The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-08
ALLEGED OHIO BORGIA
MRS. A. j. WITWER, a WIDOW, SUS-
PECTED OF FOURTEEN MURDERS.
Police Think She Poisoned Four Hus-
bands, Five Children. Sister
and Other Persons.

DAYTON, O., Oct. Mrs. A. j. Witwer,
a widow, residing in this city, has been ar
rested by the police at the instigation of the
coroner and is held prisoner at Central
station, pending an investigation into very
serious charges. Mrs. Witwer, the police
say, is suspected of fourteen murders, the
list including four husbands, five children,
one sister and four members of different
families in which she was employed as
housekeeper. The last supposed victim was
her sister, Mrs. Anna Pugh, who died a
week ago under mysterious circumstances.
An autopsy performed at the request of
Mrs. Witwers mother, who came here from
Detroit is said TO have disclosed the pres
ence of arsenic and copperas in the stom-
ach.
Following closely upon the death of her
first husband, Fred Schweger, came, ac-
cording to police department data, the
death of two children. The second husband
died suddenly several years after the we'd
ding and the children of this marriage died
in rapid succession. Her last husband, A j.
Witwer, died last April. In each case death
was almost sudden and all were strangely
alike
The prisoner is forty-seven years of age
and formerly lived in MiddletOwn, this
State. She has two sons in the Philippines
asylum. No conceivable cause for the sus-
pected crimes has been disclosed. Drugs
which were found in the house occupied by
Mrs. Witwer are in possession Of the police
and will be examined.
The third husband of Mrs. Witwer was
William Stowe who died at AIiddIetown
under symptoms, il is stated. OF arsenic
poisoning. Mr.. Stoves death at that time
created a sensation. and the subject
of an investigation by the coroner. II was
shortly after Mr. Stoves death that Mrs.
Witwer came TO Dayton She soon after
ward assumed the duties of hOusekeepeT
for Charles f. Keller. "A widower Keller
died suddenly, and the information since
gained by the coroner concerning Keller :
death Is that his ailment was similar 10
that of a person affected by poison. She
next acted as hOusekeeper for John y.
WenZ. an East End druggist. Wenz died
in September. one year ago. The doctors
attributed his death TO blood poisoning.
but now tell the coroner that they were
dissatisfied with their diagnosis at that
time. Two months before Mr.. Wenz' :
death his four-year-old son died suddenly.
Mrs. Stowe next resided with a Mr.. and
Mrs. Gabler. Best street. Riverdale.
These two persons died suddenly. and the
coroner now says their sickness was OF
the nature of arsenical poisoning.
Prof. Russell Elliott the chemist. re-
ported to the coroner tonight on the chem
ical examination made on twelve drugs
found at the home of Mrs. Witwer The
chemist found no poison in eleven OF the
drugs. The other will be examined to-
morrow.
Mrs. Witwer maintains her innocence OF
any crime. 1t was ascertained to-day that
her first husband. Luther SWanger. died AT
Lebanon, O.. from smallpox, and that one
child by this union also died. there being
nothing mysterious about their deaths