SLIFER

SLIFER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 12:06:32

CHEMIST NOT READY
Hearing in Slifer Murder Mystery Is Therefore Postponed

Grundy Center, Jan. 8.—Because of the fact that State Chemist Macy is not yet ready to report on the examination of the contents of the stomach of Mrs. William Slifer, late of Melrose township, the preliminary hearing of the woman's husband on a charge of first degree murder was continued by mutual consent in the court of Justice Crary today. The date of the hearing has now been set for Monday, January 18, at 9 o'clock.

The stomach of Mrs. Slifer, who was supposed to have committed suicide by drinking two ounces of chloroform on the night of December 19, 1903, was sent to the state chemist to be examined. Analysis of the contents will be made, and in this manner, it is thought will be determined largely the guilt or innocence of the husband. If the woman drank the contents of the bottle, as is claimed, a case of murder can hardly be proved. If it is found that the stomach did not contain the poison, but, instead, that death resulted from the drug administered as an anesthetic, the state will consider it has a good case. Friends and relatives of Slifer and his wife are divided in their opinion regarding the merit of the case.

--The Waterloo Semi-Weekly Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 12 January 1904