davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Accusations Persisted in
Face of Her Denials

But in the face o. the steadfast de-
malls which came unremittingly from
the lips of the little woman. the State
authorities persisted in their accusa-
tions. To the queries of her friends.
10 what possible motive Mrs. Gilligan
could have had In poisoning the inmates
of her institution, upon which she de-
pended for comfortable income, esti-
mated at from $3.50 to $500 a month, the
state police quickly supplied reason.
They are working upon the theory that
each inmate paid MrS. Gilligan fixed
sum in advance for maintenance during
the remainder of life. and that when
ever one OF the inmates died, the liabili-
ties of the institution were decreased
and It's assets correspondingly in
creased
The police. however. are not undis-
puted In this stand, for II is said that
many of the inmates have signed state
ments declaring that they did not pay
any fixed sum for subsistence In the
home, but contribute a weekly amount.
And while, In the main, the inmates
gan, relatives have removed several
from the institution since the woman's
arrest.
From the moment the arrest of Mrs,
Gilligan WAS made public, the authorl-
ties have been unremitting in their ef-
forts to cinch the web OF circumstance
about her.
The day after her arrest, DR.. W2ln
was authority for the statement that
the policy and the district attorney sec
suspicious circumstances also In the
death OF the woman's husband, Michael
Gilligan. several years ago.
At the time the two were married. ac'
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Mrs. Gillegan's Statement
Relates Unusual Story

Mrs. Gilligan's side of the case is out
lined In lengthy statement which she
made public. with the consent OF her
attorney. two days after her arrest
Hers In many respects Is an unusual
story. as she relates II; a tale OF al
legged persecution and Of struggles to
educate her child. of neighbors who
wished to rid the city of her presence
and drive her from the home she had
built up for herself. Mrs. Gilligan's
statement reads:
Shortly after Mr.. Andrews death
MAY 80. l9iD; / received Information
that the authorities were trying to con-
meet his death with some criminal act
on the part OF somebody in the home.
Some of the neighbors in Windsor dis
torted the facts and Invented stories to
Keep the agitation alive.
Some of the inmates OF the home
told me from time to time that they
were told that they were liable to be
poisoned II they remained in the home.
and one old gentleman. over ninety years
served to him when he was suffering
from a severe cold had been dr,usged.
The physician in attendance OH him at
the time was requested to make an
analysis of the lemonade and did so by
drinking 1t In the presence or the OLD
gentleman, who suspected II was drug
ged. The man still lives.
For a period of several months |
was constantly Informed that the au-
thorities had examined into the conduct
of the home, but. knowing that l had
done no wrong and that there was moth
ing that ! should fear as result of the
investigation, l continued to manage the
| home and solicited patronage.
Many OF the inmates died, which Is
not strange, because they were sent to
the home when they were either too
old or too feeble to care for themselves
and at time when their relatives con-
sidered them such a burden that they
had TO be cared for by some institution.
Most OF them were all from diseases
other than those which usually accom-
| pany advanced age. In each InstG nee,
| when a death occurred the relatives
were notified. unless. perchance, the
| relatives had left word not to be noti-
| fed. In other words, had abandoned the
| inmate.
II have had hundreds OF aged. help
less, and infirm and have ministered to
their wants and given them such com
forts as the home could afford, and
] think they were all satisfied with the
treatment received. when was arr
rested. l asked the police Officers II IL
would not be better for mo To consult
| their advice. that they were friendly Ia
| me and wanted to carry the thing
| through without notoriety, l followed
their advice. and now l am in Jail with
| out a hearing.
THE public knows nothing of my sid,
Of the case, nothing about the rea
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Arsenic Ancient Weapon
In Criminal History.

Arsenic. the poison which Mrs Gill;
gan In accused by the State OF having
employed. appeared in criminal history
az early as 1884.
There exists curious document said
to have been drawn by Charles lie Mat
vais. King of Navarro. which shows
that arsenic was much favored as a
political weapon during the fourteenth
century. The document is a commission
Of murder given to "a certain W6uder-
ton. II reads.
go thou to Paris. Thou canst do
great service II thou wilt. Do what I
tell thee. / will reward thee we'll.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Still Another Side
To Woman's Character

Then there Is another side to the char
acter OF this woman who is the latest
to be accused of dealing In death-pro-
ducing drugs. She has been known in
her own community as n very devout
woman, and a large contributor 70 q
church Of which her daughter is the
organist.
ed he Archer Aoms for Eder fstf fsOpe
at Windsor, Conn, six miles from
Hartford. in 1911. The State authorities,
who are now endeavoring to draw the
woman. declare that for a fixed sum
$1,000. or as much more as the individual
purses of her patients would stand-she
agreed to house and care for the in
mates during the terms of their natural
lives.
Between the time OF the establishment
OF the home and the present, forty-eight
OF the inmates have died. Twenty OF
these. the police declare. passed away
under circumstances which might be re-
In the light of the events OF the past
two weeks, II has become pretty well
established that for more than two
years officials of the State police and
office have been taking a quiet, but
none the less exhaustive, interest in the
circumstances OF several OF these
deaths, among them those OF Franklin
AnuTeWS, VINO ulcu OH may 1873,
after having been an inmate OF the
home for several months. end of MI
chael w. Gilligan, the woman's second
husband, who for time was superin-
tendent OF the home.
r At the time Of Andrews Jeath. Or: II.
treating him. diagnosed his ailment as
gastric ulcers. and so attested I'm the
death certificate, the signing OF which
preceded the interment of the body IN
the Cheshire Cemetery.
Relatives of the aged man. however.
were not satisfied with the diagnosis.
according 20 the police. and upon the
statements maze by them, In which
they suggested DR.. King had been inn
posed upon. Coroner ELI Mix, cooper
ating with District Attorney Hugh NJ.
klcorn ordered the disintcrinent of
Archer's body.
In the dead of night. by the ftful
glow OF lantern. the opening of the
Andrews grave In Cheshire Cemetery
was accomplished In unbroken secrecy.
without a suspicion of their plans
leaking out the body was given by
the State officials to DIR. Arthur j.
Wolf, of Hartford. State bacteriolo-
gist, for analysis.
n was upon his preliminary report
that he found traces OF arsenic in the
body Of Andrews that the arrest OF
Mrs. Gilllgan cam, on May S. This
first report, which showed simply the
trace of arsenic. was closely followed
by a supplemental statement by DR..
Wolff that further analy sis disclosed the
presence of arsenic In quantities SUM-
cient to have caused the death of the
AGED man. ...
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Jane Toppsn Case
Most Unusual Of All.

The case OF Nurse Jane Toppan. she
who confessed TO the killing OF thirty
one people more than fifteen years ago.
10 perhaps the most unusual OF all poi
son cases on record in the United
States. As n result OF her remarkably
horrible confessions. which were all well
substantiated, she was confined for
many years in the insane asylum at
Taunton. Mass.
The most unusual phase OF her case,
however. was the absolute failure OF au-
thorities and alienists alike to supply
a motive. and she was declared NOR
ally insane" She had no grudge
against her victims, and for the most
part, she called them her friends. Many
OF them had befriended her. and she
had nothing to gain in any Of the deaths
which she laid at her own door
A trained nurse, springing from
sturdy puritanical stock. the woman
presented an amazing puzzle to the
alienists. In every instance she pur-
sued the same course. The poison she
employed was morphia. capped by Q
staggering dose of atropia.
In almost every instance. too, her
victims were her patients. and she Of
ten consumed week after week prepar
The Washington times., 1916-05-21

after hls, marriage. Gllligan is said 10
have made Will, leaving his estate.
amounting TO some 5000, to his wife.
Three months later, III February. 1914.
In his bath. He died before medical
assistance could aid HIM
DR.. Wolff stated the day after Mrs.
Gllligan's arrest that her husband died
nation which had come to him, and
that subsequently the cause OF his death
had been diagnosed as valvular heart
trouble IN conjunction with an acute
attack OF biliousness,
Rumors are rampant that Glliigan's
body will also be dls.rterred from Its
grave In the Windsor Locks Cemetery,
where II was placed eatly I'm 1914.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
1S-Year-Old Daughter
Has Faith in Mother

Against the direct accusations of the
police, backed by a startling array OF
circumstantial evidence. stands the inn
plicit faith of the accused womans
eighteen year-old daughter, Miss Mary
e. Archer. her attorney and personal
friend. Benedict NJ. Holden. and her
many friends.
The young girl. who 10 among the few
that the district attorney will permit
to visit the accused woman. declares
that her mother needs no defense and
that her innocence Is self-evident.
why should not tho inmates Of the
Archer Home die?" she asks.
They are old people. Many OF them
were dying when they came to us"
accusation which has fallen upon her
mother. the young woman has nerved
herself to fight everv inch of the way
for the elder woman's freedom. Out at
her home in Windsor. just after her
mother had been hailed to prison. Miss
Archer talked feverishly. trying to con-
vince the newspaper woman who inter
viewed her that the States accusation
Is groundless.
II got so used to seeing death. |
thought nothing about II after while. u
the girl conflded.
AT first 1t scared me. then I didn',
mind. But 1t isn't queer that folks
.
they were sent there.
''All of them are so old and half
sick that no one expects them to live
for very long. l had to spend hall
my time taking care OF sick people.
and 7 tell you It's no fun when you're
eighteen and want to have good
time.
But the idea that mother could do
this awful sort OF thing for money Is
absurd. She earned from $3.50 to $500 a
month Not very long ago mother gave
81 800 to our church in Windsor for tht
organ; II isn't very good business to
kill Off your trade. Is N ,"
Benedict e. Holden, counsel for Mrs
Gilligan, declared that insanity vii
play no part in the defense. Although
he would give no intimation of hi,
plan OF campaign. II was learned tina
the defense would probabaly try &c
prove that Andrews. with whose dealt
Mrs. Gilligan Is charged, took his owr
life by swallowing arsenic.
Let them find as much arsenic a,
| they choose" said Holden.
"Thc more the better for me. Nv,
| got the case well In hand. and III lei
| the State do the work now
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
POISON MYSTERY IN
MURDER FARM CASE
Silent Little Woman GrimIy
Waits for Authorities to De-
termine Her Fate.
CONTINUED from First Page,

OF her daughter Mary. for the girl Is
the apple Of her mothers eye.
Mary is attractive OF face. fair com:
plexioned. and has brown har and
violet-blue eyes. She dresses always In
the height OF fashion. and before the
shadow OF accusation foil upon her
mother. was apparently wrapped up In
the study OF music.
The first meeting. between mother and
daughter after Mrs. Gllligan's arrest
took place In the ante-room of the
sheriff's Office. Many people waited to
see Mrs. Gllligan that day. hut as she
entered the room she had eyes for none
but the girl.
As she looked at her daughter. the
gray-blue eyes which have conbatod
every effort Of the police to break her
indomitable denials. grew misty, and
with sufed exclamation she drew
Nary &c her. and all unmindful of any
who might listen. crooned wistfully:
Girl. you know that everything I've
done all my life was for YOU. You
know I've worked hard all my life
and saved and done without things to
make you happy--end now" her voice
broke a little-"now 1. comes to-just
thiav'
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Last Weeks Winners

Washington. ID. c.. May .. 1915
The CLASSIFIED Advertising Manager, The
Washington Times.
Good Slr-When the high cost OF living be-
gins TO iatten out your pocketbook we have
found that the ads. In your special classified
page will help wonderfully to economize. A
an instance OF this my wife took her las,
summers hat TO the Vienna Hat Factory and
they made II over for her at q very moder-
ate cost. The best part OF II IL that she u
better satisfied than II she had bought new
one. Respectfully. BCFoRD TRIMMER,
y02 o 81. n. w
The Washington times., 1916-05-21

which Ia called sublime arsenic. II y
man eat n bit the size OF q pea, he will
never survive Thou Wilt nnh II In
Pampclnna, bordeaux, Bayonne, and In
all good towns through which thou wilt
pass, at the apothecary shops
Take II and powder II and when
thou shalt be In the house of the King
and of valols. his brother, the Dukes
Of Berry, Bergundy. and bourbon.
Draw near and take this TO the kitchen.
TO the larder. to the cellar and other
places where thy point can best be
gained. Put the powder In the soups,
meats, or wines. provided thou canst
wouldcrton. however. failed TO ac-
compllsh his task. lie was detected and
executed In 1894.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Destroyer Is Bombarded
BY German Aeroplane

BERLIN tvia wireless to sayville).
Bay 2l.-A German aeroplnne lombard
ed a British destroyer during O naval
engagement OFF the Flanders coast
Tuesday. and obtained hits on the
commanders tower aft. according TO
Brussels dispatches today.
German aviators successfully attacked
enemy ships of the Flanders coast. the
seaport of Dunkirk. and acrodomes and
depots at Dixmude. PoperinRhe.
Nr1iens. Chaions, ST. Pol and Suippes.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
BASEBALL PLAYERS
NEEDED IN MARINES
Recruiting Officers Directed to Get
Men for Teams for Corps.

The United states marine corps Ia In
the market for baseball players.
Recruiting officers have been directed
to bend their energies toward the Sc
curing Of frst-class ball players TO all
the teams representing the corps in
various part OF the world.
The marine corps teams at Picking.
China, and ManaRua. Nicaragua, are
considered by many travellers to be
thoroughly representative American
teams Of near big league caliber.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21

Ing them for tho fatal dose. taking
them to the very doors Of death only 10
revive them again and begin the ter
rible. tragic game anew.
In only one Instance, she confessed,
did she ever reient, once she had set her
hand to accomplish n death. That case
was the case Of her sisters husband,
o. NJ Brigham, OF Lowell, Mass,
Year after year, for more than n
decade, Nurse Jane Toppan had been
plying her poison trade. when In the
death OF Mrs. Mary ~. Gibbs, OF Catau-
met, Mass, In August. 1901, the authors
ties detected suspicious circumstances.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Washington. ID. G.. May TO- 1916.

Washington. ID. G., MAY 10. 1916.
Classified Advertising Manager. The wash
ington Times.
Dear Sir-why discard that panama or fine
straw hat which gave such faithful wear last
summer when a trial Of the work done by ID.
Neufeld. Nf 9th st., will transform II To It's
original color and shape at a trining cost !?
maintained at that high standard which holds
customers. one hat In particular remember
carried to him a combination of runburn
grease. paint, and dirt. but was returned to
me clean and like new. Yours very truly
wM. II. FOX.
23i7 Rhode Island ave. y. E.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Believe They Have Crossed
Trail of Giant Poison Plot

That the district attorney anG DR..
Wolff believe they have crossed the
trail OF u gigantic poison plot, 10 EVIL
denced by the statements they mado
shortly after Mrs Gilligan's arrest.
States Attorney Alcorn said: This
has developed from evidence in my pos
session into one of the biggest poison
Ing cases in the history Of the country.
There were & number OF murders, and
! repeat that they were cool and pre-
lie was iskcd whether the murders
exceeded two In number. and whether
by a number he meant several.
II could not say as To- that he re-
Piled. When asked whether other bod
les had been exhumcd, Mr. Alcorn said
You ought to be able to use your
own Judgment as 10 that. From what
has been sud. and as 20 tho question
whether the evidence of other murders
I will only say that It ought to be OBJ
vious."
"Thig Is n case of multiple poisoning,
undoubtedly the greatest New England
has ever known" declared DIR. Wolff.
The chemist went on TO say that arsenic
and one or more other poisons had been
employed. He said the case would equal
the poison case OF Jane Toppan. In
which the number of victims was more
las in most OF such cases. don't
believe anything but cupidity could
be the motive" continued DIR. wolff.
The physician. II was learned at that
time had been occupied almost continu-
ously the last mont visiting ceme-
teries over the entire State. Accom-
panied by State police and other offi-
cials. he superintendent the dislnterring
of bodies.
Many OF the trips were taken secret
ly by night. Starting out in automo-
biles. the party went to graveyards
where digging was done by light Of a
: lantern. and an immediate autopsy by
the toxicologist
The Washington times., 1916-05-21

Classified Advertising Manager The Wash
ington Times.
Dear SirLAs ] am a steady reader Of The
Sunday Times I noticed the ad. of the
French shop. 906 New York ave. I went there
and made a purchase OF one OF their 81. "a
that wish to recommend them to all Wash
ington. Yours truly
The Washington times., 1916-05-21

from ~ Two. purses containing spail
sums Of money, which were In the AZ me
room. were not touched. When the mar,
leit he declared he would return.
Detectives Fortney VermiiIion. BAR.
man, and Armstrong. under the per-
sonsi command Of Inspector Grant.
secured the neighborhood last nieht.
bringing more than a dozen suspects 10
the Edwards home. but none was iden-
titled
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Washington. ID. c.. MAY .. 1915.
The Washington Times Classified Advertising

"anIiHkton. -. N'' may D. lsi'.
The Washington Times Classified Advertising
Manager.
Dear Sir-If readers OF The Times wish
pictures framed In a style TO make the home
beautiful there Is no place better than Ames
a Co., 7is 9th st. y. W. They give their
best attention TO their work and through
careful study OF frames are always ready
to suggest the best suited frame for every
picture. ! have all my pictures framed
there, every one admires them and spea k
Of them being highly polished. Such
frames as Ames Co.. make attract atten-
ton and are admired by all for their neat
ness and beauty. Gentle readers, give them n
trial. their work Is the best and their price
the most reasonable. Yours respectfully,
MISS ELSIE CUMMINGS.
The Washington times., 1916-05-21
Pin in Pie, Asks $25, 900.

CINCINNATI. May 0.-suit for s2o.-
900 was brought In Superior Court to-
day by Anna Malinowski against the
American Baking Company. alleging
that she ate n pie with pin In It. She
says she cannot sleep at night because
Of work.
Evening star., 1916-12-22

John Clayton Athey, a prominent au-
ditor and accountant, died suddenly in
the Hippodrome Theater. in Mount
Vernon square, last night. Death was
said to be due to heart disease by a
doctor who was hurriedly called in.
Mr.. Athey. whose residence was at 134s
Euclid street northwest. was sixty-one
years old, and, with the exception of
six years spent in Alexandria, Va, had
been resident of the District since
he was six years old.
Mr.. Athey, who was born in LeeSburg,
Va, February s, 1856, was well
known church worker He had been
a member of the Eamline NJ. Z. Church
for twenty-five years. serving at vari-
Gus times as Sunday school supertn-
tendent, teacher and recording steward
there.
His parents brought him to George
town when he was six years of age,
where he lived until 1882, the date OF
his marriage. After that he became
Identified with the old Traders Ma
tional Bank, in Washington. serving
there fifteen years as cashier. He was
an auditor and accountant for the past
seven years.
Mr. Athey was past master of the
George c. Whiting Lodge. No. 22. F. A.
A. M; member of the Board of Trade
and a trustee of Glenwood cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, formerly
Miss Mary Z. Clark of Alexandria, and
two daughters, Edith 3. Athey and
Mrs. w. Walter Vaughn.
Evening star., 1916-12-22
EIGHT RAILROADS CITED
AS DERELICTIN DUTY
Have Failed to Effect Redistribution
OF Freight Cars to Relieve
the Shortage.

Eight railroads of the country have
mendations Of the car efficiency COM
mission of the American Railway Asso-
citation for a redistribution Of freight
cars In order to relieve the shortage.
according to a statement of the COM
mittee. In compliance with it's prom
Use to bring such roads before the bar
or public opinion, the commission has
made public the names of these roads.
They are the Boston and Albany. the
Maine Central, the Lehigh Valley, the
Philadelphia and Reading, the New
York Central. the Michigan Central, the
Wabash and the Toledo and Ohio Cen
tral.
Several other roads, it was said ap-
pedred to have been derelict in comply
ing with requests for box car redistri-
button, but the information regarding
them was not complete. The announce
ment states also that a number of roads
mad not shown the desired improvement
in aiding redistribution of coal cars, but
that factors other than the good will of
the roads themselves had entered into
that situation.
Representatives of railroads and
agree on new schedule of charges for
dlVerting or reconsigning carload
freight, suggested as a remedy for the
car shortage. Another meeting of rail-
way traffic officers will be held in Chi
cago December 20 to consider further
notifications of the proposed rates
against which the shippers protest.
Evening star., 1916-12-22
APPROVAL OF LEWIS BILL
BY POSTMASTER GENERAL
Government Ownership Of Tele-
phones in District Subject of Let
ter to Representative johnson.

Approval of the Lewis bill for govern
ment ownership OF telephones within the
District of Columbia IS expressed by Post
master General Bureson in a letter to
Chairman johnson of the House commit
tee on the District of Columbia. Repre-
sentative johnson is in Kentucky for the
Christmas holidays. however. and IL any
action is to be taken on the Lewis bill it
will await the return of the District COM
mittee chairman. The letter Of the Post
master General was written, it Is under
stood. in answer to query by Repre-
sentative Johnson as to the attitude Of
Mr.. Burleson on the telephone question.
The annual report OF the Post Office De-
partment contains an approval Of the
general proposal to "postalize" the tele-
phone and telegraph systems of the coun-
try. The Lewis bill provides for an ex-
perimental government nt-owned system of
telephones at the National Capital the
system to include greatly reduced night
rate to the farmers living in the first
parcel post zone. The object is to give
city dwellerS a chance to order farm prod
ucts by phone at night for a rate of about
a cent a call and to receive them by par
eel post