Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-05
FULL v|ND|CAT|ON.
Arsenic Bath TO Mattress
Hair Removes Suspicion
From Mrs. KeIIeher, Charged
With Murder Of Six.
Jury Ordered to Return Verdict Of
Jury Ordered to Return Verdict Of
mot Guilty."

Cambridge. Mass, April 4.-With ev
cry faint of suspicion removed, Mrs.
Mary KelIeher of Somervllc, who has
been in jail for Is months with six
murder charges hanging over her,
walked out of the court house today, a
free woman. The explanation of her
release from the accusation of causing
the death oC six members of her family
iby arsenical poison. which explanation
was accepted by the district attorney
and the court WAS that the arsenic had
been assimllatcd from hair mattress
In view Of Mrs. Kelloher's long impris-
onment. the district attorney had two
charges IF arson against her placed on
file.
Such an outcome of "A murder case
which has claimed the attendant of a
large part If he community FOR more
than year. Is unusual The court
room had all the grimness of an actual
murder case. Mrs. Kclleher was in the
dock Talesmen were ready and the
two judges In their places. 1t took Is
minutes to read the Indictment in
which Mrs kcllchcr was charged with
the following deaths:
Bridget Knowles. a sister, died Jan.
20. 1906. Annie r, kelleher. sstcr-in-
law. died March t. 1906 stephen kelle
her. husband, died May II. 1906: Mary
Kelleher. daught n. died Nov. Il, 1906;
VIM. kclleher son, died Jan. 1908:
Katherine kc!leher, daughter. died
July %, iaoS.
Mrs. kelleher pleaded not guilty to
the siN counts IN the indictment.
A trp Ill, ,,,J
then District Attorney Higgins made
hi. explanation. He said that half a
grain of arsenic had been found i'm the
bodies, not quite sufficient for fatal
lose. He then offered the mattress eX-
planatiou. After a brief statement by
General Hugh Bancroft the woman's
attorney. the jury at the direction of
the court returned a verdict Of not
guilty. without leaving their seats.
Judge Stevens in addressing the jury
said that the case should be looked
upon as a precedent and that prosecut-
ing officers would do well to use as
much care as had been shown in the
present case. Mrs. Kelleher was then
taken to the home of friend In Som
crvilc.
a series of deaths of near relatives
whose lives had been insured In behalf
of Mrs. Kelleher to Il total amount OF
about $4,000 drew the attention of the
Somerville authorities to the case in
the latter part of 1908. An autopsy or
several OF the bodies showed strong
symptoms of arsenical poisoning. In
the meantime. Mrs. Kelleher had beer
arrested on Il charge of arson and held
to await the action of the grand jury
District Attorney Higgins awaited
the result of the medical examiners
investigation OF the case before press
ing the murder charge. but finally
brought the matter to the attention of
the grand jury year ago. An indict-
mcnt i'm six counts each count alleging
the murder of relative, includjnc
children. sisters and a sister law.
was returned Mrs Kelleher pleaded
not guilty to all.
The conduct of the case was placed
In the hands of Assistant District At
torney Hardy and after several post
ponements the case was finally set for
trial today. Three weeks ago. Mr.