St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-23
A PINCH OF ARSENIC.
Mrs. Harry Critic Confesses
Poisoning Her Husband,
Erick.
The Woman Tells a Terrible
Tale Of Domestic Infe-
LEFTY.
Critic Made Repeated Attempts
to Poison Her and the
Children.
In a Mad Fit Of Desperation
the Foul Deed Was Com
mitted.

intense excitement was created on tne
West side yesterday afternoon by the
arrest of Mrs. Mary Critic on a charge oil
murder. Mrs. Critic has always borne
an unblemished reputation - honest
upright and Woodworking. Mrs. Critic,
who is fifty years Old, is charged with
numbering her husband, Ericl Critic. Oh
Aug. % last at their home onthe corner
of DelOS and Clinton streets. Had il
not been for her self-accusation. how
ever, she would still be free woman,
with the chances largely in favor of her
secret never becoming public.
The tale of the crime is almost Mrs.
Critics life story. 1t is a pathetic re.
cital of domestic infelicity, of brutality
and repeated attempts upon her life by
vicious husband, who was immoder-
ately addicted to strong drink. Crlte
was a carpenter and boat builder, who
earned good wages, but he has refused
to support his family, comprising the
wife, stepdaughter, Anna Critic, now
eighteen years old, and Joe Critic, lad
of sixteen years. This burden has fallen
upon Mrs. Critic, who has effected it by
taking in washing and by selling milk
tothe neighbors who sympathized with
her.
AT about o'clock yesterday Capt.
Walsh. of the Delos street police sta
ton, was informed by South Robert
street merchant-his name is withheld
at present by special request-that Mrs.
Critic had confessed to the merchants
wife that she had poisoned her hus-
band. Capt Walsh at once interviewed
the merchants wife. She told him that
Mrs. Critic had called on her that day
and related her story. Mrs. Critic said
her conscience troubled her so griey-
iously she could not keep her secret any
longer.
Compelled TO Confess.
''You know my husband died sud
denly Aug. 23,' she said, with the tears
streaming down her cheeks. - pois-
oned him. Ee got the poison to kill
me and the children, and put some of
1t in his coffee, and that is what killed
him."
Capt. Walsh straightway put Mrs.
Critic under arrest. She freely confessed
her guilt. She said the crime has dis
tressed her SO she was ready to face
justice rather than carry the secret to
her grave, for she felt she would not
live much longer. The shame that
would necessarily be visited upon her
two children had been her only re-
Straint since she committed the deed,
she said.
Capt. Walsh is not familiar with the
circumstances that surround the muir
der. At about fifteen minutes before
O'Clock on the afternoon of the fatal
day Anna Critic went to Capt. Walsh
and asked him to send for a doctor.
She explained that her stepfather was
very sick again. 1t transpires that he
had been sick nearly all the time for
several years, and that he had been
taking medicine for heart disease ad-
ministered by several st. Paul physi-
clans. The captain asked her
what doctor she wanted, and she
returned, ANY doctor you can get
captain" After good deal of trouble
and delay, owing to the fact that none
of the heighboring doctors seemed to be
at home, DR.. Hawkins was summoned.
Anna Critic found him, and he repaired
at once to the little cottage where the
Critic family lived. Critic expired fifteen
minutes later and the doctor pronounced
it case of heart disease. No suspicion
was aroused, and the burial followed a
day or two later. Everything passed
Off uneventfully until yesterday, when
the confession was made known to the
captain.
MOriarity's Story.
B. II. Moriarity lives next door to the
humble Critic domicile. He was seen by
GLOBE reporter, and he cheerfully
gave what information he had concern
ing the tragedy. Mr.. Moriarity said
that for great many years it had been
known to him the family did not live
happily together. He had surmised
that the difficulties had originated in an
undisguised dislike Critic had evinced
towards his stepdaughter, Anna. On
the morning of the Sunday that wit
messed the tragedy Mr.. Moriarity heard
Critic violently vomiting. He was on
the porch of his house, and Moriarity
went over to inquire into the cause.
Critic was retching desperately, and the
eXcrescence, he observed, was of a green
lSh hue. He asked Critic what the trouble
was.
Il am awfully SICK" said Critic, and
he asked to be helped TO the water
closet.
"Shall 1 get doctor?" asked Mr..
Moriarity.
No; the old woman wouldn't like
II" the old man replied. ''She would
say L don't need a DOCTOR" and MORT
arity concluded that discretion was
against his interfering.
Morlarlty stated that he had known
the family for some fifteen years. and
he had always esteemed them respect
aole people. The only circumstance
that looked anywiSe suspicious was the
fact that Mrs. Critics chickens died the
following day, and his theory is that
the chickens ate the poison vomlt.
"Stlll never suspected Mrs Critic, ("
he pursued. But of late have noticed
that she seemed to be troubled. Form
erly she would seldom be seen in the
evening outside her house. Of late.
however, | have noticed her walking
about great deal. Last Monday night
l saw her near Mi. Minea's residence.
and remarked to my mother something
about the occurrence and she told me
that Mrs. Critic had often said recently
that she had heavy weight OH her con-
science, and that she couldn't keep still
much longer.
Talked About His VIII
"rhere is one thing l forgot to tell
you about" he resumed, after a mo-
ments hesitation. 1.-The week before
he died Mr.. Critic came to my fathers
house. lie said he was going to fix mis-
property matters, if he lived long
enough, so that neither Mrs. Critic nor
Anna should get a bit of 1t. Ee seemed
to be determined on this Doint. and he
talked great deal about it. The fam.
liy seemed to be at outs all the time
ior me hfteen years have known them,
Dut Mrs. Critic has never said much