West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-07-04
"A WOMAN HANGED.
Mrs. Sarah j. Whiteling Pays
the Penalty Of Her Crime.
Sent to the Soaffold for Numbering
Her Husband and Children.

Mrs. Sarah Janc whitelIng, forty three
years old, who poisoned her husband and two
children 60 obtain n small insurance ON their
lives was hanged few days since In Phila-
dclphia. Tho drop fell atl0;01 She was the
FIRST woman hanged In that city.
After hanging thirty-four minutes tho at
tending physicians pronounced life extinct
and the body was cut down. The woman
bore up remarkably well under the trying or
deal mud met her death rcsigncdly. She slept
very littlc the previous night and spent most
OF tho time In prayers.
She arose nt u O'clock A. Nc. and ato n light
breakfast, after which she was removed to a
cell near whero tho pcaffold was erected.
Hor spiritual adviser, tho Roy. Wm. ID.
Jones, soon joinod her, and considerable tinie
Mrs whitelinS Scngaged with much spirit
AZ 10 O'clock a. NJ. sho was taken from the
coll, and tho procession, headed by Sheriff
Krumbhaar, started for the scaffold Arriv-
ing there she ascendcd II unassisted aud with
firm stop. Her hands wore quickly bound
TO her side, aud a strap placed around hor
skirts at the ankles, Row DIR. Jones deliv-
orcd prayer while the black cap was being
adjusted, ard ot 1907 tho trap was sprung.
The fall was -four feet, and death was duo
TO stranguation. Tic heart continued to
beat for some umo after tho fall. After tho
nody was cut down IL was turned over to
n. Alice Bennett of tho Norristowu Insane
losptal, who examined tho brain, after
which tho body WINS buried by the side Of her
husbandand children In Philadelphia.
Mrs. Whitcling was executed In expiation
of one of the most horrible crimes PhiIadel-
phia has ever known. On March 90 1888.
her husband, John Whiteling, died from
what tho doctors called inflammation of tho
bowels.
On April 25th hcr daughter, Bertha aged
nine years died from gastric fever and May
2Cih hCr little son, While, suocumbed 20
congestion OF tho bowels. There was an in-
surance on the lives Of each ranging from
500 down 10 500.
Tho coroner accidentally heard of the
death. and becoming suspicious had tho
bodies exhumed and n chemical analysis
made OF the iritestines. In all three bodies
arsenic was found.
Mrs Whiteling nc first denied all knowI-
edge Of tho crime, but finally confessed that
she had poisoned her husband and children
with rat poison. She had summoned doc
tor in each case but had not administered his
prescription. She Baid she killed Bertha be-
cause she was afraid sho would become n
Willie because "he was In tho way
IL Is believed, however, that she killed
them Tor the insurance on their lives.
An Execution at WiIkesbarrc.
On the same day that Mrs. Whiteling was
hanged in Philadelphia Michael Rizello alias
"Red Noscd Mike, suffered similar fate In
tho jOil yard at Willtcsbnrre Penn.
The crime for which Michael Rizello, alias
"lted NOsod Miltcp paid tho death penalty
w0s committed in tho forenoon OF Octoler
80, 1888. j. Brainard Mcclure paymaster
for Contractor Charles McFadden accom-
panied by Hugh Flanagan, the stable boss,
wnsdriying from Wilkcsbarro TO the railroad
camp above Miners Mills with s12, 600 60 bo
paid to the workmen oil the completed job.
Michael iilzello, Giuseppi Bevireno and Vim
cenzo Vtllalli lay In wait OH tile lonely
mountain road, expecting tho arrival Of Nc
Clme nnd Flanagan. On their approach
Itizello stepped out and fire three shots at
Flanagan, oil the shots doing deadly work
Tho frightened horse started 20 run away
and had gOno some distance when Bivereno
with rifle shot Mcclure In the back twice.
killing him instantly. Tho horse continued
Us flight until Vollalli, who was ambushed
tmthcr up tho road, stepped out and shot it
through the brain Tho other Italians then
arrived on the spot, cut loose tho valise con-
3st 20 Mikes cabin, three miles away, whero
the money and guns were concealed
Although Mike and his companions wero
arrested OIL suspicion they were discharged
and soon otter left tho city going 20 Pon9h-
Neopsic, N. v, taking with them thcir
plundCi' Sl2 600.
A few weeks later Mixes companions took
passage on q steamer for Italy The Pinkcrtons
permitting them 30 leave with tho money
unmolcsted, although Mike was stili
kept uudor surveillance. Evidence was af-
tcrward procured by detectives which fright
encd Mike Into full confession on January .,
1889. On ifobranry7 he was brought 20 trial
and after four days trial was found guilty.
Though entirely without money or friends
hc was ably dotcndcd by leading mcmbers OF
Tic iuEernc bar.