Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-01-25
ROSE ZOLDOSKE
TELLS HER STORY.
THE FIRST AND ONLY STATEMENT OF
THE CASE EVER MADE BY HER.
Protests Her Innocence .
THE STATEMENT MADE IN CONNECTION
WITH HER APPLICATION FOR A PARDON

throughout the state and far beyond, as
well as printers ink and presses can
make it known. the story of her arrest
for the murder of Ella Maly, her trial
and her sentence of Imprisonment for
life has been told and retold, read and
imprinted on the mind of all, but her
own story and version of the tragedy
has never before been told. The first
and only statement of the case is now
in the hands of her attorney l.. IL. Ban
croft. 1t is made under oath, in con
uecti1n with the application for pardon
nov pending before Governor Peck and
is of such public interest that we publish
it in full 1t is sworn to before c. E.
Hooker, notary of public at Waupun,
and is as follows:
"My name is Rose Zoldoske. / was
arrested at the city of Richland Center,
in Richland county, Wisconsin, on the
18th day of January, 1891, charged with
having murdered Miss Ella Maly by ad-
ministering to her strychnine poison.
was tried for that alleged crime in the
circuit court for Grant county, Wiscon-
sin, and was convicted and sentenced to
Imprisonment for life in the state prison
at Waupun by George Clementson,
Judge of the circuit court, on the 2lst
day of July, 1891.
God helping me upon my oath and
as hope for mercy in the world to
come, | am innocent of the crime Of
which am charged. The best friend
ever had in this world outside of my
own family was Mrs. Dr. Mitchell, of
Richland Center, with whom had
boarded and made my home tor years
prior to her death. She was almost a
mother to me and we were very init
mate friends My own mother was
dead Miss Ella Malv was on the most
friendly terms with me. We had been
acquainted almost from my hrsr resi-
dence in Richland Center was al
ways a member the Methodist church.
Miss Maly was the organist in that
church. We butL sang in the choir in
that church and were very frequently
associated in church work. | had re-
sided in RichlaHd Center for about five
years at the time of her death. After
Mrs. Mltchell's death ! continued to
reside for some time st Dr.. Mitchelrs
His family consisted of Mrs. Handy and
himself, Anna McLaren, his housekeeper
and the children aud myself. | paid
my board fully and regularly during all
The time that remained
AFTER Mrs. Mitchell's death / was
about to leave there but was urged to
remain by DR. Mitchell and his sister on
account OF the children who appeared TO
be very much attached 10 me- The
night that Ella Maly died there was a
party at De. Mitchen's house. Il was
gotten up bY Miss Ella Maly and N.Y.
self in homer of Miss Mae Hyndmsn.
Ella was then working in Mr.. Bailey s
store as book keeper. There had been
protTacted meeting in the Methodist
church and MAY Hyndman, who was
visiting her parents during the holidays,
had taken Elias place as organist on
account of Ella being very busy and
hard worked in the store. Ella told me
that she wanted to have q little party
for May before she returned to CuInber-
land. At first it was proposed to have
it at Mss Maly's home and afterward
it was decided to have it at DIR. Mitchell's
as his house was large and commodious.
Ella invited some of the girls and / in
vited some as Ella could not leave the
store until six o'clock in the evening.
She brought cake as part of the re-
freshments and / purchased some
oranges and oysters and Anna McLaren,
the housekeeper. baked the cake. That
with some pickles and crackers was all
the refreshments we had. After supper
as the girls We're putting on their wraps
! noticed small package Of chocolate
creams sitting on the dresser which |
had purchased of ID. l.. Constantine. a
grocer and confectioner in Richland
Center. had purchased the candy at
the same time that | got the oysters
and oranges. IL was only FIVE cents
worth and was contained in s. little
paper bag. | asked the girls If they
would have some of the candy and
poured some OF it out of the bag into
Lille Mays hand, then into Ella Maly's
hand and what remained IN the bag
ate myself Freddy Mitchell gave the
girls some oranges and they said good
night and went out Ella Maly died
that night. never saw any strychnine
never had any in my possession in my
life. never bought or had in my pcs.
session any poison of any kind, or ever
had anything to do with il. | did not
know that DR.. Mitchell kept strychnine
in his medicine case OF in his house. [
say this solemnly upon my oath. have
ever tried . live a consistent christian
life, and call upon that God, whom |
have ever feared and worshiped, to wit
ness the truth of my statements, and 10
deny to me the mercy hope to receive
at his judgment, if am not in this in
stance telling the whole truth without
any reservation
After Ella Maly's death | sat up at
MIR. MalY's home as one Of the watchers
With the corpse. Soon after that |
learned that was suspected OF having
poisoned my dearest friend. Mrs. Mitch
ell. People on the street stared at me
and avoided me and pointed at me as /
passed. Anna McLaren told me there
was talk Of lynching me. God only
knows what ! suffered. These whom /
thought were my friends avoided me
and refused to talk TO me. attended
the funeral and when | entered the
church it seemed as though the interest
caufapad utNOp mo DaorNia eta,.oJ = .