State Asks For Death Penalty

MINER, HARTWIG, PAUL, FORTNEY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/29/2012 at 16:30:46

Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, March 4, 1930

State Asks For Death Penalty For Olin Slayers

Mrs. Tilda Miner and her 64 year old paramour, Albert Hartwig of Olin are facing the death penalty for the alleged slaying of the former's husband last Tuesday. County Attorney C. B. Paul of Jones County filed information against the pair last week, who were arraigned before the district judge yesterday and who will be tried in the March term of court which opens this week. Since the arrest of Hartwig and Mrs. Miner, authorities have been weaving a web about the pair and have succeeded in obtaing sufficient evidence to convict them, according to persons in the neighborhood. Fred Fortney, a friend of the poisoned victim, by posing as a friend of Hartwig, learned through him what he, Hartwig, had done with the poison that he had purchased at the Olin Drug Store, claiming that he wanted to kill rats. The poison was traced to the Miner home, and after considerable grilling, Mrs. Miner confessed that she had filled the capsules with the poison and mixed them with the medicine capsules her husband was taking for his illness. Many Olin residents believe that the crime had been planned for some time and that the poison could be given, which would result in his doing away with Mr. Miner, and that owing to his ill health his death would be attributed to suicide. After her arrest Mrs. Miner attempted suicide by taking three of the poison capsules, but the fact that she took an overdose together with prompt medical treatment, her death was frustrated.