Martha Petromany, Husband-Killing Syndicate Matron - 1906

FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 2): Vienna, Dec. 14.—Five men and two women were recently arrested at Knez, in the Temesvar district of Hungary, for having poisoned their wives and husbands.

Martha Petromany, a woman who is known as the "poison mixer," was also placed in custody for having sold them arsenic to commit the murders.

A judge who has been investigating the cases now reports that there has seen wholesale poisoning in the district, and further arrests have been made. Catherine Biber is accused of poisoning her son-in-law, because he was a drunkard, and also her parents, in order to obtain the family estate.

Vassa Ardaloan is charged with poisoning a wealthy widow aunt, whose sole legatee he was; Lenka Rogyok with poisoning her husband, who had willed his properly to her; Nicholas Glass with poisoning Anton Braun, to marry his widow, and Julia Wulcslsich with poisoning her elderly husband to marry a young lover.

The poison in all cases is to have been provided by Martha Petromany, who is alleged to have charged $4.50 in each case. The attention of the police was directed to the murder epidemic by an anonymous letter.

[“Poison In Hungarian Town – Five Men and two women arrested for having killed their wives and husbands.” The Anaconda Standard (Mt.), Dec. 15, 1906, p. 15]
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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 2): BUDA PESTH, November 22. – The bodies of 25 persons poisoned by arsenic have been exhumed at Knez, Hungary. Two peasant women have been arrested who sold poisons to people who wished to rid themselves of married partners. Five male and two female peasants have been charged with murder.

[“Austro-Hungary. A Hungarian Sensation.” Syndicated (Press Association), The Waganui Herald (N.Z.), Nov. 23, 1906, p. 5]

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►Related cases (Knez, 1906):

Frau Hazyok

Catherine Biber

“Knez Four-Time Black Widow”

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For more than two dozen similar cases, dating from 1658 to 2011, see the summary list with links see: The Husband-Killing Syndicates

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