Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-04
WOMAN USED
POISON TO KILL
CHARGES STATE
Trial Of Alleged Blue
Beardess Begins at
Twin Falls

Twin Falls. Idaho, Oct "a poison
Gus substance used as an insect ex-
terminator supplied the theme about
which was wogen inc stories of tho
fret two witnesses o. the state to
testify in the case of LYDIA Meyer
Southland charged with The murder OF
Edward f. Mcyer, \ former husband
by means of poison secured from soak
Ing pieces of the cxtcrminator in water
and administered in her husbands
food.
The opening statement by Frosecut-
ing Attorney Frank l.. Stephsns was
delivered Immediately following the
securing OF jury. He said he would
show the alleged crime was commit
ted by means of poison derived from
the cNterminator.
Only small number OF spectators
were present when the first witness
for the state. Mrs. Carrie Howe OF
Muscstire. Iowa, boardinghouse keep
er at the Blue Lakes ranch at the
time OF the death OF Meyer. told of
tho defendant bringing the cxtermi-
nator to tho ranch and setting IL about
the boarding house in sauccrs Of
water. She described in detail the ILL
moss of Meyer and tho events leading
UP to his death. told OF conversations
with the defendant in which she adj
Niscd the calling OF physician and
the Defendants reply that she would
call a doctor aud then no one would
have anything TO say.
she testified that following tho re-
nloVal OF Meyer from the ranch TO a
Twin Falls hospital, she found two
packages OF the externiraior in a
drawer In small commodc under
meath some papers. in the room oc-
cupicd by tho Meyers. She also found
another poisonous insect Killer under
the hcd in the room.
That the defendant also told the wit
n - that she did not love her husbs nd
a. wife should was testified to by
Mrs Howe who added that she adj
,lsed Mrs. Meyer 10 treat him right"
to which the Witness replied that shc
intended 10. Cross examination failed
to shake her testimony.
Granville Hnicht. manager OF the
ranch upon which Meyer was en-
pIoycd as foreman up to tho limo OF
his last Illness told OF conversations
with both tho deceased and his vito
TIC stated that he was present when
the ekterminator was discovered IN
tho drawer or tho commode and id-n-
titled certain marks placed thereon
at tho time he turned IL over to Dep
frs, entered upon his long investiga-
ton OF the Meyer death.
He testified IN detail regarding his
Endorsement OF - punches note on an
automobile previously acquired by the
then Mrs. Meyer which note vas sign
cd by the defendant a. Mrs. MciIsf-
fie si,hp this was subsequent TO her
marriage TO Meyer. The relationship
between Never and his wifi. while at
the ranch he d. scribcd rs more that
OF companions than OF husband and
wife.
Roth witnesses told OF converse
ton, with the defendant in which the
latter stated that Or. J. T.. coughlin.
called in tho CASE had said that he
know Of several similar caseE and
that ono OF these. Young girl, was
not expected 10 recover. Tho witness
Also rccountcd conversations with the
defendant in which ptomsinc poison
ing and typhoid fever were mentioned
rs the atlrncut from which Meyer WAS
suffering.
The DESCENDANT herself gave as a rea-
son why she could not spend more
time at tho ranch with her husband
tho fact that ahe was suffering from
the last mentioned disease.
Mrs. Howe was still upon the stand
when court adjourned for tho day.
All hnt one member of the jury arr
married.