Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-31
Sioux City Man Attempted to
Poison His Wife and Five
Children
MAKES WRITTEN CONFESSION
Struggle Against the Terrible Impulse
and Prayed to Be Kept From Com
hitting Murder - Wife Discovers
Poison in Wine Which He offered
Her and Secures His Arrest.
Special to Tlmes-Republican.


Sioux City, Jan. 31.-Confessing that
he had attempted to kill his wife and
family of five children by poisoning
them, Edward Monahan has been ar
rested here and is now held in Jail on
tho charge of attempted murder.
Monahan's attempt was the result OF
dependency over his inability to Sc
cure work and because Of sickness.
With the good and evil in his ma
ture battling for supremacy Monahan
admitted that evil had trumphed
and had it not been for the hands of
fell purpose.
The confession was made in the
presence of Attorney T. J. Stevenson
and Mrs. Anna Monahan.
Fought Against Tempters
That he did not want to do the hor-
rible deed is evident from his confess
sion. for while his hand grasped the
fatal cup and his brain was seething
with revolt against the harsh clrcum-
stances which surrounded him. he
prayed to God, prayed that he might
not kill those who We're dearest to
him
Monahan is now in the county Jail,
and it is probable the county attor-
ney will take up the matter when the
grand jury meets next time.
Monahan was formerly a farmer, but
of late years circumstances have been
against him and by degrees he drop
ped to the ranks of a common laborer.
Six weeks ago he found himself with
out employment and do what he could,
had no success in finding work. Day
after day he sought work, in one place
and another, but disappointment met
him at every turn.
Baby Brought No Cheer.
The little money he had gathered
soon dwindled away and starvation
faced him. While in this predicament
baby was born.
This seemed to make him even more
Respondent. From being cheerful
man who always had happy word
for his sorrowing wife and little ones
he became morose and irritable
Finally, driven to desperation at his
inability to secure work and unable TO
bear his wife and children at the
point of starvation, he planned, ac-
cordng to his own confession, cold
blooded murder. 1t was his intention
to kill his five children, his wife and
then himself.
fIe first attempted to poison his wife
on January %, while his wife wasf'n
bed, he approached her with lamp in
one hand and glass in the other.
This is your port Wine" he said to
her as she awoke.
White Face GIared at Her.
AS it was customary for Mrs.
Monahan to take a glass of wine
before rising. since her last child
was born. she thought nothing 1T
it and took the glass from his hand.
AS she rose to drink it she caught the
odor of laudanum. Looking up hastily
she saw her husbands white and
drawn face looked down at her.
Ed" she called to him, ED, what
is the matter What are you giving
me?'
ITS all right little girl replied
Monahan huskily, cit will do you
good"
She scanned his face again
you've put something in this" she
said
"I've put little liquor in it," said
Monahan turning away and then he
pleaded with her to drink it.
Urged Her to Drink.
81 don't want it," she said. handing
him back the glass
Drink it," he said again, tits good
for you"
Against her better judgment she
lifted the glass to her lins but at the