The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-15

MASON CITY, To-, Jan 14.-The trial
of Mrs. Lottie Hughes, now being held
here for the murder of her husband,
Edward Hughes. promises to become
one OF the famous poisoning cases of
the country, If the state can bring out
the evidence 1t claims to have. Wit
nesses OF the death Of young Hughes
are being examined preliminary to the
states strongest and most sensational
proofs, which are as yet onlv limited
at. Mrs. Hughes does not stand the
strain very well. but there is no un-
Cue sympathy for her. 1t is believed
she will be justly tried
The death of Edward Hughes said
to have been caused by Mrs. Hughes.
took place on the evening of April III
1898. Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes were living
with the formers parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Patrick Hughes. These four and Lot
ties little ten-year-old boy Birnie were
about to begin their supper. when Ed
ward complained of feeling i'll His
wife at once arose from the table. and.
preparing a dose of salts, administered
it to her husband Hughes drank the
medicine and was Immediately seized
with acute pains. He died soon after.
1t was generally understood that
heart disease was the cause of his sud
den death. After the burial his 81 600
insurance was oaid to his widow. and
nothing more was thought of the mat
ter until in the following June the BODY
was exhumed by the elder Hughes and
sent 20 Chicago to an expert ANALYST
for examination. The chemist reported
that the stomach of the dead man
contained sufficient Strychnine TO have
caused death.
June the widow was arrested and
was brought before Justice Chambers.
where she gave bond. Her preliminary
hearing was had before Judge Cum
m1ngs. The state submitted its case,
but no evidence was offered for the
defendant. She was indicted by the
grand jury, and thetcase was continued
until now.
Mrs. Hughes is the only daughter Of
Lorenzo Thomas, weH-to- stock
dealer of this city and with whom
she is now residing She is about
thirtytwo years old and pretty. The
motive which the state claims she had
for the crime involves a young man of
20, with whom, it is said, Mrs Hughes
was in love before and after her hus-
bands death.
The court house has been crowded
with women since the case began, and
Mrs. Hughes, who dresses in black,
has been the center of attraction. The
main witness of the state I'D to the
time has been the father of the dead
IlIdlI, anu his testimony was devoted
mainly to showing that there was no
reason why the younger Mr. Hughes
should have committed suicide, as has
been charged.
When the witness had the body of
his son exhumed, he said, he had no
thought of fastening the crime upon
his daughter-in-laW.,. He simply want
ed to satisfy himself and wife that
their son had died Of poison Later
developments led him to swear out the
warrant against the defendant. Three
weeks after his sons death he told
the wonla nto leave his home, as he
considered her relations with Jesse
Goule improper.
He substantiated the evidence given
by his wife that tlleasecond night after
Edwards death his widow came to
their bed three times, telling them
that ED kept appearing to her. After
being taken in bed with them, she
said: Il know from what Jesse Goule
says that people think Ed was poi
soned, but 1 cannot help it,
The testimony this morning by the
state indicates that the defendant
may have had an accomplice in the
crime