The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-03-18
LEAREDMRS. MATHESONc
VERDICT LNsPOESON PEACH
ES' CASE TODAY
Strange Murder Mystery Has
Stirred South Dakota and
This Section


Sioux Falls. s. D.. March 1.-THE
jury trying Mrs. Anna Matheson,
charged with completely in the MUIR
der OF her husband, Martin, last July,
found her not guilty this, morning.
Rlvaling anything ever written by
Poe is the history OF the poison
peaches case," the strange murder
mystery wnlcn has stirred south Da-
kota as no oIner murder case has in
the ANIMALS OF the states criminal
Jaw. In mystery, gruesomeness, and
complications, the case never mas been
surpassed in South Dakota, and the
interest in its tlnai solution mas at
tracted more than state wide atten-
ton. .....
lhe poison peaches case" had to
do with MRS. Anna Matneson, who
was WASH indicted IL on a charge OF putting
poison IN some peaches her husband
ate, that the road tor love with her
cousin might be clear. The state
made an EFFORT to prove these allega-
lions by various witnesses at the
trials Of both the wife and Carl
Digre, the cousin.
Martin Matneson Died Last July.
On July "a, 1920, Martin Matheson,
a carpenter OF meagre means died at
Sherman, a small town near here,
and 1t wa not until three weeks later
mat states attorneys decided to con-
duct John Doe" investigation into
circumstances surrounding his death.
Mathesons wife, Mrs. Anna Mathe-
son, middle aged woman and her
cousin, Carl Digre, aged forty, testi-
ned at the hearing, and Immediately
afterwards, Mrs. Malheson was ar
rested and charged with her hus-
bands murder.
Acting on information alleged to
have been givn by the woman, off
Gals later arrested Digre and formally
charged him with completely in the
killing. Both were indicated by a
special grand jury, the first to be i'm
paneled in Minnehaha county in six
teen years. Digre furnished $4,000
bail, the largest ever given in the
state, but Mrs. Matheson was unable
to raise like amount. Officials, in
the meantime had exonerated John
Digre, a brother of Carl. John Digre
had been implicatd by Mrs. Matfe-
son, according to the police, in order
that she might shield Carl.
It was brought out at the trial of
Digre. which preceded the trial of
Mrs. Matheson, that the two had been
friends for many years. Digre had
given Matheson and his wife free rent
IN their home near Sherman. In July,
1920, while Matheson was working
In this city, according to the testi-
money at Digre's trial, Digre came
here from Sherman and returned to
that place with him. They were met
at Matheson's home by Mrs. Mathe-
son. Peaches were served at the
evening repast. Matheson complain
ing they tasted bitter" He became
II crfMn
effects, day later returning to his
employment here.
Digre Professed innocence.
Some days later, Digre again came
for him, this time, taking him to his
(Digre's) home in Sherman, where
Mrs. Matheson had been doing some
work. Following the evening meal
there, Matheson died in great pain.
The attending physician at the time
said he believed Matheson's death
was due to natural causes, A few
report of Matheson's death being
due to foul play and an autopsy dis
closed particles Of poison in his
stomach. The John Doe" hearing
Digre, throughout his, trial pro.
fessed his innocence, and Mrs. Mathe-
SON, by her constitutional right re-
FUSED to answer certain direct ques-
tons by States Attorney James O..
Berdahl at her trial. Berdahl AYERS
that Mrs. Matheson made certain con-
fessions prior to her trial admitting
her part in the crime, and fmrlicat-
ing Digre, but Digre vigorously de-
MED these.
Contempt Proceedings For News
paper.
Judge Fleeger, who presided at the
trial ordered that contempt Pro-
ceedings be instituted against Geo.
w. Egan. newspaper publisher. Dur
ing the trial Egan's newspaper pub
lished story In which It was said
that 1t was foregone conclusion
that Mrs. Matheson would be &C
quilted. Egan has been cited to ap-
uaar hefnra .IId9a ElaeRar 9 n m