FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3): Whitewater, Dec. 6. – One of the
most startling criminal cases in the history of Wisconsin may be developed her
within the next few days. About four years ago the Horan family removed to
Whitewater from Koshkonorg, a little place six miles from here, about a year
afterwards, the mother died suddenly, six weeks later the father expired, and a
week after his demise one of the daughters breathed her last. The matter
excited considerable comment at the time, but it seems nearer to have been
considered suspicious enough to warrant a legal investigation. Now another
member, Miss Anna Horan, has died under suspicious circumstances. She was a
dressmaker, being in partnership with Miss Wakeman. A few days ago Miss Horan
complained of feeling ill. Monday night at 11 o’clock she awoke in great pain
and asked Miss Wakeman to send for her friends. Three physicians were called,
but they could not help her, and Tuesday morning she died. An inquest was
subsequently held, and so thoroughly did the physicians believe the girl had
been poisoned that the contents of the stomach were sent to Prof. Bode, of
Milwaukee, for chemical analysis.
The wildest talk is heard on the street, the general opinion
being that the girl was poisoned by outside sources. No motive for such a crime
can be imagined.
The theory of suicide is not entertained, all of her friends
agreeing that such an act was not possible. It is believed that some person has
been pursuing the family for years, and that Miss Anna is the fourth victim.
Who that person is nobody pretends to say with enough facts to warrant an
opinion. Officers are understood to be at work on the case, and should the
chemist establish the girl was poisoned, some startling developments nay be
expected. The public is greatly mystified.
Miss Horan leaves three sisters, Miss Nellie who, for two
years, has worked in The Register office here; Mrs. McCann, of F ort Atkinson,
and another, unmarried, who lives at Pierceville.
The coroner’s jury met to-day and heard testimony of
physicians, who testified the only cause for her death they could find was
poison. None of the organs were diseased. The jury adjourned until next year
Saturday, when Prof. Bode, of Milwaukee, well be examined.
[“Four Mysterious Deaths. – Whitewater Excited Over A
Supposed Murder. – Four Members of One Family Die Mysteriously at Different
Times – Wild Talk, But No Evidence to Fasten the Guilt on Anybody – Officers at
Work.” Milwaukee Daily Journal (Wi.), Dec. 6, 1884, p. 1]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): Elkhorn, Wis., March. 11. – By
the acquittal of Miss Nellie Horan to-day ended the most remarkable trial in
the criminal history of this State. Anna Horan, who kept a millinery store at
Whitewater, Wis., was taken ill on Sunday, Nov. 30, and in spite of all efforts
to save her died on the following Wednesday with all the symptoms of poisoning,
a fact which was conclusively proved by the post-mortem examination. She was a
popular young woman, 30 years old, and her peculiar death revived facts and
suspicions long forgotten. Her parents were early settlers in the country and
ranked high in the community, her father, Joseph Horan, came to Whitewater in
1880 about $5,000. He was then 78 years old. About three years ago he was
suddenly taken sick, and expired during terrible spasms and convulsions. Mrs.
Horan had died a short time previous though under no peculiar circumstances. At
the old man’s funeral the youngest child, Agnes, fell on the new-made grave in
hysterics, and in less than a week was a corpse. The money accumulated by the
old couple had been left to the four unmarried daughters, the youngest, Agnes,
being given rather the largest share. Her sudden death left the money to the
three sisters, Anna, Gertrude, and Nellie taking to typesetting. Anna was a
dressmaker. Nov. 30 she was taken sick and sent for Nellie, who procured and
administered to her what was supposed to be an opium powder. Within a few hours,
after terrible suffering, Anna was dead. A few days before a little girl had
seen Nellie Horan buying strychnine at a drug store, and when this fact became
known the funeral preparations were stopped. Strychnine was found in the
stomach of the dead girl. These facts were sufficient to bring Nellie to trial.
In personal appearance she was prepossessing, though not beautiful. Tall and
graceful, she was intelligent and striking, and her trial which has lasted
since Feb. 27, has attracted general attention. The jury were out but 12
minutes, and returned with a verdict of acquittal, the Judge having instructed
that the evidence was not sufficiently clear to convict. There was a great
sensation in court. The accused girl shook hands with the Judge, jury, and
counsel, and left for Whitewater with her sister and the young man to whom she
was to have married, and who stuck to her through the whole trial.
[“Nellie Horan Acquitted. – Testimony Insufficient To Prove
She Had Committed Four Murders.” New York Times (N.Y.), Mar. 12, 1885, p. 5]
***
NOTE:
Following is an early news report that incorrectly stated that Nellie Horan
(sometimes incorrectly given as Nettie Hoxan) had confessed and committed
suicide.
***
FULL
TEXT (Article 3 of 3): New York, December 8th.—A Whitewater, Wis., dispatch
says: Four years ago the Horan family removed to this place from Koshkanong six
miles distant. One year afterward the mother died suddenly in great agony. The
physicians said the symptoms were those of poisoning, but no legal
investigation was had. Six months later the father died in the same war, and at
the end of another year the first daughter breathed her last. Although
detectives worked on the case for weeks the crime could be fastened on no one.
Now Ann, the last daughter, is dead. The physicians pronounced it strychnine
poisoning, and the girl’s stomach has been sent to Milwaukee for chemical
analysis. It is believed some one has been pursuing the family for years.
[SECOND
DISPATCH.]
Chicago,
December 8th.—To-night the Inter-Ocean has a dispatch from Fort Atkinson, Wis.,
where the Hoxan family formerly lived, and were much respected.
The
dispatch says a report was received there from Whitewater that the third
sister, Miss Nettie, died there to-day of poison, making the fifth member of
the family that in this case it was suicide, and that before her death Nettie
confessed to having murdered her parents and two sisters. It is also asserted
that she confessed to poisoning another person, though this is doubted.
No
cause is assigned. Her own death was brought about by fear of exposure through
the analysis of her sister’s stomach. Nettie was a school teacher, and has two
sisters still living at Fort Atkinson.
[“Mysterious Poisoning.” Sacramento Daily Record-Union
(Ca.), Dec. 9, 1884, p. 2]
NOTE: The San Francisco gives the state of Illinois as the
location of Whitewater, by Wisconsin is clearly correct (due to the mention of
Koshkanong).
***
Suspected Victims:
Annie Horan, sister, died Nov. 20, 1885
Mr. Horan, father, died circa 1882
Mrs. Horan, mother, died circa 1882, 3 weeks after husband’s
death
Aggie Horan, sister, died circa 1882, 2 weeks after mother’s
death
***
***
For more cases of this category, see: Female Serial Killers of 19th Century America (as of January 20, 2014, the collection contains 61 cases)
***
No comments:
Post a Comment