The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-04
YOUNG GIRL WILL
Be PUT ON TRIAL
Little Massillon, O., Miss Is
Accused of Being the
Slayer of Sister.
PERPLEXING PROBLEM
1t Is Alleged the Child Was
Jealous of Her Sisters
Good Clothes.
PERPLEXING PROBLEM
american News Service)

canton, Onlo, Dec. 3--QQ hatle
MANI, a 16-year-old Massillon girl, de-
liberately poison her sister Elizabeth,
three years her senior, with strych-
nine because she was jealous over her
sisters wardrobe, more brilliant than
her own?
This is the problem which has been
the staple of discussion among the
people of Stark county and it's vicinity
ever since the body of Elizabeth MANI
was found in her home one night last
March, and which is expected to be
solved, with the aid of alenists, when
the younger sister is placed on trial
here Monday on the charge of murder.
The case has attracted wide attention
and everyone-with the possible ex-
ception of the young girl accused of
the crime-is looking forward to the
trial with much interest. AS for Katie
her only anxiety in regards to the
trial appears to be a fear that the
clothes she has may not make her look
quite stunning enough when she faces
the judge and jury and the court
room flied with curious spectators.
The prosecution believes it has suf.
ficient evidence to convict the young
girl Of first degree murder. 1t has
been established that Immediately fol
lowing the mysterious death of Eliza
beth MANI, her sister Katie fled from
the home in Massillon. taking with
her the best of her sisters clothes.
The next day she was found in Akron.
where she had applied for work un-
der an assumed name. She faced her
accusers calmly, and told them that
her sis dead before she left
the ho,
The III iamaging admission made
by the girl is the fact that she pur.
chased strychnine at a Massillon drug
store shortly before her sisters death,
and also bought a small quantity of
chloroform. The girl declared she
bought the strychnine for man,
whose name she could not give. This
man, she declared, subsequently hand
ed her two capsules, which she believ.
ed to contain quinine. One of these
tablets she laid on the table beside her
sister when she left the house on the
day of the tragedy. The chloroform,
she said, was bought for cleaning the
house.
Harbored Grudse.
According to the statement of mu-
tual friends Katie had for long time
harbored a grudge against her elder
sister. The Ill feeling is said to have
had its origin in the fact that Katie
had run away from home and after an
absence of some time had been 10
Gated in New Philadelphia and forced
to return home through the efforts of
her sister Elizabeth. In consequence
of this Katie is said to have often
made threats to get even" with her
sister. This feeling of animosity. COM
bined with jealousy of her sisters
good looks and pretty clothes, is be-
lieved by t. Norities to have been
the motive alleged murder.
The family OF the accused girl have
hired able lawyers to defend her. 1t
is believed that a plea Of insanity will
be made in her defense. The mother
of the two girls has been dead for
many years, and according to the faith
err. Katie grew up headstrong and alb
soiutely beyond his control.
Despite the fact that she is far from
being beautiful, Katie Manz undoubt-
eddy possesses peculiar powers of fas-
cination. So pronounced is her attrac-
tiveness that the county authorities
fear the effects of it upon jury of IL
men when she faces trial. Evidences
of her powers of fascination have been
numerous and striking during the
eight or nine months she has been
confined in the Stark county Jail.
Only a short time ago the authori-
ties discovered the existence of a clan
destine love affair between the &C.
cused girl and a young man living in
Saginaw, Mich. Though the two had
never met they had cores pended reg
ularly and it was found that the young
man had sent her money to buy books
and candy and some new clothes so
that she might look stunning" when
brought into court.
Ceteus Williams. awaiting execution
in the Stark county Jail for murder,
became fascinated with the girl and
presented her with the jewelry which
had belonged to his murdered wife.
Warden Isaac Siusser was ousted by
the sheriff on the ground that Katie
had worked on Slusser's sympathfes
and had been accorded unwarranted
privileges. Slusser promptly retaliat-
ed by declaring that the sheriff. who
is married and 45 years old, had been
very familiar with Katie since her
confinement in Jail and on several
occasions had taken the girl out rid
ing in his automobile. Altogether. the
1s-year-old girl has succeeded in
throwing the usual stern discipline of
the county Jail into utter confusion
during the period of her residence
there and the authorities express the