POISON MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11813, 16 November 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

POISON MYSTERY.

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR IN AMERICA. Mrs. Maui* Belle Witwtcr, a widow of middle age. has been arrested at Dayton (Ohio), pending an investigation into the cause of the death of her sister, Mrs. Anna Pugh Mrs. Pugh.died a few days ago. Her mother became suspicious as to the circumstances attending the event, and confided hoi suspicions to the coroner, Mr. Hatcher The latter directed Dr. Breidenbach and Dr. Barker to perform an autopsy, and in the sequel the coroner ordered the arrest of Mrs. Witwer, and the police are now engaged 'n trying to unravel the mysstery. Mrs. Witwer fully appreciates her position, but is calm, and laughs at the efforts of the detectives to entrap her, and at the Court's investigation, which she declares will prove her innocence. It appears that the prisoner was first married to Mr. Luther Swanger, of Lebanon (OhioV, about 30 yeiM ago. Her husband and several children bom to them died suddenly. Mr. Frank Brown, a merchant, was Mrs. Witwer's second husband. They lived in Middletown (Ohio), and had three children. Mr. Brown died suddenly, and soon afterwards the three children expired within a brief period of time. The third hiisbaiad was Mr. William Stows. This was an alliance of short duration, for Mr. Stowe a'Jso died suddenly in Middletown. Shortly after Mr. Stowe's demise Mrs. Witwer moved to Dayton (Ohio), where she became hou&tkeeper in the family of Mr. Charles F. Keller;, a widower. He died suddenly. Mr. John A. Wenz, a leading druggist, then employed Mrs. Witwer, and Mrs. Wenz died after a very brief illness. Then the Wenz boy, about four year old, expired suddenly, and Mr. Wenz, the last of the family, soon followed. Mrs. Witwer's next engagement* was in the Gabler family. Mr. Gabler died in a short time, and his wife was buried with him a few days later. Mrs. Witwer married Mr. Frank Witwer last April. After two months of married life Mr. Witwer was taken to the cemetery, and Mrs. Witwer became a widow for the fourth time. Mr. Witwer had several children by ins former wife, but they did not live with hiE\ After Mr. Witwer's death Mrs. Witwer took possesesion of all his property, end had many disputes with hT stepchildren about their shares. Mrs. Witwer is a member of the United Baptist Church, and her friends say she has shown great interest in religious affairs, was much given to meditation, and was an excellent housekeeper. Late advices from Dayton are more favourable to the prisoner. The chemist who was instructed to analyse the 12 drags found in Mrs. Witwer's house reports that he found no poison in 11 of them, hut that one yet remains for examination. It is also declared that the woman's first husband died of smallpox.