Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-02-28
STARTLING ARREST
AT KIRKYILLE, MO.
Sensational Story Charging Prominent Woman
With The Murder of Her Husband
A Short Time Ago

HUNTSVILLE, Mo, Feb. 26.-Mrs
Alma Proctor Vaughn was arrested
this morning on warrant charging
her with the murder of her husband,
Professor John T. Vaughn. She was
released on $4,000 bond
The arrest of Mrs Vaughn marks
another step in what promises to be
the most sensational as well as one
d. the hardest fought cases in the his.
tory of the state. DIR, j. II. Hull of
Monroe City, the Proctor family ply
stefan. was arrested Thursday on "A
like charge and is now out on bail.
Vaughn died, according TO the YER
dict of The coroner's jury from strych'
nine poisoning
Mrs. Vaughn's lawyers have been
retained for several weeks past, and
several of them are working for her
interests. every step in the inyestiga-
ton being closely watched. Her rel.
atives are wealthy, and have declared
their determination TO establish her
innocence at any cost. She herself
expresses her confidence in the out
come and says she is glad the sus-
pense is over.
DR.. J. X. Hull was released today
under bonds, and has also retained
a corps of attorneys. He also asserts
his innocence, and charges he is the
victim of conspiracy of some kind.
The tinkling strains of Mendel-
ssohns Wedding March. played by
Mrs. Vaughn shortly after her hus.
lands death, led the grand jury TO
Investigate the death of her husband,
Prof. Vaughn.
Although Prof Vaughn, who instruct
ed in The American Historical State
Normal school here, died in convul-
sions Oct IA, no one suspected his
death was unnatural except one or
two persons. Mrs. Naughn's music
was heard ten days after Vaughn S
death by Mrs. John Kirk, whose guest
She was after the funeral. Mrs. Kirk s
suspicious were aroused, and she con.
fdcd in her husband, who Is president
of the state normal. She told him
other things she observed. which seem
ed unusual i'll the behavior of the
widow An investigation of the death
was instigated by President Kirk and
Vaughn's brother as result.
Professor 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 commissions His widow, Mrs. Alma
Proctor Vaughn. testified at the cor
oner's inquest that her husband took
quinine in a paper capsule soon after
he arrived at home.
Mrs. Vaughn, who is 80 years old is
niece of DR.. Proctor, president of the
Monroe City bank. Her father, James
NJ Proctor, a director in the bank, Is
also reputed TO be wealthy. In addi-
ton to an estate of $780, 900 Professor
Vaughns life was insured for $1,000,
Nothing. however, is charged as a
motive for the crime. Mrs. Vaughn
has realty in her name valued at S4O.'
900. DR.. Vaughn was studious and
retiring while Mrs. Vaughn was viva.
cious She was pupil in the Pans,
Mo. high school when ne was princl-
pal, and they were married shortly
after she finished her course. She Is
fifteen years his junior, but firmly re-
fused TO listen to the objections of her
relatives to marry because of the dis.
parity in their ages.
Vaughn was one of the states lead
ing educators and was an authority
on American history