Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Ludington Appeal October 27, 1898 GLASS IN OATMEAL THE REASON JOHN SANDERSON OCTOGENARIAN DIED. His Widow Now in Jail for Murder - Sent There Because of the Very Incriminating Confession of the Hired Girl Backed by Post Mortem Investigation. Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 24. - Mrs. MARY BUTTERFIELD- SANDERSON, the 28-year-old wife of the late octogenarian, RODOLPHUS SANDERSON, bank director and wealthy citizen of Battle Creek, was taken to the county jail at Marshall at 3 o'clock yesterday morning, where she will be held pend- ing a preliminary hearing on the charge of murdering her husband. She is accused of feeding him with ground glass in his breakfast oatmeal. The case is the most sensation- al in the history of this part of the state, and the city is in a turmoil. Nine persons out of ten are of the opinion that the bride of a few weeks will not have an easy task of clearing herself of the charge preferred against her. An eagerness to gain immediate control of SANDERSON'S estate is suggested as the probable motive for the crime, if such it be. Case of December and May SANDERSON, who was 80 years old, died suddenly on Oct. 4 under circumstances which set tongues wagging freely. He married in Windsor, Ont., on July 6 last Miss BUTTERFIELD, a graduate of Ann Arbor Training School for Nurses. On Oct. 6 the body was interred in Oak Hill cemetery in this city, and the matter was given no particular thought until stories circulated by a servant in the SANDERSON home reached friends of the dead man. The statements of the servant were enlarged upon by outsiders, and an investigation is said to have re- vealed the circumstances that Mrs. SANDERSON neglected to call a physician when symptoms of her aged husband's ill- ness first appeared. His sudden death was said to be due to paralysis, and this was the impression which the public and relatives of SANDERSON first obtained. What the Servant Has Confessed. MARIE HENDERSON, the servant, who has been in custody for several days, has confessed that she was to get $6,000 or its equivalent for her share in helping to get SANDERSON out of the way. She has admitted to an officer working un- der directions of Prosecuting Attorney LOCKTON that lamp chimneys were ground in a spice mill in the basement of the SANDERSON home. It was her statement that induced the author- ities to send the stomach and intestinal parts to Ann Arbor for analysis. Mrs. SANDERSON'S peculiar conduct during the period following the marriage caused much talk. She is said to have received young men at her home at late hours and to have entertained them while her aged husband remained alone in an obscure corner of their roomy and comfortable home. Brother-in-Law Becomes Suspicious. So much was said of her freedom in bestowing her attentions upon two or three young men of the community that the stories reached the ears of ONYX ADAMS, brother of the first Mrs. SANDERSON, a farmer whose home is a few miles from Battle Creek. This fact induced him to watch for developments, and a few days after the old man's death he learned enough to cause him to visit the authorities. Sheriff STONE was seen, and aided by Police Captain HAMILTON, he sought sufficient information upon which to base preliminary action. The result of this was that Wednesday night, Oct. 12, an undertaker raised the body in the presence of the local authorities and the cemetery trustees. The body was found to be reasonably well preserved when uncovered at midnight in a barn, which was guarded by police to prevent the intrusion of curious people who had in some manner learned of the noc- turnal trip to the graveyard. An immediate examination of the corpse was made by Coroner MILLER and Drs. PITCHER and WATTIES. The brain, stomach, kidneys, heart and other por- tions were removed and sent to Ann Arbor medical experts for analysis. They are reported to have found pulverized glass in sufficient quantities to cause death. Meantime, Sheriff STONE, his deputies and the police, aided by relatives of SANDERSON, had pried into the conduct of the young wife prior to and following the old man's death. They claim to have found sufficient knowledge to warrant them in making the accusation that she hoodwinked SANDERSON into marrying her. But this she denies. On the contrary, she claims it was he who pestered her into forming the alliance. She says that he told a pathetic story of old age and deso- lation and that he required the care of one experienced in nursing as she was. On top of this is the report that he settled $7,000 upon her immediately before their marriage in the Ontario town. His will, dated in 1882, bequeaths all his property to his first wife and daughter, both now dead. Mrs. SANDERSON showed remarkable self-control when arrested and denied her guilt. She would have talked freely but for the caution of her attorney. Immediately after her arrest she was taken to Justice LEWIS' court, where she was formally charged with the murder. The sheriff, however, secured a continuance un- til next Thursday, and the woman was remanded to jail. Her home was formery (sic) at Baraboo, Wis. Her first intro- duction to Battle Creek was in March or April last. Mrs. SANDERSON is above average height, has black hair and eyes, full lips, good complexion, and a fair figure. She is sprightly, and, though not pretty, has an expres- sive countenance. Her wonderfully penetrative eyes would attract attention anywhere. Since her aged husband's death she has been seeking a female companion of cheerful dis- position, having made application through a local bureau. Mrs. SANDERSON's parents, brothers and sisters live at Baraboo. Her father, HARRY M. BUTTERFIELD, is a retired farmer. The young woman sewed occassionally in tailor shops until 1895. She has two sisters in Baraboo who are divorcees. SELLS THE ESTATE. Woman Accused of Murder Disposes of Her Property. Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 25 - EDWARD and GEORGE STRING- HAM, local business men, have bought the estate of Mrs. RODOLPHUS SANDERSON, who is charged with murdering her husband, from GAVIN RITCHIE, who gave $6,000 for it. RITCHIE paid $1,000 down and promised to pay $5,000 more. The estate is worth many times this amount, but no one cared to risk much money in it. It is understood that the STRINGHAM brothers have been informed by lawyers that even if Mrs. SANDERSON is proven guilty by law she is entitled to the money mentioned in the will made in 1882, which says: "My wife and daughter." It is now hinted that several others will be implicated in the murder. It is charged by a servant girl that Mrs. SANDERSON gave powdered glass to her husband in his oatmeal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chicago Tribune December 23, 1899 MRS. SANDERSON IS FREE WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HER HUSBAND ACQUITTED. Jury at Marshall, Mich., Finds for the Prisoner After Four Hours' Deliberation - She Collapses in Her Father's Arms on Hearing the Verdict - History of the Case - Accused by a Servant of Feeding Ground Glass to Her Husband. Marshall, Mich., Dec. 23. - [Special.] - The jury in the case of Mrs. MARY BUTTERFIELD-SANDERSON, charged with killing her husband, rendered a verdict of not guilty at 12:01 this morning, after four hours deliberation. Mrs. SANDERSON burst into tears and collapsed in her father's arms when she heard the verdict. She soon revived and thanked each juror personally. During the evening the jury came in once and asked for information from Professor PRESCOTT, the analyst, who testified in the finding of glass in SANDERSON'S stomach. Mrs. MARY BUTTERFIELD-SANDERSON was the 28-year-old wife of RODOLPHUS SANDERSON, bank director and wealthy citizen of Battle Creek. SANDERSON was 80 years old, when he died suddenly on Oct. 4, 1898, under circumstances which set tongues wagging. He had only been married about four months. The widow was finally arrested, charged with causing his death by feeding him ground glass. Mrs. BUTTERFIELD was a graduate of the Ann Arbor Training School for Nurses. Mr. SANDERSON'S death had been said to be due to paralysis, but MARIE HENDERSON, a servant, told that she had received $6,000 for her share in helping to get SANDER- SON out of the way. She said that she assisted in giving him ground glass, as his wife desired to get rid of him. The ser- vant admitted that she had some trouble with Mrs. SANDERSON. The statements of the servant resulted in the authorities exhuming the body. An examination of the corpse was made by Coroner MILLER and two physicians and the stomach was sent to Ann Arbor Medical Institute for analysis. It was alleged that the physicians reported that pulverized glass in sufficient quantities to cause death was found. In the meantime the Sheriff had been making investigation of the conduct of Mrs. SANDERSON before the death of her hus- band, and it was alleged that she had acted indecorously by receiving visits from young men. Mrs. SANDERSON was arrested on Oct. 22. She showed remarkable self-control and denied her guilt. She insisted that the charge had been trumped up against her by interested parties. She denied all connivance with the servant and insisted that the woman had been bribed. Mrs. SANDERSON never changed her attitude, always insisting that she had been wrongfully accused. LUCIUS SANDERSON, an attorney in Chicago, and CHARLES P. SANDERSON of Milwaukee, brothers of the dead man, professed to believe in the innocence of the accused. Mrs. SANDERSON'S home was formerly at Baraboo, Wis. She went to Battle Creek a couple of months before her marriage to SANDERSON. Afterward she went to Chicago. About this time SANDERSON'S daughter died, and learning of this the young woman wrote a letter of condolence to him, saying that she knew a family of SANDERSON'S and wondered if he was a rela- tive. This was the beginning of the acquaintance between the old man and the nurse. ==========================================================================