A Chicago family was struck again and again by arsenic poisoning in the spring of 1907, leaving police to wonder who was trying to wipe them out.
Frank Mette had already died. His wife had died before him. Three other members of the household had been made dangerously ill and taken to the hospital. Then, even after the father’s death, three surviving sons were poisoned by oatmeal that had been brought into the house.
Police believed arsenic had been deliberately placed in the family’s food, and they claimed there had been multiple attempts to kill the household.
Mystery Surrounds a Wholesale Poisoning
CHICAGO, Illinois. — The three surviving members of the Mette family of this city, two of whose members recently died of arsenic poisoning, were made violently ill yesterday by partaking of food in which the police declare arsenic had been placed.
The police department claims to have information that three attempts have been made to kill this family and a deep mystery surrounds the case. A large number of detectives are working on it.
Frank Mette, the father of the family, died last Saturday, and Mrs. Mette, his wife died April 6. Three other members of the family were also made ill and are now in the hospital.
Of those remaining in the house, three sons today were poisoned by eating oatmeal, which had been brought into the house since the father of the family died.
It is doubtful whether any of those who were poisoned yesterday will recover.
Source: The Marion Daily Mirror. Marion, Ohio. April 18, 1907.
