The Indianapolis times., 1930-07-09
KOLB PAINTED
AS MONEY-MAD
POISON KILLER
State Hammers Hard at
Defense Contention of
Suicide.
KIN RIDDLE HIS STORY
Victims Given StryChnine,
Told 1t Was Aspirin,
Prosecution Says.
KIN RIDDLE HIS STORY
BIZ Times Special


GREENFIELD, Ind, July 9.-Re-
vealing in detail the financial status
of George Kolb, 55, Rushville farm
er, prior to deaths of two of his
wives, the state today sought to
impress on a Hancock circuit court
jury that Kolb murdered the wives
for their estates.
Little by little the prosecution is
constructing picture OF lust and
greed alleged to have incited Kolb
to poison the two women, for MUIR
der of one of whom, the third wife.
the state is seeking Kolb's life in
the electric chair.
Three bankers occupied the wit
ness stand today. Two of them re-
cited figures from their records
which the state declared disclosed
that, preceding deaths of Mrs.
Maggie RhoadeS Laramore Kolb,
the second wife, and Mrs. Edna
Dagler Kolb, wife number three.
Kolb's accounts were small. The
$4,000 estate of the former, and a
$1,000 estate of the latter swelled
the accounts after their deaths.
Poisoning, Says Doctor
On the stand this morning also
was DR.. c. L. Smullen of Raleigh.
who attended the second wife when
She died. He said at that time he
signed her death certificate, giving
heart disease as the cause.
Later he attended Kolb, when the
latter attempted suicide last winter,
he said. After observing Kolb's
symptoms, he changed his mind
concerning the cause of the second
Wife'S demise. She died of strych-
nine poisoning, he said he believed.
The state continued its exarni-
nation of members Of the FAM
lily of the second wife, Maggie
Rhoades Laramore Kolb, in an ef-
fort to show that the desire for in
Surance which it is alleged mott
vated the death of the third wife.
Edna Dagler Kolb, also caused the
poisoning OF her predecessor.
Defense Fights Hard
This examination is being made
over the constant objections of de-
tense attorneys, who are watching
carefully the record so an appeal
may be taken if Kolb is declared
guilty by the jury of ten farmers
and two school teachers.
Headed by John H. Kiplinger. de-
fense attorneys today contended
again that as Kolb was being tried
for the murder of his third wife.
circumstances surrounding the death
Of his second wife are not adnnis-
sible. But Judge Arthur c. Van
Duyn of the Hancock circuit court
has overruled these objections, per-
mitting exceptions to be taken.
The state has commended that the
Strychnine which caused Mrs. Kolb's
death was given to her in a capsule
by Kolb, who declared that it was
quinine.
Defendant Is Nervous
White-faced and trembling, the
gray-haired man charged with being
the "Hoosier Bluebeard," stared
f1xedly before him as the testimony
was given.
Strychnine disguised as an aspirin
tablet caused the death of the sec
ond Mrs Kolb, the state attempted
TO show, through testimony of James
2hoades. farmer, brother of the
woman.
RhoadeS was called to his sisters
nome the morning of April %, 1928.
when she died. He described her
commissions. similar to those which
occurred shortly before the death
Of third wife, and which DR.. r. o.
Kennedy, Rushville, the attending
physician declared are peculiar to
cases of strychnine poisoning.
"Dr. Smullen who was called,
asked Maggie what she had taken"
Rhoadc5 said.
Called Insurance Agent
Maggie s-swered that she had
taken an aspirin tablet, and then
George, the defendant, said:
II had an aspirin tablet in my
vest pocket and gave it to her. 1t
was as good as If in the box" the
witness testified
Mrs. Hershel Rhoades, sister-in-
law of the second wife, declared
that Kolb called the insurance agent
at Knightstown Immediately after
his wife died md that the agent
drove p to the house shortly there
after.
Testimony also disclosed that
Kolb had admitted having strych-
nine on his farm during the late
spring and summer of 1929, but de-