Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-31
FOUR STRANGE DEATHS
Jane Toppan. ProfessionalNurse.
In Jail on Suspicion Of
Four Murders.
Mystery Surrounds Taking OFF
Of Four Members OF One
Family.
The Alleged Crime Occurred Il
Massachusetts, and Nurse
Is Accused.

10 fACCuoCUs
Barnstable, Mass, Oct. 31.-Jane
Toppan, professional nurse, As years
old. was lodged in Jail here last night on
the charge of numbering by poison Mrs.
Mary Davis Gibbs, sister of the wife OF
Harry Gordon of Chicago. Mrs. Gibbs
and Mrs. Gordon and their father and
mother all four died here within three
weeks last summer. Miss Toppan att
tended all four as nurse.
The arrest followed a report made by
Professor Wood, an analytical chemist
of Harvard University, who stated that
he had found poison on the stomachs OF
two of the victims of the mysterious
chain CT condolences.
Miss Toppan was arrested Tuesday
evening at Amherst N. H. In police
court at Nashua, N. H., che protested
her innocence, waived examination, and
agreed to return to Massachusetts, with
out requisition. She was brought here
last night and lodged In the county Jail
pending preliminary hearing.
The Davis family, four in number
Mr.. and Mrs. Alden p. Davis. of Catau-
met, and their daughters, Mrs. Harry
Gordon, of Chicago. and Mrs. Mary
Gibbs of Catuamet-all died within a
month.
The first OF the family to pass away
was Mrs A. p. Davis. whose death took
place in Somerville. Mass. in July 4.
Her body was taken to Cataumet and
buried in the family lot.
Mrs. Harry Gordon, the younger
daughter. 30 years old, wife of the cash
Ter OF the Equitable Life Company OF
Chicago, and who had been visiting her
mother during her last sickness. after
the funeral went to stay short time
with her father at the Jachin cottage at
Cataumet. She, too, was taken sudden-
IL Ill and died on July 81.
Alden P. Davis was then taken sick
and he passed away on Aug 4. The last
in the mysterious chain OF deaths was
Mrs Mary Davis Gibbs, the elder
daughter. aged 81. wife OF Captain Irv-
ing Gibbs of Cataumet. She died on
Aug. 49,
Jane Toppan attended each member
of the family. and was with them dur
ing their illness and present when they
died.
Mrs. Davis had been in poor health
for some time, and was taken to Somer-
Vile with the hope that a change in
scene and air would prove beneficial.
Jane Toppan accompanied her.
The attending physician here, DR..
bod Inf Mr. Davis that
Mrs Davis could survive only short
death from diabetes came with no sur
prise to her friends and family. The
cause was attributed to some affection
of the heart.
Miss Toppan, still in the employ Of
Mr.. Davis, attended Mrs. Harry Gordon
OF Chicago. who was stricken with ILL
ness shortly after the funeral of her
mother, Mra. Davis.
All the members of the Davis family
were bound to each other by the strong-
est ties of love. and Mrs. Gordon's sick
ness and subsequent death were believ-
ed to have been brought about by the
great grief which che suffered at the
loss of her mother.
Mrs. Gordon's physician was also DR..
Latter, and the cause Of her death has
never officially been given. altho it was
stated at the time that che died from
Following the death of Mrs. Gordon,
his daughter, whom he dearly loved, Mr..
Davis became Ill and in a few days ex-
pired. Mr.. Davis friend came as fear
full shock to all his friends. He was
=, 1nrJa
nurse, Miss Toppan. who remained and
performed similar duties for the last re-
naming member Of the family, Mrs.
Mary Gibbs, during her fatal illness at
Bourne, Mass. Mrs. Gibbs was the wife
of Captain Irving Gibbs. who was at sea
when his wife passed away. and did not
hear OF her death or that Of any member
OF the family until he put in at one Of
the middle Atlantic ports.
The suddenness of the death Of Mrs
Gibbs and the great bereavement which
had already fallen upon the friends Of
the Davis family cast gloom over the
little community. Mrs. Gibbs was also
buried in the family lot here.
At that time 1t was believed by the
villagers that all the members had died
from natural causes. but the suspicious
Of one man, Paul Gibbs, father Of Capt
Irving Gibbs, were aroused, and he be-
gan quiet investigation. AS result
Col. Whitnev of the state police visited
Bourne, and, upon the strength of the
that he made there. an
autopsy on the body OF Mrs. Gordon and
Mrs. Gibbs was held by Professor
Wood, assisted by Professor Whitney
Medical Examiner r. H. Faunce and
DIR. Latter,