The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-07
STATE POUNDS
KOLB DEFENSE
NPOISON CASE
Call so Witnesses in Effort
TO Blast Suicide
Theory.
PUSH INSURANCE POINT
Mother Tells of Capsule
Given Daughter Shortly
Before Death.
BIZ Tfmes Special
-.

BIZ Times SDeciaf
GREENFIELD, Ind, July T.
Death OF Mrs. Edna Dagler Kolb,
third wife Of George Kolb. 81. Rush
vile farmer, was related in court
here today as states attorneys pre-
sented witnesses seeking to prove
that Rolb murdered Mrs. Kolb last
October.
The state IS demanding Kolb pay
FOR the alleged poison Staying of his
wife with mis- life in the electric
chair at the state prison at Michi-
gan City.
Mrs. Eva Offutt, mother of Mrs.
Kolb. testified her daughter shortly
before her death said she had taken
medicine for a cold and that George
gave me a quinine capsule"
The state will attempt to show
Kolb often gave Mrs. Kolb quinine
in capsules and took some himself.
but viii allege that on the day of
her death he placed strychnine in
the capsule he gave his wife.
Actions Part of Plan"
His actions in taking his wife to
her mothers and then escorting
members the family to cSurch,
leaving Mrs. Kolk alone, has been
described by states attorneys as is
plan to hive her die while alone in
the house.
Defense attorneys claim Mrs
Ko,b took the poison after being
.-----t-brolen o.er the death Of her
son. Russell Dagler. = few weeks
previous to her death.
Mrs. Bertha Adams of Rushville
testified that Mrs. Bessie True,
daughter of Kolb. exclaimed after
Mrs. Kolb's death that "Edna's
death came so suddenly and was so
strange"
Mrs. Bernice Greeley Of Rush
vile related that Kolb told her ne
had more insurance on Edna than
anybody thought" and that he had
taken out a policy on her shortly
after our marriage"
Courtroom Is Crowded
Mrs. Kolb died five months after
her marriage TO Kolb.
The courtroom was crowded to-
day. Ma ority of the spectators we're
women. Spectators lined up outside
the courtroom ana sat on radiators,
waiting for an opportunity to obtain
seats.
on cross examination, John H.
Kiplinger, defense attorney, brought
out that Mrs. Kolb never men
toned her troubles and that she at
tempted To hide her grief over the
death of her son.
Chief point of the states case is
the allegation that Kolb, after he
had attempted suicide while the
Rush county grand jury was in
vestigating Mrs. Kolbs death, told
doctors It took two capsules and
gave Edna one" He is alleged to
have administered the poison to his
wife in a quinine capsule.
The state will paint Kolb as a
triple obseSsion man, whose obses-
sions we're women, insurance and
Strychnine"
Opposition Is Expected
Efforts will be made to get testi-
mony before the jury relative to
the alleged poison death of Kolb's
second wife, Mrs. Maggie Kolb,
three years ago. for which he is
under indictment for murder in
Rush county.
II this is possible. over opposition
by defense attorneys, the state then
will build up the theory that Kolb
killed his wives for their insur-
ance.
Judge Arthur c. Van Duyn is ex-
pected to adjourn court from
wednesday until Monday. The
states case, with a large amount of
technical testimony by physicians,
probably will not be completed
until lext week. The trial is ex-
pected to last at least three weeks.