The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-27
A PLAN TO MURDER HER
PROSECUTORS SENSATION IN THE
ACID-THROWING CASE.
Mrs. GOodin, Disguised as an Old
Woman, Wanted Miss Haskin-
son Brought to Her.

"iieSiC yesterday AFTERNOON IN the Criminal
Court. The prosecutors opening statement
to the jury in the trial of Mrs Maud Good
In, charged with conspiracy with Mrs. Lulu
Kline to take the life of DR.. Aimee Has
kinson by throwing acid in her face. was
one of the most sensational recountals of
alleged crime ever heard in the Criminal
Court. 1t was the story of the emotions
and passions of a woman-so dramatic in
its details that it might have come from
the pages of a ''yellow-back' novel.
For an hour and a half the prosecuting
attorney stood before the jury detailing the
various points in the case which the state
expects to prove. According to tie state
ments Of the prosecuting attorney, much of
the story was not told at the time of the
arrest of Mrs. Goodin and Mrs. Kline The
prosecutor related a particularly dramatic
incident which, it is alleged, took place in
house on West New York street about
two weeks before the assault was made on
Or. Haskinson. This point was brought out
oy the prosecutor to show that a conspir-
acy existed between the Kline and Goodin
women.
I'VE will show by witness" said the
prosecutor that on Friday MAY -. Mrs.
Goodin told Mrs. Kline to get her white
Inns, Washington-stree dealer in these
articles. 1t was not procured that day, but
1t was on the next. When Mrs. Kline re-
turned with the wig, Mrs. Goodin said to
her: 1 want you to go with me to rent a
ROOM They started out and stopped at a
house on West New York street, not far
from where Miss Haskinson lives The
House is kept by Mrs. Mary Wright. a very
respectable woman, who rents her apart
ments to support herself and children.
These women went there and talked with
Mrs Wright. They told her they were from
Fort Wayne, that they were here on bust
ness with their mother, who was old and
feeble They said they wanted to rent a
room Tor night or two for their old moth
er, ana wanted to pay for it each evening.
Mrs. wright agreed to let them have a
room for the old lady, and the women were
10 return at o'clock The hour arrived.
but the women did not, and Mrs. Wright
mad given them up About 7:3O o'clock two
persons did come to take the room One
was Mrs Lulu Kline and the other was an
apparently old woman. who was supposed
TO be the mother. But it was not the moth
er-it was none other than Mrs Maud
Goodin She was in disguise and was bent.
and old, and gray. She appeared wretched-
~ Feeble, and, apparently could scarcely
get into the house. Mrs. Wright asked her
TO remove her cloak and bonnet and rest.
Dut she declined, saying she was anxious
10 go to her room and lie down. Mrs.
wright showed the women to the room and
went out, and as she passed through the
door it closed behind her and a bolt shot
into its place.
PREPARED FOR MURDER.
I'VE will show continued the prosecutor.
that this decrepit old woman when she en-
tered that room carried a package under
her arm which contained a bottle of acid
revolver and a razor Mrs. Wright will
not be able to testify to what took place
In That room, but we will be able to show
that the conspirators were active at once.
Mrs. Wright ,had scarcely left them before
Mrs Goodin began her work. She said to
Mrs Kline. who was known as Laura in
Mrs. Wrights presence, Go and get Miss
Haskinson to come to this room. Tell her
that your mother is sick and that she must
come. Then 1 will do the rest
No, l will not bring her here and let
you murder her in cold blood declared Mrs.
Kline. for if l did what would become of
the defenseless widow and children who
keep this houses?
We'll, you are d fool and a cow
ard, exclaimed Mrs. Goodin, throwing off
her disguise.
Kline, continued the prosecutor, but she
old not. They were coconspirators and they
would not hurt each other. They got out
of that house and back to the Empire block
Before leaving Mrs. Wright's the Goodin
woman said to Mrs. Kline, You must do
something tomorrow; you must put that
afterward when Mrs. Kline refused to do
the bidding of the Goodin woman she
threatened to commit suicide.
HOW VAN NATTA MET HER.
The States attorney described the incl
dents that led up to the acquaintanceship
between Mrs. Goodin and James Van Malta.
the Michigan-street liveryman, whose at
tentions to Dr. Hasknson it is alleged,
aroused the jealous fury of Mrs. Goodin. In
1895 Van Malta had a room on the third
floor of the Empire block, where Mrs
Goodin the janitress or custodian. 1t
was in this block that Mrs. Goodin and
Mrs. Kline first met. During Van Malta S
residence in the Empire block" said the
prosecutor, 'he suffered broken leg and
for some time was confined to his room. At
Mrs. GoodinS request he began taking his
meals in his room. They were prepared by
her and carried to him. While this was go
ing on the woman became infatuated with
the man. She became so interested in him
that she went to his room from time to
time. She would be found near his door
in the early morning, and If it was neces-
sary to make an excuse for being there she
would say she had come up to turn out the
lights. They were seen together about the
building and as far as she was concerned
their acquaintance ripened into one of af-
lection. She called him her lover and
spoke of him about the building in the most
endearing terms. Van Malta cared nothing
for her, and after he had left the building
told her he wanted nothing mere to do with
her. - 49,, - .,,u ,,oo
Haskinson had come to Indianapolis from
the East. She and Van Malta boarded at
the same place and became acquainted. So,
while Mrs. Goodin was forcing her affec-
tons on Van Malta. she was led to believe
he was becoming too attentive to Dr. Has
kinson. The evidence will show that Van
Malta and DIR. Haskinson went riding to-
tractive. and Van Malta found it interest
ing to ride with her. He thought he had a
right to go out with her. But Mrs. Goodin
was stil after him. About this time she
sent her daughter to his stable to tell him
she was quite i'll and wished to see him,
but he declined to go to her. Once Mrs.
Goodin went to Van Malta and demanded
that that thing referring to DIR. Haskin-
SOM be not driven about the streets of In
dianapoliS any more. declaring that If any
one go riding with him she was the one
to go. Van Malta elected the woman from
the stable on this occasion, with the decla-
ration that he would kick her out. Mrs.
Goodin then declared: i will blow both
your brains out
SPYING ON THE COUPLE.
Some time after this Mrs. Goodin and
Mrs. Kline were at window in the Empire
block and two ladies rode by. Mrs. Goodin
called Mrs. Klines attention TO one of
them. She asserted that this was the wom-
an who had taken her husband-the man
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