The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-17
For Late Evening News See
Second Page.
BIG Chapter OF GRIMES
Laid at the Door Of Dr.. Meyer, the
Wholesale POiSoner.
THE HISTORY OF HIS LIFE TOLD.
His Remarkable Escapes from the Hands
OF Justice His Record for Fiendish-
ness Has Scarcely Been Unequalled-
Has q Musical Diploma.

Has Musical Diploma.
CHICAGO, July 1.-THE details OF the
lives of the pair Of poisoners in Chicago
equals In horror even that of the Borgias.
is story of subtle scheming. wholesale
poisoning and depravity that almost passes
comprehension.
DIR. III. c. +. Meyer left the town Of Min
den, Westphalia, In 1876, and came to
America. He was then about 25 years Of
age. He came direci ly to this city, where
he began the practice of medicine. He was
never graduated from any Chicago medical
college, though he attended some OF tho
postgraduate lectures at the Rush medical
college.
He had a diploma from German college,
the genuineness of which has been ques-
toned. In 1877 he boarded with family
named Kirchoff on North Sedgwick street
near North avenue. Among the members
of the family was q handsome young wo-
man, Miss Mary Kirchoff. She was 81
years of age and universal favorite in the
neighborhood. DIR. Meyer had an Office on
North avenue, block from the house, and
Miss Kirchoff was frequent caller. He
paid her marked attention, and the result
was marriage In the fall of 1877.
Early in 1878 DIR. Meyer was called pro-
fessionally to attend child of Henry Gill
derman, a grocer and saloonkeepcr on
Sedgwick street. lie made the acquaint-
ance of Mrs. Gilderman, and 1t ripened
into an intimacy that
& Resulted In u Triple Murder.
Gilderman was first put out Of the <yay.
Mrs. Meyer, the bride Of a year. was
poisoned, and subsequently her child was
strangled in bathtub.
When he first met Mrs. Giiderman and
learned that Gilderman was worth s35, 900
and carried life insurance, DR.. Meyer be-
gan pushing himself into the favor of the
wife. She was q Miss Frankan, whom
man and wife In the Belgian city for few
onths in 1866 and, co.uins 20 tn : coul
try the next year, were married. She was
the mother Of six children and 80 years Of
age when she met Meyer. They grew SO
Ultimate that the neighbors began to
balk.
Early in October. 1878, Gilderman's rela-
tives were notified that he was seriously
He said 1t was nothing aud that Gilderman
would be we'll In a few days The patient
grew weaker and weaker and the night of
Oct. Is he died In horrible convulsions.
Matthew Stark, a brother in-law of Glider
man, believed that the man had been
poisoned, but he had no proof Gilderman
left nearly $4,000. all going to the widow
except 5000, which was reserved for the
children. Twelve days later, on Nov. l, 1873.
Mrs. Meyer Diad Suddenly.
The death Of Mrs. Meyer Increased the
gossip of the neighborhood and matters
reached asclimax In January, 1879, when
DIR. Meyer and the widow Gilderman
were married.
On Feb 81, 1872 Stark, who had mar
rird sister of Gilderman, swore out a
warrant, charging DR.. Meyer and Mrs
Gilderman with the murder of Gilderman
and Mrs. Meyer. The couple were ar.
rested the next day and held without bail.
The bodies Of the dead were exhumed and
the viscera given to Professor Haines and
DIR. j. 4. Siebel Of tho Chicago medical
college for examination
Professor Halnes testi1ed that he found
traces of strychnine and chloroform In
Gilderman's body. Witnesses were pro-
duced who sold DIR. Meyer the chloroform.
On this evidence the coroner's jury held
the pair for murder, Mrs Gildcrman in
stantly sold about s3o,Ooo worth of real
estate and the money was expended in
securing freedom. Despite the direct evil
dence of two eminent medical experts the
grand jury ignored the bill.
The pair were released. They lived to-
Rether for two years, Mrs Gilderman
bearing Meyer Que child, girl now about
13 years Of age. Early in 1881 the babe
that Meyers first wife had borne him was
found dead in bathtub The coroner
found dark marks about the child's throat,
and the evidence pointed to a murder.
Meyer was again arrested, but, as no di-
rect evidence could be produced against
him, he escaped. Y
A year later his wife, tho former Mrs.
Gilderman, was taken suddenly sick. She
asserted that
Her Husband Was Poisoning
l,er and refused the medicines he pre-
scribed. Other ply ysicians were summoned
and they said she was suffering from
poison. Mr. Meyer Instantly fed tn G sr-
many. He remained abroad until he in
duced his wife to withdraw the charge
He returned TO Chicago, was arrested, but
his wife would not appear against him and
he was released.
She refused to live with him, and Meyer
began to look up other desirable female
a,quaintances. In 1885 he met Miss
Dresser. young German girl who lived
with her parents on Bissell street He
made such progress in her favor that in
six months his wife secured divorce. She
has since married another physician and is
now Mrs Mullock and lives in the Polish
section of the city
Meyer, after his wife's divorce. devoted
himself to insurance swindling, 1t Is not
known that he married Miss Dresser in
Chicago Miss Dresser's father. retired
merchant. offered good mark, and Meyer
putin execution the scheme that he has
since frequently worked He wrote out a