Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-21
awful act when It was committed.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE p1srAroH

NEW YORK, March 20.-Wilhelmina
Lebkuechner, who poisoned her three chill
dren and killed two of them, who is on trial
for her life in the General Sessions, has a
plain, hard-featurid face. disfgured by a
rash, and looks weary, poverty-stricken and
commonplace. She told her story to the
court to-day with surprising power and ex-
cellent choice of words. Apologizing first
for speaking only German English" Z" she
said:
81 was born on May 26, 1852, in Worms.
On October g. 1871, was married. On
November %, 1877, was again married to
Mr.. Lebkuechner, my second husband, and
went to live with him at 324 Ninth avenue.
He was saloon keeper. One of my chill
dren was born on December 13, 1873, and
another on March 4, 1881. Ny husband
Frank and had to attend to all the busi-
ness. When one of my children was 13 he
fell and hurt himself"
"Leave out these details and come down
to later events" Judge Gildersleeve inter-
rupted.
THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES.
Judge" she said, "all my troubles be-
gan with the sickness of that child. An
operation was performed, and when I had
MY husband-well, / won't say anything
about him-he was my husband. After
that I just let things go. We owed for ex-
else and rent, and the Sheriff put us out on
the street. My husband and 1 separated,
but made up and lived together until
March, 1883. Then one of the children was
sick nearly two months and had more
trouble with my husband.
Judge Gildersleeve-Don't delay us with
details.
The Prisoner-I want to tell how inde-
pendent he was. He tried to drive ME away
from him. Then went to the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and
gave the children up and got out
warrant against my husband for
desertion. Then was sent to the Chari-
ty Hospital on Blackwell's Island. After
came out of the hospital 1 went to a
lodging house at 115 Chathamstreet, and
did heavy washing. Shortly after went to
Gutenberg. My husband came after me
and wanted me to go home. "Give me
home and will go home." said to him. 1
went and
STARVED TWO OR THREE DAYS,
and had to go to work again. NV son
Charley was then on Randall's Island,
Tony was with Mr.. Gerry's society, and the
baby was with me. In July, 1884, 1 got
work, after starving a long
Judge Gildersleeve-We can't stop to
hear all these details.
The Prisoner-Well, my husband died
and wanted to get my children back You
know you never get your children back
after the society gets them. They are sent
out West heard they were going to send
Tony out West. told the detective of the
society, in 1888, that was dead sick, and
that would get crazy if they should send
him away. Two weeks before the blizzard
in the same house where lived, and got
Mrs. VermIlye, of Greenwich street, where
1 worked, TO give them a stove, and 1
injured my back carrying the stove to the
family. had sewing machine, on which
I owed IS. had only 26 working days in
a month, and couldn't get along. had to
get some one to take charge of the little boy
Christopher, in Forty-second street. and
that costs money. On days when it stormed
I couldn't work because went out to wash.
THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR.
One night, between the blizzard and the
children's death, took the children to the
Twenty first street police station and asked |
for lodgings. The police sergeant told me
to get out, because, he said, I had the |
smallpox. 1t was my face. Then I went |
down to the foot of East Twenty-third street |
and sat on the pier, thinking whether L |
should jump into the water The children |
played around and thought it was picnic. |
Then took them back to our rooms. Twas |
crazy with pain and distracted with trouble, !
so that didn't know what to do. I had no |
money, and the landlord had threatened to |
dispossess me for not paying rent.
Mr.. MacDona-When did you first think |
of killing your children?
The prisoner-One day felt like diving. !
[ remember on what day first made up nv |
mind. On March 81 worked all day, and |
[ couldn't eat supper. / gave supper to the |
and all the time was crying. 1 |
was desperate.
A MOST TOUCHING SCENE.
I went and sat down on the side of the |
bed and cried: "My Godl What will be- |
come of me? What will become of the |
children if I die" Little Christopher-he |
was the one that got well-came to me and |
said: Don't cry, mamma, don't cry; the |
Savior will help you.' Then thought.
He is right. The Savior is in heaven, and |
we would all be better off in heaven" NY |
head ached so that went into the yard and |
let the cold water from the hydrant run on |
it for long time. After that don't re-
member much.
M. MacDona-You don't remember that
you sent for rat poison?
The prisoner-No, 1 remember nothing.
suppose did all those things they. say
did. l said so myself to Police Sergeant
Albertson. at the time, and suppose 1 told
The truth. I'm sure was crazy then, but
I'm happy now. 1 like to live L am
happy because Judge MARITIME says am
not insane now. Now 1 want to live be-
,ause am likely to get help. Then all
was dark to me.
Mr.. MacDona-You think it's wrong to
murder?
The prisoner-Oh, yes.
DIR. Allen McLane Hamilton, DR.. Emmet
;. Dent, DR.. Frank Il. Ingram, DR..
Matthew d. Field and DR.. A. Douglass tes-
iied that they believe Mrs. Lebkuechner
vas irresponsible when she killed her chill
lren. The case will be given to the jury