FULL TEXT: Considerable mystery surrounds the actions of
Mrs. John A. Maisson, who has been arrested at Kansas City on charge of passing
worthless checks to pay for her husband’s tombstone, the warrant having been
issued at Kankakee, Ill. What makes Racine people interested in the woman in
the statement that she was married three times, all of her husbands dying under
mysterious circumstances. The second husband is said to have been George Lester
of Racine.
Records her do not show that any man by the name of George
Lester has lived or died within the past ten years. They do show, however, that
Fred Lester, aged 32 years, died on September 16, 1903. Whether this was the
husband of the woman is not clear and further investigation is under way.
~ WOMAN IS ARRESTED. ~
Dispatches from Kankatee are in effect that charged with
passing in effect that charged with passing a worthless check with which to pay
for a tombstone erected over her husband’s grave, the widow of John Maisson, of
Flannagan, near that place, has been arrested at Kansas City and will be
brought back to that city for trial as soon as requisition papers can be
secured, the arrest of the woman revives the deep mystery that surrounded the
death of her husband in surrounded the death of her husband in December of last
year. Bearing on this Henry J. Maisson, the woman’s brother-in-law and a
station gent near Kanakee, late Sunday afternoon came out with a statement that
is looked upon as showing that the family of the dead man has not accepted as
natural the brother’s demise.
~ WHAT BROTHER SAYS. ~
“My brother,” Mr. Maisson says, “was married in Milwaukee. We
knew nothing of the marriage until his widow returned to Kankakee with his body
last December. She said she had been married three times, her second husband
having been a George Lester of Racine, Wis. The name of her first husband I
have forgotten. My brother died suddenly of blood-poisoning. The doctors said he
prescribed arsenic, but we have no evidence that my brother was given an
overdose. From what we can learn the woman’s other husbands died in the same
manner.”
~ SEEK AN EXPLANATION. ~
It is said that the Maisson family will endeavor to have the
woman explain all the particulars in connection with the death of all three of
her husbands.
Sheriff Cyrier and State’s Attorney Miller went to
Springfield so as to obtain requisition papers for the widow and she will be at
Kankakee in a few days if she is not successful in resisting eradication. The fact
that Assistant Chief Schuettler of the Chicago police force is related to the
family adds interest to Mrs. Maisson’s alleged escapades.
The woman was the wife of John Maisson, formerly of
Flannagan, Ill., but later of Milwaukee, Wisc.; Mountain Home, Ark., and Clear
Lake, Iowa, where he died in December, 1904. She brought the remains to
Flannagan and announced to the relatives of her husband that she was his wife,
showing a marriage certificate, which proved that she had been married to him
at Milwaukee Feb. 9, 1904. She also said she was the beneficiary of a $2,000
insurance policy which her husband carried.
‘~ HAS CHECK INDORSED. ~
After the funeral she went to Kansas City, where she had
formerly resided, returning to Kankakee a few weeks ago. She was still in deep
mourning and announced to her neighbor’s father at Lanagan that she wished to
erect a tombstone to the memory of her husband. The latter was willing to pay
half the charges and the stone that was ordered from Kaufman & Wallheiser. When
it was finished Mrs. Maisson announced to the family that she would settle for
it and then return home. Before leaving she asked her father-in-law to indorse
a check which she had drawn on the Western Exchange National bank at Kansas
City, payable to herself and amounting to $225. Mr. Maisson did as requested
and she cashed the check at a local bank. She then called on the marble firm. She told
them that she was a little short of currency and wished to pay her share of the
bill by check. The amount was $125.
“And while I am doing it,” she said, with a sweet smile, “I’ll
just make it $175.”
The marble dealers were willing and she got the money. Both
checks were forwarded to Kansas City and came back in a few days marked “No
funds.” The marble dealers swore out the warrant a few days ago and photographs
sent to Kansas City resulted in her arrest.
Mrs. Maisson is about 30 years old.
[“One Husband A Racine Man – George Lester Said to Have Been
One of Mrs. John Maisson’s Three Spouses. – Fred Lester Died in Racine Two
Years Ago – Woman Arrested for Giving a Worthless Check -
Relatives of Last Husband Believe He Expired Under
Suspicious Circumstances.” The Racine Journal (Wi.), Aug. 20, 1905, p. 1]
***
***
FULL TEXT: Mrs. A. A. Maisson, arrested at Kansas City on charge of having swindled a Kankakee, Ill., firm out of considerable money, representing that she wanted the money to erect a tombstone on the grave of her late husband, is well known here.
It was in the year 1902 that she came here. At that time she
was Mrs. Fred A. Lester, and her husband was with her. They came from Manistee,
Mich. A handsome residence, owned by Attorney Thomas M. Kearney was rented on
West Sixth street and the couple kept roomers. The husband was a member of the
Odd Fellow fraternity and affiliated with Lodge 137, while the wife joined the
Lily of the West lodge.
~ TAKEN SUDDENLY ILL ~
She represented that she owned a number of houses in Milwaukee and received high rents for the same. This was found not to be true. In September 1903, Mr. Lester, who was employed as machinist at the Racine Boat Manufacturing Co., was taken suddenly ill. The late Dr. A. L. Buchan was called. He could not agree with the wife in regard to the ailment and treatment and refused to longer have anything to do with the case and Dr. Taylor was called who said the man was suffering with Typhoid fever.
She represented that she owned a number of houses in Milwaukee and received high rents for the same. This was found not to be true. In September 1903, Mr. Lester, who was employed as machinist at the Racine Boat Manufacturing Co., was taken suddenly ill. The late Dr. A. L. Buchan was called. He could not agree with the wife in regard to the ailment and treatment and refused to longer have anything to do with the case and Dr. Taylor was called who said the man was suffering with Typhoid fever.
~ WITNESS KEPT MUM. ~
A few days later he died. Ugly stories gained circulation
and Coroner Jones Hoyle was requested to investigate and was on the point of
stopping the funeral and demanding a post mortem examination of the body, when
the witnesses flunked and refused to appear and give testimony of what they had
seen or knew and on advice of the district attorney the case was dropped.
~ RECEIVED INSURANCE. ~
Afterward Mrs. Lester received $1,000 on the life of her
husband and $50 from the Odd Fellows. She went from here to Milwaukee, opened
two confectionery stores and afterward it was ascertained that she again
married, but to whom was not known. Nothing was heard of her after that until
news of her arrest at Kansas City was reported.
People who knew the woman well will watch with interest the
outcome of her arrest and what develops in regard to the death of her third
husband.
[“Husband Died In Racine, 1902 – Mr. Fed Lester Expired
After Two Doctors Had Been Called to Attend Him. – Coroner Decided to Make a
Post Mortem – But Witnesses Refused to Testify – Present Mrs. Maisson Received
$1000 Insurance and Opened Two Stores in Milwaukee.” Racine Daily Journal (Wi.).
Aug. 29, 1905, p. 5]
***
For links to other cases of woman who murdered 2 or more husbands (or paramours), see Black Widow Serial Killers.
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[81-1/12/21]
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