The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-14
HOPE TO SOLVE
Deep MYSTERY
Trial of Widow Of Prof. Vaughn
May be Deferred Until
Fall Term
Circumstances Attending Death oi
Prof. Vaughan Lead to Suspicion
of Murder Widow and Family
Physician Must Face Trial

Kirksvllle, Mo-, May 14:-Mysterie
of an unusual character remain TO b,
solved in the case OF Professor join
r. Vaughan, for whose death his wi
dow, Mrs. Alma Proctor Vaughn, and
her family physician. DR.. James r
Hull of Monroe City, are soon to be
placed on trial. The case of the VII
dow is on the court docket for next
Monday, but it is understood strong
efforts will be made to have the trial
delayed, probably until the fall term
of court.
Prof Vaughn, who was instructor in
American history at the State Nor
NAL school. died October IA of last
year at his Kirksville home under pc
culiar circumstances. He had been in
perfect health and attended church i'm
the evening. At ten o'clock Prof
Vaughn left the church after he had
informed one of his friends that he
could not stay any longer Half an
hour later a message ives received at
the church that Prof. Vaughn was in
convulsions and fifteen minutes later
the news was brought that he was
dead. Although the circumstances
surrounding the professors sudden
death were peculiar, only a few per-
sons considered the case suspicious
and these are inclined to believe that
Prof. Vaughn had accidently taken
poison.
The body of Prof Vaughn was bur-
led at Monroe City, the home of his
widow. who did not display much
grief over her bereavement. Ten days
after Vaughn's death Mrs. John r.
Kirk, wife of the president of the
State Normal, whose guest Mrs
Vaughn was after the funeral of her
husband, heard her guest play Men
delssohns Wedding March on the
piano in her parlor. She was greatly
shocked and considered Mrs Vaughn's
action suspicious enough to speak to
her husband about it, President Kirk
communicated with Prof. Vaughn's
brothers and they began a quiet in
vestigation. After they had gathered
before the coroner, who took official
cognizance OF the matter and ordered
an Investigation. In spite of the pro-
tests OF Mrs. Vaughn and her attor-
neys the body of Prof Vaughn was
eXhumed an the viscera were turned
over to DR.. Paul Schweitzer. of the
Missouri state University, for analy-
sis
When DIR. Schweitzer reported that
he had found 1855 OF n grain. or
nearly a whole grain of strychnne i'm
the stomach and liver of DIR. Vaughn,
the coroner's jury have verdict in
conformity with the findings and the
grand jury indicted Mrs. Vaughn and
DR.. J. r. Hull of Monroe City. for
the murder of Prof. Vaughn. Both were
arrested and placed under heavy bond
for their appearance for trial which
was set for May 16.
Mrs. Vaughn. who is 81 ears old
and quite attractive and vivacious, is
the daughter of James NJ. Proctor. a
wealthy bank director and the niece
OF DIR, Proctor, president Of the Mon
roe City, NO. Bank She is reputed
wealthy i'm her own right and has
many wealthy and influential relatives
IN various parts of the state. She be-
came acquainted with Vaughn when
she was pupil in the Paris, Mo-.
high school, of which Vaughn was at
that time the principal They were
married shortly after she had COM
pleted her course. although her rela-
tves opposed the marriage to a man
hiteen years her senior. They seemed
to live happily and had one child. a
Ittlc girl now almost seven years old.
II is the general belief that. Mrs.
Vaughn had in some way caused the
death of her husband. her motive was
not to obtain possession of his estate,
winch is said to be considerable. 1t is
expected that the trial will throw
some startling light upon the rela-
uons which are supposed to have ex-
isted between Mrs. Vaughn and DIR.
hull. for several years the family
physician of the Vaughns. DIR. Hull
Is fifty years old and has wife and
mat the State will try to prove that
Ut Hull met Mrs. Vaughn secretly in
Quincy several times and carried on
rather intimate correspondence with
her
Neither Mrs. Vaughn nor DIR. Hull
showed any disposition to evade SER
vice with the papers issued against
'hem and 1t is considered a strong ar
Rument In their favor. II is an actu-
al iact that Mrs. Vaughn voluntarily
came from Monroe city to Kirksville
70 accept service. She as well as DR..
nun deny that they were I'm any way
responsible for the death of Prof.
vaughn or that they had the slightest
motive for removing him Mrs.
vaughn has made the statement that
ner iate husband had been I'm the habit
VI carrying medicine with him and
'uat on the night OF his death. shortly
Il.