Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-08
PLAYING BORGIA.
A DntehwOman Of FOrty-Fiye Years
Tries Her Hand at Tragedy and
Proves
A Great Success - She Poisons Her
Mother and Brother, and Her Hus-
band and His Sister.

MILWAUKEE, WIS, April IA West Bend,
Wis, dispatch says: The case Of the State OF
Wisconsin sgsinst ] ARe Vermeer, Of Fond du
Lac county, for murder, is now on trial for
The second time. The State is represented
by F. F. Duffy, district attorney, and $. J.
Morse. of Waupun Eli and c. E. Hooker,
Of Wsupuu, and S Barney, of West Bend,
are attorneys for dsfe=dAuI. According 10
facts alleged in the indictment upon which
the case was Brought 10 trial, Mrs. Vermeer,
who lived in the town of WaupuD, asked
her two brothers, who were joint owners OF
forty sores OF land, 10 deed it over 10 her, ss
they were bachelors and did not need the
property SIS much So che did; but they re-
fused to grant her request. Accordingly, on
November %, 1881, some days after making
the above request, she walked over 10 her
mothers, Mrs. Lockharfs residence, about
half mile away, taking with her pail OF
soup, arriving there some fifteen minutes
after the family had finished their noon
day meal. Greeting her mother with
aH inquiry 10 her health, the old
lady responded that she felt very well
indeed, whereupou the daughter, saying
"Molher, I've brought you some SOUP" put
it on the stove 10 warm. She then handed
some to her mother and brother, Mauus,
both Of whom psrtook OF ii, her other brother,
bert refusing. Half an hour later her
mother was taken violently i'll with cramps
and was put TO bed in great agony, and We
soon after Msnus, her brother, was tskeE
down with similar pains, and thereubon
Mrs. Vermeer took her pail, riRsed it out
and departed for home, leaving her victims.
bert sent for her very soon after, and ac-
cordipg 10 allegations made, before che
started to 90 back was seen by boy named
Miller, who was in there playing, TO take a
small phial out OF a cupboard which con-
tanned, as the boy said, white substance
like -four. When she returned TO her
mothers house she found her mother dead
and her brother dying. He told her it was
the coup that did it, but she denied it, claim
ing that all at home had psrtssen Of il. She
remained at the house until after her brother
died, being perfectly cool and self possessed,
and not msnifesting a sign Of sorrow over
what would otherwise have bsen considered
a terrible bereavement. An analysis of the
contents of the stomachs OF the decess ed
people was made by Bode, of Milwaukee,
who found in that of the old lady seven
grains of arsenic, and ia that OF Manus four
grains and a traction. All circumstances
pointed strongly TO Mrs. Vermeer's guilt, the
more especially as some four years ago her
husband and his sister had died very sud
denly, it being intimated then that she had
been instrumental IN removing them sc
when she offered to attend the funeral oil hei
later victims, her countrymen refused TO per
NIT it, insisting that sbe be arrested. Al
stated, this ia her second trial. Last fall che
was brought TO Waupuu, and after three
days the jury disagreed and were discharged
The poisoner is forty five years cid, q
native of Hollsnd, and though she hai
been in this country come fifteen years
she has lived so closely among hel
people that che now requires an interpreter
in court. She is Of dark complexion, hal
ceal-blsck eyes, is smart looking, is perfectly
cool, and makes splendid witness; though
on the stand for three hours, she did mo-
chow a particle of excitement. She stoutll
insisted she is innocent, and claims in mel
defense that the reason Ibert did not eat tn
coup is that he is probably the party VIII
pat the poison in it. 1t is held by the de
| tense that his motives would be much tn
same, he owning jointly with the brothe
| that was killed.