioned,
and under circunnstanc es similar to those
which had attended the death of Mrs.
Oltman. He bad number Of harvest
HANDS at work for him, and had em-
p!oyed Mrs. Lamb to come over day
times and cook for them. At noon
time, while the men we're resting about
the house, after dinner, Garland, who
had probably eaten too much dinner,
complained Of feeling unwell, and went
into the house and asked Mrs. Lamb
for some pain-killer, if she had any.
She sent to u ueighbors for pain-killer,
and prepared him dose Of it in a cup.
Soon after drinking it, he was taken
with violent pains and spasms. She
took care Of him, prayed for his souls
salvation, and earnestly exhorted him
to look mp, put his trust in God, &c.
Before he was dead, Dr.. Cotton, of Pres
colt, was sent for. When the DR.. came
to the house, early next morning, he
found Mrs. Lamb there, alone with the
corpse, she having volunteered to stay
with it while the watchers went to their
homes for breakfast.
From the whispers Of suspicion the
singular coincidence of these deaths
at first startled, there soon grew plain
talk all through the ncighborhood, and
finally Mrs. Lamb was arrested August
&c, ls72, eleven days after the death
Of Garland, on complaint of James W.
Ottman and others. Justice Frank
Huot, Of Trimbellc, held her for ex-
animation before Justice r. j. Wilcox,
OF River Falls on the 9Th Of Septeu,-
Der, following. When that tune had
arrived tho proof was conclusive. Her
attorneys waived the examination and
she was committed tor trial.
The bodies Of her supposed victims
were disinterred and subjected to med
ical examinations aud chemical analy.
els. 1t was conceded, We believe, by
the medical mcn, that her husband