Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-08
SPECTACLE PRESENTED OF FAITH
En- PROSECUTING DAUGHTER
FOR CRIME.
SEPARATE TRIALS GRANTED
MRS. LARSON AND HUSBAND
Jury Secured With Little Difficulty
Composed Entirely Of Farmers-ln-
terest Centers in MORGAN Rhoden-
baugh, Who Says She Put Poison in
Coffee at Sisters Request.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to times Republican.
Northw God, Nov. S.-Ten days will
be occupied at least in the hearing OF
the Larson poison scandal case which
is now on. 1t was quite a little sur
trise to the attorneys for the state
when the case was called yesterday
afternoon to have the defendants at
lorney call for separate trial for each
of the accused, Mrs. Eta Larson and
her husband Christian Larson. The
court house was crowded.
Judge Clyde had caused to be issued
a venire for twenty-five special jury
men Sitting close to State Attorney
Sabin was Douglas Rhodenbaugh, IA
Their of Mrs. Larson. the young woman
accused of mingling poison with intent
to commit great bodily injury. Sitting
near the chancel railing We're Mr.. and
Mrs. Christian Larson. holding in turns
their bright little +year- old son. Pres
ent in the court room during the eN-
animation Of prospective jurymen We're
Mrs. Rhodenbaugh. two Of their sons,
and two daughters. Mr.. Rhodenbaugh
has been married twice, the first wife
having died about fourteen years ago.
To this union five children were born,
two of them sons With three daugh-
1ers From his second and present Wife
there are four children but all are quite
young.
Marean Center Of Interest.
Much interest is centered in Miss
Marean Rhodenbaugh, the young girl
who admits that she administered the
poison. but claims that she did 1t thru
the instructions Of her sister and be-
cause she was compelled to do 1t. She
is a bright little miss, seemingly about
is years of age. and was greatly in
terested in the proceedings. She sat
with her stepmother during the entire
afternoon.
The Rhoden baugh family IS well
known all over Worth county. Rhoden-
baugh has been a resident for nearly
thirty years and in addition TO running
fine 320-aGre farm he has bought
and sold cattle quite extensively. his
children seemed to be as prominent as
their father. For nearly quarter OF
a century they lived three miles out of
Bolan. about ten miles southeast Of this
city. on the Great Western road. After
the marriage of their daughter Miss
Eta with Mr.. Larson they lived on
farm near by. There was the best OF
feeling between the two families. II
vas not until there was repeated SICK
ness in the Rhoden baugh family and
the head of the family began diligent
search attempting to find out the trou-
BILE. that unfriendliness began to mani
fest itself and as Mr.. RhodenbauSh
progressed in his earnest efforts to find
out the cause, and began to suspicion
his own daughter. that dissensious De
came apparent to the nelghbors. A
short time after this Mr.. and Mrs. Lar
son vacated the farm which they had
occupied and moved on farm three
miles northeast OF this city. and since
since that the families have had no in
terest in common. In a brief interview
with Mr.. Rhodenbaugh he said that he
only wanted justice neted out. To the
great crowd who are anxiously watch
ing developments Of this case it seems
rather peculiar to see a father consult
ing with a prosecuting attorney for the
conviction Of his own daughter Of a
crime so great. but in doing this he is
suffering far more than any who are
watching the proceedings. 1t is his
daughter but if daughter is guilty Of
attempting to poison her father and his
family he believes that she should Suf-
fer accordingly.
Prompted by Story Of Marean.
He is prompted in doing what he
has done by the story of his daughter
Marean. 1t was she who told him the
whole story and she gave corroboratins
evidence that she was telling the truth
Five times. not only Mr.. Rhodenbaugh
but his wife, were very close to death 8
door. Marean said that she put the
poison in the coffee each time and
when forced to tell more she said that
she was compelled to do SO by her old
er sister, and she was led to believe
that her stepmother was wrongfully
treating her and the only thing she
could do was to administer this poison
Her whole story is only known to her
father, to the county attorney and to
the grand jury and it will not be known
Until told in open court. OF course
this story Of this little girl aged about
JIG, will be the sensation of the trial
In the examination of jurors Attor-
ney Sabin for the state laid grea,
deal Of stress upon the influence E
woman defendant might have upor