The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-24
A BORGIAN MURDERESS.
An Evidently Insane Girl Named Mary KEENAN,
Admits Her Guilt
She Consesses That She Killed Her Father
Mother and sister, in Iowa, and
Poisoned Her sisters Family
a.. Rose Hill.

Cf5lCACo. June 20.-Mary KEENAN,. girl in Jail
here no has heretofore persistently asserted her
innocence Of the crime with which she is charged,
that OF administering poison TO the family OF Mrs
Michael Freres, her sister. with whom she has
made her home for a short time, at Rose Hill. has
nov confessed that she i guilty. not only of the
attempt upon their lives, bat OF causing the death
OF her mother, father and another sister. in Du-
bueue. Iowa. Her mother died in July OF last
year. her sister Lena in August and father in
March OF this year. She assigns no motive for the
grimes other than that she was impelled to com
init them and is evidently insane Mary KEENAN,
j. les than twenty-five, slender. rather pretty.
and progressing IN manner and an invalid, hav-
1ng biit partial Use OF her lower limbs ana rect
She has an innocent expression and looks even
more youthful than she H. Her eyes have the
strange bright, fixed look 50 often seen with
diseased mind. For the past two months she has
lived with her sister ut Rose HILL to whom she
came after the burial of her father i'm Dubuque.
SescTai times since she has lived with her sister.
She he's prepared the meals. and on nearly every
occasion when she has done 50 the family, con-
siSiing OF Michael Freres. his wife and two small
children, have been taken with vomiting immedi-
ately afferWard Michael Freres found package
OF gsayish cOlOTed powder in the yard a week ago
last Tuesday morning. When he ate his soup AT
noon he seized with vomiting and observed
sediment in his soup plate corresponding to it in
Upon further examination more of the same
substance found in his wifes and the chill
dren plates He carried both the powder found
in the yard and that in the plates Evanston for
ANALYSIS and called in physician to attend TO the
family. The result showed that the powder was
poison Mary KEENAN, was accordingly arrested.
She has Wept continuously till the last day or two
since her Incarceration there. and asserted that
her sister had preferred false charge against her
for the purpose of getting small amount OF
money sl00) which she claimed she had. When
her effects. her money could not be found. The
house occupied by Mary Klen,an'S sister stands
upon the rise above the village OF Rose Hlll II i
blinds The Freres occupy the rear portion aHd
the attic. which is unfinished. and rent the front
part Their home is but partly paid Tor.
Mitchell Freres is a carpenter by trade and all
the neighDOrs spoke well OF him and his wife.
Mrs Ffeeres Is very youthful in appearance ana
nearly as fragile a. her sister. Her mouth is sur
rounded with sores from the effects OF the poison
The children are still afling from it, Michael i
not yet able TO go about his work
The FrereS family attributed MaTys act to in
sanity She has always been artful girl they
" but they at ths time thought this was only the
Temporary result OF illness.
The girl. when seen by the reporter. lay in her
narrow cot in very excited and rather historical
condition, the youthful brOws being wrinkled up
in manner painful 10 look upon. Did KILL my
father. my mother and Lena she said, reitera-
ting the question with words while her eyes were
liked on the wall. Then she half screamed with
her EYES dilating. Il couldn't help it. | couldn't
help IL. Something came % me and made me do
it, soon she broke out into passion OF tears.
II ALWAYS loved my mother but She was aiiling
and il kept at my side and whispered in
my all day and in the night Let her sleep in
peace; let her lie in the cool earth 80 bought
was gone. i was very sad. ] loved her. except
when il came TO me. Then when Lena came here
it pointed its finger at her all the time. and |
gave her little, too. till il over. When was
taken sick didn't always remember, but had a
medicine for my head that brought my senses
back; 50 when spring came father wasn't we'll.
and thought he'd be better along with mother.
When came to my sister got another box of poi
son put il on my feet. IL good for the folks
10 put them TO rest, and / thought il would be
good for my feet. IL stood on the pantry shelf.
couldn't help putting il in the sOup-I couldn't
hnir lnptr -NtbT il nor h
ing here to tell me why | did it; sometimes
there is
Was il to get the money that would come at
your fathers DEATH
''No no; hate that money. spent it as fast a
] could. / can not tell why-Oh, l can ~ tell
why" throwing her arms wildly over her head.
'Wili they put the rope round my neck and hang
me. VIII they hang me tomorrow? send for
priest quick, quick, that may confess my sins
Don't let him lose "A minute. / must have this
load away: and don't leave me alone she cried :
Il an afraid TO stay alone; oh, I'm afraid,' Then
the matrOn stole in bringing bottle OF cordial and
spoon. Presently, too, a reverend father OF the
Church came and passed to the girls cell.