The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-15
BLAMED, SHE SAYS,
WHEN ANYONE DIES
Widow Of Three Men Held
Without Bail.
DEFIANT UNDER QUESTIONS
Relatives of Last Husband Say
They're Neutral"
DEFIANT UNDER QUESTIONS

NEW HAVEN. Conn, June l5.AThree
husbands and niece OF Mrs. Annie Z.
Monahan have died under mysterious
circumstances. The authorities OF New
Haven county are again investigating.
From a cell in the county Jail the
stocky. middle aged prisoner. bespectac.ed
and gray OF hair. who Is a widow for
the third time. glared defiance at detec-
tiyes who questioned her about insur-
ance policies she is said to have tried
to obtain on her last husband. John T.
Monahan. foctory worker.
I'm Innocent" she shouted at her
inquirers. You've tried to get me each
time. and I've been innocent all the
time. Go as far as you like"
Bail Il withdrawn.
Coroner Mix has withdrawn the for
NAL bail Of 500 and detained her with
out bail pending his inquiry. Medical
Examiner Scarborough performed an
autopsy. and the vital organs have been
turned over to Prof E. p. UnderhIl of
the Yale Medical School for chemical
analysis.
Although 1t will be several days be-
fore the result OF this analysis Is an
nounced. physicians who attended John
T. Monahan have given the coroner in
formation that led him to declare EN-
phatically there was evidence that the
man had not died a natural death.
Five physicians are TO be ques-
toned today by Coroner Mix. All
were in attendance on Monahan in
the last several months, and all have
presented evidence to the coroner.
Prof. Underhill and Medical Exam
liner Scarborough figured as wit
nesses against Mrs. Monahan in 1918,
when she was in Jail nine months
pending investigation into the death
OF her niece. Miss Jennie McNamee.
DR.. Scarborough's testimony was that
sufficient arsenic had been admins
tered to Miss McNamee to kill three
persons. A nephew OF the accused
woman testified he had bought an
arsenical rat poison at his Runt's re-
quest two weeks before Miss Nc
,Namee's death. The case was not
brought to trial
John z. Monahan, the husband,
who died on Wednesday in the New
Haven Hospital. after being i'll since
last October. was insured for $3.50.
His wife paid IS cents a week on the
policy. Insurance agents Informed
the coroner tnaI she recently lEltu
to obtain further insurance on her
husbands life. Her request was re-
fused.
Previous Accusations.
The woman's first matrimonial ven
ture was more than fifteen years ago,
her husband being Joseph Pallman,
a factory employe. Pallman died on
November 20, 1916. Death was then
said to have been due to pneumonia.
The widow obtained insurance, the
authorities say. She married Joseph
Monahan on June 3. 1908. He died
on November II, 1909.
The bodies OF both her husbands
having been embalmed with a fluid
arsenic, the authorities We're unable
few years later to determine
whether arsenic had caused their
deaths.
When Miss McNamee. a niece. died
on March Z, 1913, it was ascertained
the girl was insured for more than
81 400, and that most Of the money
was to go to her aunt Her death
recalled to the authorities the cir
husbands Miss McNamee's body was
exhumed June -, 1913, Coroner Mix
committing Mrs. Monahan to the
county jail. Eventually she was re
leased.
Stories were gossiped around dur
ing MOnahan's illness. His brother,
John T, just discharged from the