Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-10-14
A Terrible Woman.

of the notorious Mary Sigmsn. On
the evening of Sunday, September
18th, adds another bloody chapter
to the crimson-paged history CT
terrible woman's life. The killing
occurred in this county, far up on
the waters of Roundstone, near
Boone's Gap, break in the ridge
which divides Madison and Rocs
castle. Rhodus was enee C. WELT.
do farmer OF Madison county. H
was married man, and wife sne
four children survive him. Abaa
three years ago he began to vh
Mary Sigman. SooB, like all IN
! others that are once embraced ~
her, be became infatuated with hss.
His lEfatuation grew until be for
sock his family and passed oil his
moments in her society.
A warrant was issued for Mary
sigmsn, charging her with COM lio.
ity in the murder. 1t is known
that having induced Rhodus to
spend ell his money on her, she was
DESTROYS OF Riding herself of HIM
snd had on one or two occasions
threatened to kill him or have it
done. There were enough suspie.
ious circumstances against her to
justify her arrest, snds she was accord
ingly taken int custody. The ease
has already been twice called for
an Investigation, but postponed be.
eanse OF the absence of Hellingss
worth, who is prisoner al Rich
mond. Next Tuesday is the day
now fixed for the trial. and the in
vestigatien will probably be- made
at that time.
Jim Rhodus 10 (aooerdisg to re-
por.) The seventh man whom Mary
Sigman has lursd and led TO bic
death. There seems to belong 10
her a strange fatality. Her father
was namsd Willism Sigmsn. He
was "bIuissr" 10 his day, but 10
knives aud pistols were little used
then, be probably fell asleep with
40 mans blood on his bands. This
10 doubted by some, however, as
| William was o noted bush-whaoker
during tho war, and may have shot
some poor devil through the thickst
in order TO save the Union. Hs
aud Bette had several sons and
four de lighters. One of tho boys
murdered boy named Higgip both
am duriRg the war and left the
country. There is an indictment
now pending against him in the
circuit court hero. What became
of the Other boys know not. The
girls were named Rhods, Georgia,
Mile and Mary. AZ fast &c they
ma!ured old Bette made prostitutes
of !bem. Georgia 10 dead Rhods
married aud went to Indiana Nil.
lis's whereabouts ara unknsxn, and
Mary still holds the fort" on the
head Of Roundstone.
She wac educated when she waa
scarcsiy thirteen years of ags, and
ere sue was fourteen she gave birth
to child. She is now about twon.
ty-tUo or twenty.throe years of ago
and he's five ohildrsn-four boys
and girl. They are bright, intel
IigsUt brass, TOO. To her ten years'
life of shame Mary Signan has
probably been the mistress of mors
man than any other womaE in Ken.
lucky. Old mea and boys hava
made themselves feols about her.
They have cut, shot, bled and died
for hsr. flow many men have baan
killed over her, | do not know, Il
10 eaid that she has killed tive msu
herself, but hardly heiisss it. One
thing is certain, If rsa onea
feels her csTsssss, she infatuatea
him if he follows his infsluatieu
long enough, it is sure TO cad with
his death. She aud her admirers
ara simply the play of the candle
and the moths on q little grander
scale.
Whist kiud of looking creature do
you supposs this siren 10 /? Have You
ysp tried to picture her 10 your i'm.
msginstioa | went up 10 her,
trial yesterday. and saw aad talked
with hsr. | didn't let her get her
bands on me, though +; | was afraid
10 do that. She has dark brown
bair, and a small. round, blank, ex-
prsssienless face. Her eyes ara
duh, pale blue, but when you excite
her devilish light flashes in them
that makes their expressisn, TO ssy
The least. peculiar. She has small
mouth, thisk lips; and fiat. bose.
lass sess. Her hands and feet are
BOT large; thsy are rather small.
She 10 lew in stature. Her ioi m 10
slender.
She is az straight SIS an srrsw,
and her voice is low and sometimes
soft. Her manners are modest, very
lsdy-liks 10 her movements she is
slightly nervous and jsrky. That
is Mary Sigmsn, absut whom so
much has been said, for when so
much blood has been she'd There
is nothing about her attractive that
is visible. | looked al her carefully
but my glance did not reveal to me
the secret of her peculiar power OF
fascination. While | talked to her,
Bill Harris, a brother.in-lsw eff
Rhodus, approached us, and said !:
Mary, did you know that Bill Hol-
liagsvorth will swear you killed
Jim ?" Then it was the dsvilish
light | spoke of lssped into her
eyes, and che responded quickly:
He won't dare to swsar it If
be swssrs il, bell swear lie
was afraid, though, be would kill
me. | used to love him when be
could do something for me. Buthe
bad nothing, and ] told him be
must let me alone. / wanted him
10 go back to bis wife and children.
Hs always swore he would kill me
before be would give me up. lie
tried to kill me olce. But / would
not have harmed hair of bis head.
Bill Holingswsrth won't swear that
/ killed bin. Who could have
kiilsd him bu! Hardin There .as
80 one slas to kill him" These a..
tsrascss we're delivered very rapid
y. At their conclusion she turnea
apart TO consult with her counsel
and left her.