The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-16
Mother in Prison in Rutland, VT,
Supported by Family IN =
Claim of Innocence
SHE IS FIRM IN BELIEF
SHE WILL BE CLEARED
Sister Declares Anxiety to Have
Boy and Girl Buried
Caused Suspicion

- AA~AAiNO, W., jan ia IlONh
pr locked up In q prison cell on the
charge OF staying two of her 10 chill
iren by poison has written a remark,
lbie poem as her prayer for the safe.
Of her living children. The mother
q Mrs. julius Wells. and her poem
makes her one of the most remark
able women ever put behind bars IL
he history OF Vermont.
Mrs. Wells says her simple verses
we're inspired by thoughts OF her lit
tie ones at home as she lay awake IN
the Franklin county jail. She says
she wrote the poem to prove that she
Is not insane.
mo insane person would write
poetry" Is her simple comment.
Here are the verses:
Holy Mary. Virgin mild.
Glorious Heaven above.
Pray for the poor, my dear hieldenr,
Look on them with eyes OF love
Watch them with a mothers acre
Thou my Guide and Guardian be-
To Thy Glorious Son for me.
When f,e hour OF. death draws nigh
After Uteathing their last sigh
May they live with Thee In Heaven.
The pathetic prayer, written in the
moments OF deepest mother love and
yearning for the company OF children
whom she has not seen since she was
arrested last week was given to a
representative ofThe American who
was permitted TO talk with Mrs.
Wells.
Not long after she penned the
verses the mother wrote postcards to
her four youngest children, now at
their home at Swanton.
The first was TO her daughter, Rosa
mond, aged seven years. The others
we're written to Raymond, aged ~
years; TO Marvella, a daughter, and
to her baby, Robert, two years old.
The two children who are alleged
to have been poisoned by the mother
were Lewis and Mary Wells. 1t has
been reported from the state labor
atory at Burlington. where their
stomachs we're examined. that arsenic
had been found.
Mrs. Wells declares she is innocent,
but is content to stay In jail until she
has been indicated
Her father Enos Ladue, her broth
err, Julian Ladue. living in the town Of
Milton, and her husband, julius Wells,
OF Swanton, have conferred with her
at the Jail. Her counsel IL C. G. Aus
tin, prominent attorney of this city.
Said she: II am quoted as saying
that wished those two children
were dead That is absolutely un-
true. | never said any such thing.
II want TO see Ii through with. !
shall be indicated because am in |
nocent. | am willing to stay In Jail |
till the whole thing is cleared up. IL |
will be and then shall be freed.
II wrote that poem with my prayer
for my children In ii, to show that /
am not insane. No insane person
could write poetry. think you will
agree with me. During the night
while thinking OF my children. the
idea came into my head. So wrote
out the verses on-a piece OF paper.
Il am innocent and the investiga-
ton being made will prove that
am"
Mrs. Wells was married when she
was IA. She Is only 80 at the present
time,, The anniversary OF her wedding
comes this month. She is short, be.
coming in appearance, and has red.
dish hair. Her eyes are striking. They
are bright and sparkling.
Mrs Wells is a woman OF great in
telligence, her friends say. Her poem
indicates she Is a woman OF deep
feeling. "
or her 10 children, but Ave arc now
living.
Her haste TO have her two children
buried. while the body Of one Of them