Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-07
Madison, Jan. 5.


Gov. w. H. Upham's last official
act Monday vas to grant a PARDON to
Rose Zoldoski who was serving life
sentence in the state prison. She was
convicted of poisoning Ella Maley at
RichIand Center in 1891. This is the
last chapter in one of the most famous
cases in the criminal annals of Wis
consin The pardon was persist
emily sought by Roses friends and as
persistently fought by her enemies, or
rather those who believed her guilty.
When the petition for pardon was re-
Gently argued before Gov. Upham the
dead girls mother was present and
made the strongest kind of protest
against the extension of executive
clemency. The governor issued the
following statement in justification or
his action
Il do not question the accuracy of
the judgments of the court so far as
the grounds for those judgments APP
pear upon the record; but there is
good reason to believe that The VerdicC
of the jury was influenced adversely TO
the accused by the fact that her coun-
sci, in the exercise, no doubt, of d
sound discretion, failed to place her
upon the stand as witness in her
own behalf. The law is that she
shall not be prejudiced by her failure
to testify. This fact rs necessarily
very detrimental to the accused and
had it been made to appear to the
trial court in due time undoubtedly
new trial would have been granted
But it is now too late for that pro-
cedure. | believe therefore, that the
case is one in which executive Glenn
ency may be wisely exercised"
Waupun, Wis Dec. 5.-RCse Zol-
doskl was SO much affected by the
news of her pardon that it broke her
all up and she had to take to her bed
while the warden summoned a ply
stefan to attend her. She had hoped
for the good news, but it was so
long delayed that she had nearly
given up in despair and the revulsion
was so great as to PROSTATE her She
will probably rally speedily, and in
that case will be able to leave the
prison today.
Rose Zoldoski was the Young mil
liner found guilty of having caused
the death of Ella Maley at Richland
Center in 1891. Mrs. Mitchell, The
wife of DR.. G. R. Mitchell of Rich
land Center, died in March, 1890, after
which Rose ZOldoski was installed as
the nurse of her infant and as
housekeeper for the doctor. The doc
tor afterwards became quite attentive
to Miss Ella Maley.
In january, 1891, Rose gave a par
ty at Dr.. Mitchells, to which she in
Vited Miss Maley On the way home
the latter was taken with symptoms
OF poisoning and died before morning.
Strychnine was found in her stomach
The theory of the prosecution was
that Rose had fallen in love with Dr..
Mitchell and poisoned his wife who
died IN commissions, and that when
Miss Maley came between her and the
doctor she was made to share the fate
OF Mrs. Mitchell Throughout the
trial, which was a. protracted one Miss
AoldoSki maintained a composed de-
meanor, and has upon all occasions aft
hImed innocence. The poison to Miss
Maley If administered at all, was
given in chocolate creams, which
strangely enough were also given to
the others of at the party. 1t was also
theory of the prosecution that the
defendant obtained strychinne from
the doctors home supply of medicines
Rose Zoldoski is of Polish descent and
had always borne a good reputation up
TO the time of Miss Naley's death.
Miss Maley was a clerk in Richland
Center store and a friend of Roses.
The trial was had in unprecedented sur
rcundings at Lancaster and the jury
was out twenty-four hours.
The trial lasted for week or more
and brought out a mass of details,
which together formed a strong
chain of circumstantial evidence. The
strychinne, according to the prosecu-
ton, was obtained from a bottle in DR..
Mitchells medicine case. which testi-
mony showed, was often unlocked
There was no testimony connecting
Rose directly with the possession of
the bottle of strychinne at any partic-
lar time and this was made the most
OF by the defense, but many authori-
ties were quoted to show this was not
necessary. The poison, it was held,
was administered in the chocolate
Grams.
To the surprise of nearly every one
ana, as it was learned later, of the
jury, the defense introduced no evil
dence. Since her commitment to
prison, Rose Zoldoski has written a
statement in which she said she ex-
pected and desired to be placed on the
stand and that her attorneys decision
was against her protests The jury
returned verdict of guilty of murder
II the first degree and Rose was SEN
fenced to imprisonment for life. The
case was taken to the supreme court
on writ of error and the lower court
was sustained
Then application was made to Gov
Peck, during his second term. for a
pardon. Arguments for and against