New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-21
Confession OF A POISONEB.
A SERIES OF CRIMES BY AN INSANE YOUNG WOMAN
KILLING FATHER, MOTHER AND SISTER.

| , SERIES OF CRIMES by AN INSANE YOUNG woMAs
KILLING FATHER, MOTHER AND SISTER.
| CHICAGO, June 20.-lfary Kleman, girl In
a here who has heretofore persstenty asserted hei
innocence OF the crime with which she Is charged that o
administering poison TO tho family or Mrs. Michael
Frercs sister. with whom she has made her home for
a short time. at Rose Hill. has now confessed TO
reporter that she is guilty. not only OF the attempt upon
their lives but OF causing the deaths OF her mother.
father and another sister in Dubuque Iowa. Her mother
died I'm July OF last year, her sister Lena in August and
her father Michael In March OF this year. She assigns
no motive for her crimes other than that she was i'm
pelled 10 commit them. She is evidently insane.
Mary KEENAN, is less than twenty-five years old,
slender rather pretty, prepossessing in manner. and
an invalid having partial OF her lower limbs and
feet She has an innocent expression and looks even
more youthful than she is Her eyes have tho strange,
bright. fixed look 80 often seen with diseased mind
For the two months she has lived with her sister at
Rose HILL TO whom she came after the burial or her
father in Dubuque Several times since she has lived
with her sister has prepared tho meals and ON nearly
every occasion when she has done the family consist
ing OF Michael Freres his wife aud two small children
have been taken Ill with vomiting immediately after
ward Michael Frercs found package OF grayish-
eoore powder In the yard week ago Tuesday morning
When he ate his soup at noon ho was seized with vomt
ing and observed n sediment In his soup plate corre-
spondng to the powder In appearance. Upon further
examination more OF the substance was found In
his wes the childrcns plates He carried both the
powder found In the yard aud that In the plates to
Evanston for analysis. and called IN physician 10
attend tho family The result showed that the powder
was poison. Mary kleInan was accordingly arrested.
she has wcpt continuously till the last day or two since
her aud asserted that her sister had pre-
ferred false charge against her Tor the purpose OF
obtaining a small amount OF money $500, whioh she
claimed She had. Wnen her lawyer went to Rose Hill TO
take possession of her effects her money eOlh not De
found. Tho Freres family attribute Marys acts 10
INSANITY She has always been wful girl. they say,
aud recently spent her money caprcousy but trey at
tho time thought this was only II temporary result of
The Girl when seen by reporter lay in her narrow cell
i'm nm excited and rather hys ercal condition. the youth
f brows being wrinkcd UP In manner paihiu 10 look
Did kill my father my mother. and Lcnai" said she.
reIterang the qnesti9ners woruS Willie ner EYES were ere
eyes dilatng Il couldn't help IL, coulni helpit
Something came TO me and made me % do It,"
soon she broke into passion or tears ,. ,.
"Ialways loved my mother but she was ailng' anu IL
kept my side and Thispeea IN my er e d ay m ba ana con II,
earth So bought the poison and gave her lttie ~
time till she Was gone was sad loved ner-,excep.
poated It's finger her all the time, and so gave her
little. too, Til twas over When was taken sick
head that brought my back. so when spring came
father wasn't well and thought he'd be better along
with mother When | came to my sister got another
box of poison. put 1t my feetit was good for the
folks to put rest, and thought twould be good
helm putng Il in the soup. / couldn't help It,. don't
know why did it, There is nothing here to tell me why
Twas it to yet the money that would at your
could. cannot tell ,why-oh. | cannot tell Why"
throwing her arms wildly over her head. M Wi thoy
hang me tomorrow send for priest, quick quick
that I may confess my sins! Don't let nm wait
me aoner she cried I'm afraid to stay alone; Oh I'm
afraid" Then she flung herself on tns co. WEEP weeping
Choral and a spoon. Presently Reverend Father OF
the Church came and passed into the giris cell