Victims:
Jan. 24, 1891 – Harry E. Whitten, husband, died, Dover, Maine, (Chicago Tribune).
Sep. 19, 1902 – Frannie B. Whitten, daughter (11), died,
Dexter, Maine
Nov. 27, 1902 – Jennie E. Whitten, daughter (9), died,
Dexter, Maine
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FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 3): Dexter, Me., November 30. – Mrs.
Hattie Whitten, who was arrested yesterday on the charge of having poisoned her
9-year-old daughter, from whose funeral she had just returned, committed
suicide today by hanging while in the custody of the deputy sheriff. Her death
ends a case which promised to be as sensational as any inquired into in many
years.
Mrs. Whitten is suspected also of having caused the death of
an elder daughter, aged 11, on September 19 last, and this body has been
exhumed. Both children died suddenly, when previously they had appeared to be
in the best of health. Mrs. Whitten’s husband also died suddenly two years ago.
The children were insured for $56 and $85, respectively. As a cause of death
the physician’s certificate mentioned meningitis and heart failure.
An autopsy on the body of the younger girl disclosed arsenic
and strychnine. The result of the autopsy on the older girl has not been made
public. The woman was taken in charge by a deputy sheriff, and this afternoon
being left alone, she tied together two towels and hanged herself to a bed
post.
A coroner’s jury had reported that the girl’s death was due
to poison administered by the mother. Mrs. Whitten was arraigned on Saturday.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder and was held until Tuesday for a
hearing.
Since her death some of the evidence presented before the
coroner’s jury has been made public. It was shown that she brought laudanum,
arsenic and castor oil the day prior to the death of her daughter in September,
and strychnine and arsenic on three days the past week. Dr. Murphy, who
attended both children, said if poison was given the poison undoubtedly was
administered in oil, that it might pass through the stomach into the
intestines and to make useless a stomach pump. As regards the second child it
was shown that on Tuesday Mrs. Whitten left a postal card of the post-office
calling Dr. Murphy to attend the child, regardless of the fact that he lives
only a half mile from where she was stopping
and has a telephone.
Mrs. Whitten was about 45 years of age and came here from
Dover, Maine, three months ago.
[“Died Self-Slain After Poisoning Her Daughter – Tragic
Death of Mrs. Whitten Who Killed Her Children and Husband. – Arrested While
Returning From Child’s Funeral – After Her Arrest She Secured Two Towels and
Ended Her Miserable Existence – Wanted To Get Insurance on Their Lives.” The
Atlanta Constitution (Ga.), Nov. 30, 1902, p. 12]
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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 3): Bangor, Me., Nov. 20. – Mrs.
Hattie L. Whitten, of Dexter, who was arrested on Saturday, charged with the
murder of her two little daughters, Jennie and Fannie, committed suicide by
hanging this afternoon in the house of Deputy Sheriff Leslie Curtis, where she was being held, pending a
further hearing in the case next Thursday.
Deputy Sheriff Curtis had kept close watch upon Mrs. Whitten
until 2 p. m., when he went out to care for his horse, leaving his prisoner in
care of his wife. Mrs. Whitten asked for two towels, which were brought by Mrs.
Curtis, who then stepped out of the room. Five minutes later, when Mrs. Whitten
had hanged herself by means of the towels to the bedpost. Physicians were
called, but the woman was dead.
It has been found that Mrs. Whitten came of a respectable
family, but has led rather an irregular life since her husband died four [sic]
years ago. She was addicted to morphine, and her children say that for several
days before her arrest and suicide she was mentally unbalanced. Since she came
to Dexter for four months ago, Mrs. Whitten has kept company with a weaver
named Sutro, and it is said that they were about to be married.
[“Murderess Suicides – She Was Accused of Having Poisoned
Her Own Daughters, Jennie, and Fannie. – Was Probably Insane,” The Scranton
Republican (Oh.), Dec. 1, 1902, p. 1]
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FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 3): Dexter, Me. – Mrs. Hattie L.
Whitten, who was arrested charged with having poisoned her nine-year-old
daughter, from whose funeral she had just returned, committed suicide by
hanging from a bedpost while in the custody of Deputy Sheriff Curtis.
Her death ends a case which promised, from the suspicions
held against Mrs. Whitten, to be as sensational as any inquired into in Maine
for a long time.
Mrs. Whitten was suspected not only of having caused the
death of the child just buried, but also that of her husband, who died two
years ago, even that of an elder daughter, aged eleven, who died September 19
last. Both children died suddenly when just previously had appeared to be in
the best of health. The children were insured for $56 and $85 respectively.
Suspicion having been aroused by the death of a younger
Thursday the physicians decided to hold an autopsy. The autopsy was held while
the body was at the cemetery awaiting interment. Traces of arsenic and
strychnine were found. Mrs. Whitten’s arrest followed.
Without delay a Coroner’s jury was impaneled, and on
evidence presented it was reported that the girl’s death was due to poison
administered by the mother.
Since Mrs. Whitten’s death some of the evidence presented
before the Coroner’s jury has been made public. It was shown that she bought
laudanum, arsenic and castor oil the day prior to the death of one daughter, in
September, and strychnine and arsenic on three days of last week.
The autopsy showed evidences of poisoning in the stomach,
intestines and brain, warranting of sending these parts to Professor Robinson,
of Bowdoin College, for analysis. The stomach and intestines from the body of
the elder daughter, which was exhumed, were also sent to Professor Robinson.
Mrs. Whitten was about forty-five years of age, and came her
from Dover, this State, three months ago.
An incident just brought out that last Monday Jennie, then
in good health, was selling small wares from house to house, stating that with
the proceeds she intended to purchase her mother a Christmas present, and at
the same time her mother was at the drug store purchasing poison.
[“Child Poisoner A Suicide – Woman Arrested at Dexter, Me.,
Hangs Herself. – Victims’ Lives Were Insured – The Accused Murderess Also Was
Suspected of Having Killed Her Husband, Who Died Two Years Ago – She Had
Purchased Poisonous Drugs and Gave Them to Her Little Daughters.” The Western
North Carolina Times (Hendersonville, N. C.), Dec. 5, 1902, p. 5]
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[974-1/12/21]
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