The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-17
TO
TAKE STAND IN
POISON TRIAL
George KoIb viii Deny He
Killed Two Wives With
StryChnine.
DOCTORS AID HIS CASE
Verdict May Hinge on Last
Meal Eaten by Woman
on Day of Death.
DOCTORS AID HIS CASE
BY BEN STERN
Times Staff Correspondent


GREENFIELD, Ind, July IL
From George Kolb, SIS, Rushville
farmer, whom the state terms a
"Hoosier Bluebeard," a Hancock
circuit court jury this afternoon was
to hear denials that he murdered
two of his three wives.
Kolb was expected to relate the
story of the deaths of his wives,
Matte Laramore Kolb, and Edna
Dagler Kolb, admitting none but
amicable relations with both, and
denying administering any pills or
capsules to the latter. for whose
murder he now is on trial.
On the stand this morning, Fred
erick c. Atkinson, Indianapolis
chemist, said that tablets similar
to cold pills taken by Edna before
her death contained acetanilide,
which rendered Strychnine tests i'm
possible.
He took pills on exhibit in the
trial, and will remove the acetan-
Hide, test for Strychnine, and de-
tense attorneys who will place him
on the stand following the tests,
say he will have found strychnine
in Edna's simple cold pills.
Pound Murder Theory
Never denying the testimony of
DIR. r. N. Karger, toxicologist, that
the stomacEs of both women con-
tanned strychnine, the defense has
used the testimony of four physi-
clans to batter down the murder
theories advanced by the state.
These are.
/. Matte Kolb, in a purported
conversation with physician short
" before death, declared that
George gave her an aspirin tablet
shortly before the fatal attack. The
state charges this aspirin really was
strychniie pellet,
2. Edna Kolb, in a pSlrported last
minute conversation, is said TO nave
declared that Kolb gave her a qul-
nine tablet before they left home TO
attend Sunday school. The prose-
cution AYERS that this capsule con-
tanned Strychnine.
The defense has responded with
the testimony Of physician that
Matte Kolb told him she had been
taking strychnine tables to stlrll-
ulate her heart, and two other
physicians have declared that
strychnine has cumulative effect
which probably caused her death.
Build Suicide Defense
In an effort to build up a theory
that Edna committed suicide, the
defense called four physicians, who
testified in answer to a hypothet-
ical question, that: If the capsule
of strychnine had been taken before
Kolb and his wife left home that
Sunday morning she would have
showed symptoms by the time they
reached her mothers home in
Rushville.
DR.. Henry r. Alberger, well-known
Indianapolis pathologist; DR.. Virgil
j. truth. Connersville; DR.. Oscar
Heller. Greenfield, and DR.. Charles
Titus. wilkinson, testified that
strychnine symptoms normally are
evident within thirty minutes TO an
hour after the alkaloid Is taken ana
in only rare instances are the symp-
toms delayed two or three hours.
1T is possible. but very improp-
able. that the symptoms would be
delayed" the physicians concurred
in saying.
Hinges on Meal
Paul Benson, former Henry coun-
ty prosecutor, asked what conditions
would have delayed the action Oh
strychnine. The physicians said
that a heavy meal eaten shortly be-
fore ingestion of the poison might
have caused it to act sluggishly.
The defense, through the testi-
mony of William and Raymond
Kolb, sons of the defendant, con-
tended that Edna had eaten only
some cereal, and drank some water
and coffee before leaving home,
therefore if the poison had been ad-
ministed at that time the symptoms
would have been evident upon her
arrival in Rushville.
Benson, in cross-examination Oh
the boys, attempted to show they
had testified to the grand jury that
their stepmother had eaten rice,
meat. potatoes, bread and coffee be-
fore the trip to Rushville.
If the states contention is correct,
the action of the strychnine may
have been retarded. Otherwise, the
defense has built up a strong sui
eide theory, it is indicated.