Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-23
LOOKS DARK FOR
B|YD[NBURGA
State Forging a Chain of Cir
cumstances That Will Be
Hard to Sever
THE MOTIVE WELL ESTABLISHED
Eassrne.s to Secure His Wife's Prop
erty Shown as Reason for Crime
Purchase of Poison Shown and
Cause of Death Pretty Well Estab
Iished by Experts.
Special to Times-Republiean.

Special to Times Republican.
Eldora, Jan. 23.-As the taking OF
the evidence in the BlydenbLrgh muir
der trial progresses surprise is express
ed at the strength of the case which
have been able to make against him.
Although stubborniy opposed at every
otep by keen and alert defense. the
state has succeeded in weaving web
OF facts and circumstances that looks
anything but encouraging. for the de-
PENDANT. The motive for crime. the
fact that the prisoners wife died OF
poisoning. the purchase OF Rough on
Rats by the prisoner before the fatal
illness. the fact that the rat poison
contained arsenic In sufficient quana-
ties to kill human beings: that Blyden-
burxh prepared the dinner on the day
his wife was taken i'll and II was pre-
pared in her absence have all been
pretty well established. Many circum-
stances tending to strengthen these
facts have been testified to and chain
of evidence that will be hard to break
has been forged about the accused.
Some Of these circumstances are not OF
Importance when considered by them
selves, but combined they go 10 make
q much stronger case than was gen.
orally thought possible. One such cir
cumstance, brought out in the testi-
1nony late Friday, was the attempt OF
Blydenburgh to secure joint policy
on the lives of himself and wife thru
the agent Of the New York Life at Ell
dora. He wanted policy on both their
lives, so that in case his wife died he
co,f!d collect the Insurance money.
On the other hand 1t must be remem-
bered that the defense has not shown
Its hand as yet. and there is no doubt
that the attorneys for the defense have
some surprises in store. 1t is expected
perts on the stand to discredit and
contradict the evidence of the states
experts and that they expect TO show
that the embalmlng fluid may nave
caused the conditions which indicated
poisoning and that it would be impos-
eible to tell positively thirty days after
s-.-.>.,, whether death resulted from
poisoning or the embalming fluid had
permeated the wasting tissues.
Public interest IS at high pitch. The
court room has been packed to the
doors all day. Every available aisle
and bit of space Is occupied by some
person anxious 10 see the administra-
ton OF Justice in the case, whether II
be the conviction OF the defendant or
his acquittai. There seems 10 be no
antagonism I'm the community as being
made by the state or against the de-
PENDANT making thorough defense.
The state OF public opinion Is that there
80 a Jury of twelve good men
In the box. That the state is making
q strong case; that they have not yet
heard the testimony of the defendant:
that the counsel on both sides are la
boring diligently TO secure what they
believe is justice and that many things
that now look dark for the defendant
may be cleared up when the defend
ant has his opportunity to present his
witnesses. In fact the public oppinion
Is that justice will be done whichever
way the verdict may be.
The principal evidence offered today
was Z at OF Mrs. Anna Clodhuffer, of
Archbold. Ohio. Mrs. clodhuffer testI-
ned that prior to October. 1902, she was
keeping boarding house at Archbold,
and that Mrs. Blydenburg, then Miss
Peterborough, who was teaching school
there, boarded at her home. Blyden-
burgh, she said, questioned her closely
in regard to the amount of property
posessed by Miss Roxborough and that
one day the two figured the amount
of her property to be $4,000 and that
Blydenburgh remarked that day: "She
would make pretty good match,
wouldn't she?"
Mrs. Walter Keller, sister of Mrs.
Blydenburgh, was recalled and testified
that Blydenburgh told her few days
after the marriage that unless his wife
decided him 1913 acres OF land that he
would pack his grip and go back to
Ohio.
Witnesses were on the stand this
morning as follows: DIR. Gethman,
Mrs. Harold Of Ohio. sister OF the de-
ceased woman. Mrs. Bailey and Mrs.
Watson of this city. neighbors of the
Blydenburghs; also DIR. Mabi,-. of New
Providence. These witnesses were pro-
duced to testify In relation to the ma
ture OF Mrs. Blydenburghs last illness.
rfe state believes 1t materially
enethened It's case by their evidence.
she symptoms described followed
loosely the symptoms which the
stated would be present in a
Of arsenical poisoning.
county Attorney Noble was also
placed on the stand to prove the con-
tents of letter alleged to have been
written by Mr.. Hydenburgh TO Mrs.
Keller. sister of Mrs. Blydenburgh In
this letter the witness stated that he
did not understand Mrs. Blydenburgh's
sickness. because she had not been sick
before.
DR.. Whitney is on the stand this
afternoon. His evidence As expected to
be in relation to an alleged attempt of
hlydenburgh to comrni, suicide last
summer. shortly after his wlfe's death.
Friday Or. Vaughn was placed upon
the stand and was asked about the eff
fects Of formaldehyde upon the human
tissues. and It was shown that his
contract with the county for compen-
sation was made on the order OF the
board OF supervisors
The Poison.
J. n. Steeley one of the druggist.
then testified for the state that on
March S0th, Blydenburgh had purchas-