The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-10-05
A TraCeIeSs Poison
fofleinalil

IN chemistry In the Nolan case, i con-
cluded my testimony with the remark,
"A person desiring to kill another
would be more ikely to use poison
that would leave no trace" where
Upon the prosecuting attorney asked
me if there was such poison. hav-
ing replied that there was, he asked
me TO name It, The Judge forbade me
to do so. The prosecutor insisted. but
the Judge was immovable. lie would
not permit me 10 name publicly a poi
son that would leave no trace
Immediately after my testimony was
published ! was deluged With letters
lnqulrlng the name of the poison that
| left no trace. Most of them doubtless
came from idle curiosity. but was as
| tonished ut the number of those which
showed plainly, from the pains the
i writer's took TO conceal their identity,
! that they were written for mn evil pur-
| pose.
| One day received call from wo-
/ man who asked for the secret. She
said she had made bet with her
| brother who was u. scientist. Of 81 900
that there was such II poison. and she
desired TO prove it TO HIM 10y trying it
on n dog. If | would give her the name
or the poison and she won she would
give me half the amount
| questioned her, then. going into an
other room. returned with Il tiny pill,
which gave her saying that y. It
| killed the dog and left no trace sue
might refer her brother To me for evl.
dcnce that she had won the bet. When
She left | sent houscmaid TO follow
her who brought me her address.
Sending for detective, | directed him
10 establish some sort of watch oil
the house where she lived, 10 shadow
her when she went out and report TO
NE any case of illness that might occur
TO any one with whom she might be
connected.
In q few days my man, reported that
the l0dy's husband had died suddenly.
4 1t had beon given out that lie had suf-
fered an apJplcctlc stroke aud had not
lived on hour after.
I was thuadcrstruck. | alone knew
the nature OF the pill hHd given the
woman. and of course she would keep
the secret Nevertheless ! was very
much troubled at the result. directed
the detective 70 keep her under strict
surveillance. Later lie reported to me
that she had visited the Office of q
life Insurance company. Upon inquiry
!, he had learned that hcr husband had
, been inSarcd for $4,000. hurried to
{ the Insurance olice. called on the pres.
ldcnt and advised linn before paying
the claim TO make sure that there was
! no trickery connected with 1t. But |
! ! would msworino questions
, The ucSt heard OF the case was
I. that upon examination Of the body
5 cXhuu.ed for the purpose-it was dis
covered that II was the remains of the
brother OF the Blan insured. The in
surcd lllmsclf had disappeared. Pay.
nient was refused. and tie woman was
+ arrested ona charge of fraud. TO which
5 was added II charge of murder
Tile body OF the deceased was given
over TO physicians with II view TO dis.
] | covering II the man had died natural
DEATH, One reported apoplcxy rs the
cause, another heart trouble and an.
5 other kidney disease Three different
=. experts reported three different poisons
!. found in the body. There was opium.
4 | arsouic anu one, other the name Oi
. | which have forgotten. was sum
4 moned as a witness Tor the prosecution
. and produced q sensation 10y refusing
) ! to testify on the ground OF self incrlm.
nation.
Attcrward consented TO give my
). evidence | informed the court of The
. ! wo'nan's visit 10 ne, Of her request for
e poison that would leave no trace and
4 the use she proposed 10 make OF It.
+ Tlcn | told them that | had given hcl
4 the pill. At this point Il technical oh
{ lection was interpOscd by the defend
I ants counsel. and the judge sustained
Y him. | was forbidden to tell what was
!. In tho pin. the reason being that * had
:. not been proved that the pill had becl
r used. This left ne in very unfortu
o nate position
G After Il long trial the woman was ac
g quilted of the charge of murder, am
t the charge of fraud was never pressed
Y | The prosecution had failed to prove
d she knew that the man who was buriet
@ was her husbands brother or that sh'
S had poisoned him. Her counsel con
h trived 10 throw all the blame on he
l. husband, who had disappeared.
t After her acquttal the woman CAM
TO see me. She was curious 10 know 1
had been deceived by her story abou
The bet and II | had really given her ;
?, tracccss phil Before replying aske,
q her to explain the case 10 me, and, aft
Il er solemn promise on my part 4
II keep her secret. she did so.
e Her husbands life was largely IN
y | sured and since they were an Ill matcC
y couple she resolved to poison him
i Just as she was about to give him In
s pin had furnished her her husband
y brother came TO the house for visit
/. His health had been brokep down b,
n eNccsscs, especially drugs that he la,
u taken In large quantities. While Il
p" their house he suddenly died, probabl
OF heart failure. The woman PROPOSED
TO her husband that he disappear an,
n his brother. who resemblcd him close
t, | w. he buried IN his stead This wa