The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-22
HER RITFUL STORY,
Mrs, Lebknechuer, who Pois-
oued her Three Children,
is DECLARED mot GUILTY.
Dramatic Scene In Court-A Tale
of DesperatIon-Killcd her Chill
dren to Save them from Star,
yatIon-A Pathetic Case,

New YoRE, March 2l,-The Jury IL
the murder trial OF Mrs. Wilhelminl
Lebknechper, charged with the pois
oning Of her three little children exactly
a year ago to-day, found a verdict OF moi
guilty at 0 o'clock tonight, Thedefense
was insanity, She told her story to the
court yesterday with surprising power
and excellent choice OF words. Apollo
gizIng first for speaking "only German,
English" she said;
~ was born on May 20, 1859, in
Worms, On October 20, 1871, 1 was
married, and on November 2S, 1877,
was again married TO Mr.. Lebknechner,
my second husband, and went to live
with him at 924 Ninth avenue. He was
saloon. keeper, My husband drank
and had to attend TO all the business.
When one ofmy children was 10 years
old he fell and hurt himself.
HER TROUBLES BEGIE.
"Judge, all my troubles began with
the sickness Of that child. An operation
was performed and when had paid the
doctors l could not pay the rent. The
sheriff put us out on the street, My
husband and separated, but made up
and lived together until March, 1888.
Then one OF the children was sick near
ly two months, and / had more trouble
with my husband. Then | went to the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty 10
Children, and gave the children up and
got out warrant against my husband
for deseItion. Then was sent to the
Charity Hospital on Blackwell's Island.
After ] came out Of the hospital went
to lodging house at ll5 Chatham street
and did heavy washing. When ahoutto
be confined l went to Guttenburg. Ny
son Charley was then on Randal's Is.
land. Tony was with Mr.. Gerry's soCe-
ty, aud the baby was with me. In July,
1854, l got work after starving along.
WANTED THEN BACK.
"AEy husband died and l wanted to get
my children back, 1 heard they were
going TO send Tony out West. Itold the
detective OF tue society in 1888 that |
was sick, and that l would get crazy II
they should send him away. Two weeks
before the blizzard got Tony back"
conc night l took the children to tho
Twenty'llrst street police station and
asked for lodgings. The police sergeant
told me to get out, because, he said, l
had the smallpox. II was my face. Then
l went down TO the foot OF East Twenty.
third street, and sat on the pier think.
ing whether l should jump into the
river. l was crazy with pain and dis
traCted with trouble, so that / didn't
know what TO do. had no money and
the landlord had threatened TO turn me
out for not paying rent.
wEARIED WITH THE srRuGaLRs
Zone day l felt like dying. On March
81 1 worked all day and l couldn't eat
supper. gave supper to the children,
and all tho time was crying. was
desperate. ! had thought while coming
home that was going to DO confined In
the street car. went and sat down on
the side OF the bed and cried: "My
God what will become OF me? What
will become Of the children II die7"
Little Christophe-he was the one that
got well-came to me and said: Don't
cry, Mamma, don't cry; the Saviour will
help you.' Then ! thought he Is right.
The Saviour is in heaven, and we would
all be better off In heaven My head
aChed so that went into tho yard and
let the cold water from the hydrant run
ait for long time. After that don't
remember much.n
Mr.. Macdona-"You don't remember
that you sent for rat poison2"'
The prisoner-"No, / remember moth
ing. i suppose l did all these things
they say did. l said so myselfto Police
Sergeant Albertson at the time, and /
suppose told the truth. I'm sure was
crazy"
Dr.. Allen McI.ane Hamilton, DR.. En-.
met O. Dent, DR.. Frank H. Ingram, Dr.
Matthew D. Field and DIR. A. Douglass
testified that they believe that Mrs.
Lebknechner was irresponsible when
she killed her children.