Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-01-11

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
Miss Xoldoski was sentenced was alleged
to have been committed in January, 1891.
Figuring in the case was DR. G. B.
Mitchell, leading physician at Richland
Center. DR.. MitchelPs wife died in
March. 1890, and Rose. who had been
with her during her last illness, remained
as DR. Mitchell's housekeeper. and cared
for bis infant child. After the period Of
mourning elapsed, DR.. Mitchell began
paying attention to Ella Maly. In Janu-
AIRY. 1891, Rose gave a party at the
Mitchell residence to Il 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 Up. This Ella did,
and later. as the party was about to
break up, Rose came down stairs. When
the two Naly girls were ready to leave
she asked them if they would not take
some candy, and took them into Il room,
and gave each some chocolate creams out
OF q paper bag.
AS they left the house both Ella and
her sister took some OF the candy. and
the former complained of its bitterness.
a little later she said her limbs felt
qUeerly, 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 MaIy 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 a direct
charge and the remains of Mrs. Mitchell
were disinterred and portions of the Wis
ezra 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-loye for DR..
Mitchell
So intense was the feeling that her at
to,neys took change of venue, and the
case was tried i'll Lancaster, Grant coun-
ty. before Judge George Clementson, one
of the most able judges in the state. The
trial lasted for week or more, and
gether formed a strong chain Of circum-
stantiaI evidence. The stEychnine, ac-
cording to the theory of the prosecution,
was obtained from a bottle i'll. DR..
Mitchelrs medicine case. which, testi-
-mony showed, was often unlocked. There
was no testimony connecting Rose direct
" 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
sfotement. in which she. said she expected
and desired to be placed on the stand,
and that her attorneys decision was
a verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree. and Rose was sentenced to i'm
nrsonment for life. The case was tax
en- to the Supreme court on writ of err
ror. and the lower court was sustained.