Morris tribune., 1883-10-27
MEYERS MEDICINE.
Testimony in the Chicago Wife.Poi-
soning Case.
One OF the Witnesses UnfOlds q
Terrible Tale Of Pure
Deviltry- Other
Evidence.

CHICAGO, Oct % The trial OF Or. Henry
Meyer on the charge of attempt to poison his
wife has been begun before jury. The evi-
dence of Peter Bretz, who is the principal
witness of the state discloses enough devilish-
ness to make half-dozen sensations, but in
opposition to it is the doctors offer to drink
all the alleged poison in the presence of the
court. The following is Bretz' testimony:
II have known DIR. Meyer about seven
years, he said. "About one year ago got
into his confidence, and he asked me to come
and see him every day or two, and frequently
took me out riding. Early in December,
1881, we went to saloon together, and he
said he had thing for me to do. He
said he would like me to visit his
house aud attempt to criminally ap.
proach his wife. He told me just
how to do it. l attempted to carry out his
plan, and Mrs. Meyer slapped me in the
face. When returned and told the doctor,
he said: We'll, you id foolr A day or
two afterward he came to my office and re-
quested me to try the same thing over. l
said all right. Then went and told Mrs.
Meyer again what the doctor had told me. l
next met him at a saloon under Miller's
hall, and told him I would not
try it over. On March 81, the
doctor and I. rode to Lake View together
and he said: My wife, the id, b-h,
knows too much for me- and we've got to do
her up After hearing this I went to the
Central police station and told my story.
whereupon Detective Burdick was sent to my
coal office to investigate. I took Mr.. Bur
dick to DR.. Meyers office, and introduced
him as Mr.. Long, a burglar. The doctor had
told me to get burglar. Then the doctor
took Mr.. Long into his confidence and told
him he had couple of jobs. One, he said,
was to crack Geldermann's grocery, and
the other a butcher-sbop next door. There
were valuable papers and money to be had.
When these were done, he told Mr.. Long, he
had another job of getting woman out of
the way. Mr.. Long appeared to- enter into
these plans, asked the doctor to take impres
sions of the locks on the stores, and said he
would do the jobs on some dark, rainy night.
Mr.. Burdick and l then went home few
days afterward, on the 9th I think, l took
another ride with the doctor, and he
said to me: Well, by golly, We'll have to
get my wife out IF the way. She wants to
go to Europe, but won't let her go. l will
have her go with you to Colorado, and give
you medicines to kill her. After this ride /
Detective Burdick and went to DR.. Meyers
Office, at Sedgwick and Eugene streets.
Burdick, who had examined me, remained
at the door down stairs and l went up into
the Office. The doctor gave me two bottles
Of medicine and a little envelope of pow
der. Then he asked me if l had any
money. I answered that had SIS, but |
had not, as the officer had found only % cents
on my person before l went up. The doctor |
gave me $75 and told me how to use the
medicine Wheu we got to Colorado was
to give Mrs. Meyer the medicine in champagne |
wine three times day. This, the doctor |
said, would kill her, as her stomach was
already rotten. [ took the medicine down,
stairs and gave it to Mr.. Burdick, and we
went together to the office of G. C. Kohlsaat,
Mrs. Meyers lawyer, and sealed the bottles
aB and put our initials on them
Mrs. Meyer was present. l had
always gone and told her every.
hing the doctor confide to me. The same even
ng saw Dr.: Meyer at his house and he said
his wife had refused to go. The next day we
net at Matt. Young's saloon, and again he said
The would not go. answered that she would
f he would let her. The next afternoon he
,ame to my office and said she was now ready
20 go, and that would have to look sharp.
If the medicine failed, he was to send me
,ome medicine that would do the work.
Shortly after this went to the doctor to col
ect coal bill which he owed me- This
vas after he had discovered that his
plans were known to the police. He said
ne would pay the bill if l would sign
paper saying that everything had told was
/ lie. Then sent John Wagner, lawyer,
20 collect the bill, and the doctor paid it. He
Urged the condition, however, that I should
20 away and work on a railroad When ]
would not agree to this, he said he had been
deceived in me. The next saw of him he
lad me arrested for blackmail."
Other testimony corroborated the above.
The substance of the physicians testimony
vas that the medicine in the bottles was sugar
# lead, and would undermine any ones
lealth if taken continually, though a physi-
ian who attended Mrs. Meyer saw no signs
the effects of sugar of lead.