The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-02-26
VAUCHN'S wife
is NOW ACCUSED
Wife Of Late Kirksville, Mo-, Ed
ucator is Charged With
His Murder.
CASE WILL BE SENSATIONAL
Physician Has Also Been Arrested in
Connection With Crime, Both As
serting Innoeence-Poison-
ing is Alleged.

Kirksville, Mo. Feb. 26.-Mrs. Alma
Proctor Vaughn was arrested. this
morning on a warrant charging her
with the murder Of her husband, Prof.
John T. Vaughn. She was released on
$4,000 bond.
The arrest OF Mrs. Vaughn marks
another step in what promises to be
one of the most sensational. as well as
one of the hardest fought cases, in the
history of the state.
DIR. j. r. Hull, Monroe City physi-
clan, was arrested Thursday on a like
charge and released on bail. Both as
sert their innocence.
Vaughn died, according to the ver-
dict of the coroner's jury. from strych-
nine poisoning.
The strains of Mendelssohn's we'd
ding march, played by Mrs. Vaughn
shortly after her husbands death, led
to the grand jury investigation of the
death OF Prof Vaughn. Although
Vaughn. who was instructor of Amer
] lean History in the state normal school
here, died in convulsions on October
IA last, no one suspected at the time
that his death was unnatural except
one or two persons who thought he
might have taken poison accidentally.
Mrs. Vaughn's music was heard ten
days after Vaughns death by Mrs.
John r. Kirk, whose guest she was af-
ter the funeral Mrs. Kinks suspic-
ions were aroused and she confided in
her husband who is president of the
state normal She told him other
things she had observed what seemed
unusual i'm the behavior of a widow.
The investigation of the death, insti-
gated by President Kirk and Vaughn's
brothers, was the result.
Vaughn was apparently in the best
of health when he arrived home from
church the night of his death. Thirty
minutes later he died in convulsions.
His widow, who survives him, with
their seven-year- daughter, testi-
fled at the coroners inquest her hus-
band took quinine in a paper capsule
as soon as he arrived home.
Mrs. Vaughn is 35 and a niece of DIR.
Proctor. president and director of the
Monroe City, NO.. bank.
In addition to the estate of $4,000.
Vaughn's life was insured for $1,000.
It is not however. charged this sup
piled the motive. Mrs. Vaughn has
realty in her name valued at 100000
Vaughn was buried in Monroe City,
the present home of Mrs. Vaughn.
The January grand jury was dis
missed without returning a report on
the death. The body was exhumed,
however, after several days consulta-
tion with attorneys representing the
Proctor family. The latter opposed
the exhumation. which was urged by
vaughn's brothers. backed by Prose-
cutting Attorney Reigertfreiger. The
viscera were forwarded to DIR. Schweit-
ger, chemist of the Missouri state
university and he reported finding
49-55 grains of strychnine in the stom-
ach and liver. The amount OF the
poison in other parts of the viscera
has not been determined.
> Vaughn was so years old. studious
and retiring. while Mrs Vaughn is
vivacious. She was a pupil i'm the
Parish Mo. high school when he was
principal there and they were married
shortly after she completed her course
Hull had been the Proctor family ply
sician three years. since his locating
i'm Monroe City three years ago. He
came TO that city from Macomb, Ill.
and until recently conducted sani-
tarium.