The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-08
in "Woman Blue
beard. Case Scores Heavy.
Defense of Mrs. Southland Clouds
Poison Source.
STATE CHEMIST ON STAND
Enough Arsenic Found to Kill
Dozen Men.
Tells Court Poison Even in
Hair of Exhumed Body.

Twin Falls, Ida, Oct. S.-Directing
its attention to the second line of evil
dence against Mrs. LYDIA Southland, al
legged female "Blueebeard," he safe to-
day is nassing its testimony with ex-
pert witnesses showing the presence of
arsenic in the body of Edward F.
Meyer. fourth husband of the accused.
will follow.
Further evidence to connect the &C
cused wife with the presence of this
poison in the body of the deceased
Will follow in subsequence.
Dr. e. f. Rodenbaugh, Idaho state
chemist, on the stand when court con-
vened this morning, will be followed
by other chemists, including E. K:
Doley, Twin Falls city chemist, and
Herman Harness. Utah state chemist.
Tells of Finding Poison.
Rodenbaugh followed his details of
the finding of arsenic in the specimens
of organs taken from the body at the
second post mortem by his story this
morning of the findings when he ana
others exhumed the body last spring.
At that time Doctor Rodenbaugh as
the body. He was present at the grave
when the body was eXhumed, super
vised the taking of the specimens and
with City Chemist Dooley dlYided
these so that portions of each might
be turned over to various chemists IN
sealed containers. The results of all
these analyses and examinations WA
be told on the stand as rapidly as
evidence may be adduced.
In each instance, chemists found the
presence of arsenic, according to
statements made by them to County
Prosecuting Attorney Frank L.
Stephan. According 10 these state
ments of the chemists. enough arsenic
was found in the body as indicated
by specimens taken at the second posi-
norton and later when the body was
| exhumed, to kill a dozen men Dr.
| Rodenbaugh stated on direct eXamina-
| ton that basing his estimates on the
content of the specimens taken from
| the Meyer body at the second post
mortem and examined by him, there
was in the body then nine and eight
tenths grains of arsenic. From one
/ half grain up, he declared, is killing
Hair Showed Arsenic.
Hair taken from Meyers head
| showed heavy arsenic content. This!
| declared DR.. Rodenbaugh, indicated
clearly that the poison had perm eateo
the entire body, and that distribution
was general in muscles, bone, finger
Aails and organs.
Cross examination of expert wit
| nesses has been directed with view
to create doubt as to the source OF the
poison rather than with the purpose
or including DOUBT as TO us pAeSShSS.
Chemists on the stand have all held
rigidly to their findings and to the
clarity of their analyses. The have
also maintained that the specimens
were in sealed containers from the in
slant they were taken from the body
thus precluding the possibility of faint
by the introduction of the poison
| Following the expert testimony will
come, according to plans of the state
another bombardment of statements
bv the defendant to various witnesses
THESE will tend to strengthen the claim
of the state that Immediately after the
death of Meyer and even before she
had bought a casket in which to bury
him, his wife, the defendant in the
case, had packed her grip and was
ready to leave Twin Falls.