13Aug37: Poison Bottle Links Woman To Deaths

DETROIT EVENING TIMES

Dateline: Friday, August 13, 1937

FRONT PAGE

Poison Bottle Links Woman To Deaths

International News Service Wire

CINCINNATI, Aug. 13.–The mysterious death of a fifth elderly man acquainted with blond Mrs. Anna Marie Hahn, 31, former German school teacher, complicated police investigation today of her activities shortly after a bottle of poison was taken from a locker of her husband in a downtown telegraph office.

Officers received a report from August Schultz that George Gsellman, 67, a former neighbor, was seen in Mrs. Hahn’s company shortly before his death July 6. Gsellman’s death was the fifth reported.

Held on a larceny charge, Mrs. Hahn, said to be the widow of a Viennese physician, denied any connection with the five deaths under inquiry, including that of Ernest Kohler, an elderly team-

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Suspect Grilled As 5 Die

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ster, who died several years ago, willing her his home.

GETS LARGE FUND

Lieut. George Schattle declared investigation has shown that Mrs. Hahn had received from $50,000 to $70,000 in the past eight years from elderly friends.

The poison, taken from the locker of Mrs. Hahn’s second husband, Philip, a telegraph operator, was said to induce a violent dysentery. Hahn was not held, explaining he had held the half-bottle with the intention of turning it over to the authorities.

His refusal to return it to his wife, he told police, resulted in a domestic quarrel which led him to leave their home for a week.

Schultz, on reporting the most recent unsolved death, was confronted by Mrs. Hahn at police head quarters. When he saw her he exclaimed:
“That’s the woman.”

ACCUSED OF THEFT

Inquiry began when Mrs. Hahn was accused of stealing a $300 ring in Colorado Springs, Colo., where she traveled by train with George Obendoerfer, 67, a cobbler, who died shortly after their arrival there. Mrs. Hahn declared her son found the ring.

A larceny charge was placed against her by George Heis. He said he became ill after drinking beer and eating food she served him.

City Chemist Otto B. Behrer conducted autopsies on the body of Gsellman and those of Joseph Wagner, 78, and Albert Palmer,, 72, who died here in June and March, respectively. Mrs. Hahn was acquainted with both, papers in her home disclosed.

Mrs. Hahn continued her indignant repudiation of any connection with the deaths. Detective Pat Hayes quoted her as telling him:
“You can keep me here five months and I won’t tell you I did things I didn’t do.”