The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-04
WOMAN ARRESTED !. ON MURDER CHARGE Poison Found in BissOn-
 ette's Stomach CORONER IS ACTIVE Also Believed That Mrs. Vermilya Was Responsible for Eight
 Other Deaths in Her

Chicago, November 3.-Mrs. Louise E.. Vermilya today was formally charged with the murder of Policeman Arthur Bis sonette by poisoning him with arsenic following the report of toxicologists who had examined the viscera of the dead roomer at the widows home. Coroner Hoffman announced that he will have exhumed the bodies of at least two of the other eight persons who have died in her home during the past Is years. | Prof. Walter l.. Haines, Dr. Ralph w. 1 Webster and pr. E. R. Lecount reported tc the coroner that they found more l than enough arsenic in the liver and oth- CT organs of Bissonette to have caused | his death.
 | Chief of Police McWeeny. who, with , State Attorney J. E. Wayman and severai police officers. had listened to the toxicol- ogsts reports to the coroner, immediately swore out warrant for the woman who had been under close police surveillance she had been i'll with pneumonia and it was agreed to await service of the war rant until tomorrow.
 Several men were added to the guard watching Mrs. Vermilya
 Coroner Hoffman became active and pro- cured permits from relatives of former acquaintances of the widow whose deaths now have come under suspicion to exhume the bodies for toxicological examination There Is state law forbidding the uss of arsenic in embalming fluids and the coroner announced that if the poison was found In the bodies dug up the under takers would be asked for certificates showing whether the law was disobeyed and if 1t was not, an effort would be minstering of the poison.
 Considerable caution governs the ad- vance of the investigation, as, until the report of the toxicologists today, the cor oner was not satisfied with the evidence he had as basis for arrest, and he made It clear no more arrests would be made for several days, if at all.
 Dozens of detectives will search for further light on the eight deaths which proceeded that of Bissonette while thc decedents were living at Mrs. Vermilya's home.
 Just what bodies will be exhumed Cor oner Hoffman declined to say. It vas ntimated. however, one of them would be that of Conductor Richard T. Smith, who, boasting of his having lived as the hus- band of the widow, although not marrrct, to her. was taken suddenly i'll and cied under circumstances that have aroused ctficia! curiosity. 1t developed inc had obtained life insurance a short time be- fore, of which she was to be the bene- ficiary.
 Mrs. Vermilya collapsed when informed the experts had found poison in the vis- cera of Bissonette. but she showed To concern after recovering and declined 10 make any statement.
 The increased guard was instructed to watch the woman constantly for fear of her attempting to injure herself.
 Undertaken C. c. Boyson, who claimed Bissonette's body about five minutes aft CT death and who was reported to be a reputed suitor of Mrs. vermilya. as well as business partner. was questioned by the police. He denied in having other than ordinary business relations with the widow. He said that he had embalmed u body of Conductor Smith.
 If arsenic is found in his body" Boy sen told the police, 'it was adnin,s- tered to him, for the embalming fluid I use contained none"