Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-25
DEATH OF GRINDER,
The Husband of the Second and Last
Woman Hanged in Allegheny.
SHE WAS "A VERITABLE BORGIA,
Having Mania for Poisoning Animals as
Well as People.
MYSTERIOUS FEATURES OF THE CASE

George Grinder, broken down old man,
died yesterday at his home in Parker, Pa.
| The deceased was the husband of Mrs. Mary
| Grinder, who was the second and last
woman hanged in Allegheny county. The
woman was convicted of poisoning the
Carothers family, of Allegheny. The
| mother and one of the children died. She
was charged with poisoning several other
children, but her confession made in jail
shortly before her execution relieved her OF
several of the charges.
Mrs. Grinder was about 35 years old when
she was hanged, on January 19, 1866. When
mere girl she married river captain
named Green. The couple lived unhap-
PLY together for a time and then separated.
The woman then married George Grinder,
who was employed as laborer on the AL
legheny wharf She was reckless, des-
perate woman, but was rather attractive in
appearance. To the police she was known
as an expert shop-lifter. She was always
well dressed, and when she entered store
it is said she seldom left the place without
taking with her something valuable in the
shape of lace, linen or silk.
Boosted of Her Exploits.
Before her execution she boasted to the
jailer that she lifted from shoe dealer the
pair of white satin slippers worn by fash
ionable young bride who was married dur
ing Mrs. Grinders confinement in jail, and
she also boasted that she had stolen the
lace that formed the bridal veil. In her
shop-lifting excursions she rarely took any,
IL 81 -
is alleged, had regular customers to whom
she sold her wares for a trifing part of their
value, and the greater portion of the money
thus obtained was devoted to relieving the
distress of the poor.
She was an earnest church woman, and it
is told of her that she frequently sold
stolen goods to get money to devote to re-
ligious work. Rev. Mr.. Holmes was her
pastor, and he was slow to believe her
guilty of the crimes charged against her,
and for long time he looked upon her as
one of the best church women in his flock
Mrs. Grinder is believed to have been
crazy on the subject of poisoning. Poisoning
rats was an enjoyable pastime for her. She
delighted in watching the rodents writhe
and squirm in their death agonies, and the
money secured from the sale of her stolen
goods which was not spent for charity and
After satisfying her sickening and horrible
mania for rat killing it was charged that
she extended her murderous habit to the
human race, and number of neighboring
children, it is claimed, suffered the same
fate as the rats.
Investigated by the Police.
of cases of sickness excited the curiosity of
lo, o1i nd 1o1 4ot
woman's arrest. In the Indictment she was
charged with poisoning the Corothers
family. She was convicted. Her case was
appealed, ard committee of experts were
sent to inquire into her sanity. She
devined the purpose of the commission and
became highly indignant.
s'You men think I'm crazy, but I'm not, "
she said to the commission. They turned
away and accepted her word on the subject.
Her execution followed.
Three months before she was hanged
George Grinder, her husband, disappeared
from Pittsburg, taking with him an
adopted child then three years
old Grinder was never known
execution Mrs Grinder told William White,
who was then the iailer, that the adopted
girl was the child of wealthy woman of
KY, who afterward married a
wealthy husband. The little girl. the con-
demned woman said, would under an ar
with the mother at the age of u |
years become possessed of large estate, of
which Mrs. Grinder was to share had she |
beeen allowed to live.
One Mystery Still Unsolved.
The little girl has never been heard of by |
the Grinders former acquaintance in Pitts
burg. Before her execution Mrs. Grinder |
willed her body to prominent Pittsburg |
He took charge of the remains !
after the execution. He used |
the body for scientific purposes. He en-
balmed it with fluid of his own manu-
facture and kept the remains in the cellar
Of his establishment for nine years to test
the power of the fluid. 1t preserved the
remains in perfect shape and the body was
finally buried.
The death of George Grinder yesterday
,oncluds family that for time at least |
supplied interesting history for Allegheny
county.
Charlotte Jones was the first woman
hanged in Allegheny county. She with
Henry Fife was convicted of killing An
1rew McMasters and wife, of MeKeesport
III n xvos committed for ,,ona,,