Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-01-06

Rose Zoldoski and her alleged victim
were both residents of Richland Center.
the county seat of Richland county. The
former was milliner and Ella Maly was
a clerk in a store. The crime for which
Miss ZOldoski was sentenced was alleged
to have been committed III January, 1891
Figuring in the case was Dr. c. 3.
Mitchell, Il leading physician at Richland
Center. DR.. Mitchell's wife died i'll
March, 1890, and Rose, who had been
with her during her last illness, remained
as DR.. Mitchell's housekeeper, and cared
for his infant child. After the period of
mourning elapsed, DR.. Mitchell began
paying attention to Ella Maly. In Janu-
airy, 1891. Rose gave party at the
Mitchell residence to a number of young
ladies. among whom was Ella Maly and
her sister.
From the testimony given at the trial
it appeared that the party had hardly sat
down to the table when Rose complained
of being sick, and went to her ROOM
When one of the young ladies went up
to see her after supper she asked her to
have Ella Maly come I'D. This Ella did.
and later. as the party was about TO
break up. Rose came down stairs. When
the two Maly girls were ready to leave
she asked them if they would not take
some candy, and took them into a ROOM
which was only lighted from the hall
and gave each some chocolate creams out
OF paper bag.
As they left the house both Ella and
her sister took some of the candy, and
the former complained of its bitterness
n little later she said her limbs felt
Queeriy. and as they reached the house
she fell down in commissions. She was
carried into the house, when her case
assumed the form of strychnine poison
ing. In spite of all that could be done,
Miss Maly died.
The strangeness of the case raised
suspicious, and Ella Maly's stomach was
sent to Chicago for examination, with
the result that strychnine in some guam
tity was discovered. Rose Zoldoski was
arrested charged with poisoning her.
Feeling ran high, and it was limited that
she had also poisoned Mrs. Mitchell.
The hint took the shape of direct
charge and the remains of Mrs. Mitchell
were disinterred and portions of the Wis
cera sent to chemists for examination.
Strychnine was found there also and
nothing would then convince the people
of Richland Center that Rose bad not
poisoned both women. The supposed
cause was easily found-love for DR..
Mitchell.
So intense was the feeling that her at
tOrneys took change of venue, and the
case was tried in Lancaster, Grant coun-
ty, before Judge George Clementson, one
of the most able judges in the state. The
trial lasted for a week or more. and
brought out mass of details, which to-
gether formed strong chain OF circum-
stantial evidence. The strychnine, ac-
cording to the theory of the prosecution,
was obtained from a bottle in DR..
Mitchells medicine case, which, testi
mOny showed, was often unlocked There
was no testimony connecting Rose direct
ly with the possession of the bottle of
Strychnine at any particular time, and
this was made the most of by the de-
Tense. but many authorities were quoted
to show that this was not necessary. The
poison, it was held, was administered in
the chocolate creams.
To the surprise of everyone, and as it
was learned later, of the jury. the de-
Tense introduced no evidence. Since her
commitment to prison Rose has written
statement, in which she said she expected
and desired to be placed on the stand,
and that her attorneys decision was
against her protests. The jury returned
a verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree. and Rose was sentenced to i'm
prisonment for life. The case was TAX
en- to the Supreme court on writ of err
ror. and the lower court was sustained.