Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-09-18
Another Madmlaic dc Brinyilliers.

wife, Maria, now before the Superior Court,
of Chicago, is y remarkable case. He seeks
separation under new clause of the divorce
law, which provides ground for action in
the event that lone party to a marriage
contract attempt the life Of the other by
poison or other means showing malice"
Thuts' petition is a story both romantic
ana terrible. His counsel is responsible for
the following:
Five years ago Carl Thut, machinist
and gineer, after years of experience in
the great German gun works of Essen and
Kronstadt, came to America. He was then
~ years of age, the father of eight mother.
less children. The youngest of these, girl
aged three years, be brought with him. He
went 10 Chicago, aud took up his residence
in the little suburb Of Hermosa, finding en-
ployment in the city. Then he lived with
his child aud its governess, MS Golfers rap
idly filing from his lucrative employment
10 August of 1885 he advertised for house
keeper, as his little de lighter was now large
enough to go to school. Maria Hochreter
q tall and handsome German woman Of
forty five years, answered the adyer-
tiscment and was engaged. September II
Thut and his hcusekeeper were married.
Shortly after their wedding husband and
Of the sad loss OF the mother of his children.
Maria recounted the experiences of two
widowhooGs. Her first husband, she said,
had died suddenly in commissions. which
were termed delirium tremens her second
had wasted under the ravages of what was
thought TO be consumption. Thut was al.
terwards reminded Of this narrative, and of
the peculiar manner Of demise adopted by
his two predecessors He gave it no thought
at the time. Within six weeks after his
marriage his health began to fail. per-
petual irritation seized npon his stomach,
and was intensified after meals he lost
health and vigor. Commenting upon his
debilitated condition, his wife consolingly
remarked once, "NIy two first were left to
me but short time, dear, and sometimes
fear that you will be taken away before
long" His health went from bad to worse,
and as the winter came on his wife, in evi-
dent alarm, requested him to assign to her g
beneficiary policy for $1,000 which ho held
as member oftho Ancient Order Of Forest
ers. He refused TO do this in full, but agreed
to make it over TO ner and his child Jointly.
January last this transfer wna ronsumated
in his lodge, After this Thut declined 80
rapidly as to be compelled TO abandon his
work. January % he announced his de-
termination to see n doctor. aud despite
his wllc's eiorts to cain his foolish fears,
he came TO the city on o visit TO - ply
slcian. He returned to his home in the even
ing. TO find that his wife had taken
advantage of his absence to rack up her
affairs and leave. From that day 10 this
she has not been seen by him or am who
will bring him tidings Of her She has mys-
terlou5ly disappeared. Thut's disInay and
grief at this act was much mitigated within
week by the almost perfect restoration OF
| his health Then the light, as he chose 10
greet his new idea, came 10 his mind--he
had been the victim Of an usdious poison,
slowly administered, and that by the hands
OF his truant wife. His proof was found in
the proper Interpretation of many OF her
utterances which had previously PASSED as
insignificant, and in the discovery under the
bed-cothes Of the book she 20 sedulouslv
and secretly perused when she thought him
not observing. This cabala of her dark and
wicked art, as he adiudged it, was the frag-
ment Of chapter from q German edition
Of Alexander Dumas Count of Monte
Cristo." The chapter is entitled 'Toxicol.
ogy," and sets forth formula for the slow,
sure and undiscoverabie poisoning of an en-.
emy to whose food the plotter has access.
The potent agent is found in compound
of the elixir Of angostura bark and stry-
chine. Treatment should begin with one
milligram, or little more than the hundredth
part of a grain, and be increased to one GEN.
tgram, or ten times the original DOSE The
time should be governed by the murderous
pleasure Of the physician" Death is sure,
and no traces are left. Thut has regained
his health and strength, and is now deeply
desirous of again becoming widower, this
time bV the urpce of the nor1rtS