FULL TEXT: Owosso, Mich., Nov, 18. – Mrs. Caroline Collins, of New Lothrop, fifteen miles northeast of this city, is suspected of being a modern Borgia, four deaths by poison being laid to her account her husband, a farm hand, of whom she grew jealous after she became a widow, her 18 year old daughter and her 14 year old nephew, Ira Wright, were the alleged victims of her madness. All four are dead and investigations are in progress to show whether they were killed with poison. Meanwhile Mrs. Collins is in the county jail awaiting results.
Mrs. Collins’ husband died last December. After his death. she began living with George Leachman, a farm hand. He wrote a letter to another woman a short time ago and this aroused Mrs. Collins’ jealousy. Immediately afterward he was taken sick with stomach trouble, dying about two weeks ago. Investigation disclosed the presence of poison In his stomach and it is charged that Mrs. Collins gave him the fatal dose in his food.
After the discovery of poison in the case of Leachman mysterious circumstances were recalled in the deaths of Mrs. Collins’ husband, her daughter and Ira Wright. All deaths were similar. Because of this fact the authorities have exhumed the remains of the three and have sent the organs to Ann Arbor for analysis. The results are expected to be obtained in time for presentation. to the court Friday, when Mrs. Collins is to be arraigned.
[“Michigan Woman A Modern Borgia – Authorities Think Mrs. Collins Has Poisoned Four Persons.” The Fort Wayne Sentinel (In.), Nov. 18, 1903, p. 5]
***
Caroline Collins was found guilty of first degree murder in the death of George Leachman on June 8, 1904 [“The Collin’s [sic] Murder Trial.” Owossp Times (Mi.), Jun. 10, 1904, p. 8; available @ Chronicling America]
***