Wilhelmina Weick was suspected of five murders. She was convicted for the final one in the alleged series. Following is Mrs. Wieck’s motion for a change of venue which cites these suspicions.
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EXCERPT: Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 28. – In the case of
Wilhelmina Weick, charged with the murder of her stepson, Michael Weick, who
was found in a well with a kettle with a kettle and chain attached to his neck,
on the 28th of November last, the Coroner’s jury to-day reached a
verdict that the boy came to his death by poison at the hands on his
stepmother. The Mrs. Weick was tried suspicious that she poisoned two husbands
and two or more children. The last husband’s body has been exhumed and the
stomach is now in the hands of a chemist.
MOTION FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE,
[“Buffalo Murders.” The Chicago Daily Tribune (Il.), Dec. 29
[corrected from “28”], 1875, p. 2; two cases are discussed in the article]
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MOTION FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE,
and proceeded to read the following
affidavits in support of the same;
STATE of NEW YORK,
County of Erie, City of Buffalo
Wilhelmina Weick, being duly sworn, disposes
and says: That she resides in the city of Buffalo, and has resided here for
more than eight years last past. That she is now under indictment, charged with
having murdered or poisoned one Michael Weick. Deponent further says that she is informed by her
counsel, and verily believes the fact to be true, that a fair and impartial
trial of the indictment under which she now stands charged cannot be had in
Erie county. That as she is informed by her said counsel and believes to be
true, the public press of Buffalo and Erie county have published many and
exhaustive articles relating to the aforesaid murder, in all of which she is
charged, or it is intimated that she committed the said murder. That wrong,
false, malicious and unfounded articles have been published and circulated
concerning her, falsely and maliclously charging and intimating that deponent
had murdered or poisoned her two husbands, and also had killed one or two
children in Germany. That such article was widely circulated within the county
of Erie, and deponent verily believes that there could and that there still
exist a wide spread and deep set indignation and prejudice against her; so much
so that it would be impossible to procure an intelligent, impartial and
unprejudiced jury to try her on said charge.
Signed WILHELMINA WEICK.
Sworn to before me, this 7th day of March,
1876.
Ph. Stellwagen.
Notary Public
[“Wilhelmina Weick. He Case Called Yesterday in the Court of
Oyer and Terminer – A Motion for a Change of Venue on account of “Base, False,
and Malicious Charges of the Newspapers, etc. – The Motion Denied – The Trial
Put Over Until the Next Term, Etc., Etc.” Evening Republic (Buffalo, N. Y.),
Mar. 9, 1876, p. 2?]
***
FULL TEXT: Buffalo, June 5. – Wilhelmina Weick who was
convicted of the murder of her step son Michael Wieck in November last, was
this morning sentenced to be hung on the 21st day of July, 1876. the sentence
was received with stoical indifference.
[“A Woman to Hang.” Oswego Daily Times (N. Y.), Jun. 5, 1876, p. 1]
[“A Woman to Hang.” Oswego Daily Times (N. Y.), Jun. 5, 1876, p. 1]
***
FULL TEXT: July 15, 1876. Wilhelmina Weick.
Sentenced June 5, 1876; county, Erie; crime, murder; to be hanged July
21, 1876; prison, county jail. Sentence commuted to imprisonment in the State
prison at Sing Sing for the term of her natural life. [Documents of the
Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 8; Volume 100, Issue 8, p. 21]
***
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For links to other cases of woman who murdered 2 or more husbands (or paramours), see Black Widow Serial Killers.
[734-12/27/20]
***
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