Mrs. Mat Wimpee

 
The Courant American
Cartersville, Georgia
November 13, 1890 page 1
 
Transcribed by:  
 

Rome’s Sensation
The Alleged Murderess Landed in Jail in That City.

Rome, Ga., Nov. 9. –Mrs. Ora McKee, the alleged murderess, has been arrested and is safely landed in the jail of Rome. She was arrested in Deland, Florida, and arrived in Rome this evening.

The parties stood well in social life. A few weeks ago Mrs. McKee is charged to have poisoned her next door neighbor and intimate friend, Mrs. Mat Wimpee, with rat poison with “Get There” labeled on it. It was given in eggnog and Mrs. Wimpee died. Mrs. Wimpee’s cow got some of the eggnog and the animal died also. Why it was done nobody knows.

A confession of the crime was made by Mrs. McKee to Mrs. Dietz, so it is said, and Mrs. Dietz told her that she would surely be hung. Mrs. McKee left the city for parts unknown before Mrs. Wimpee died. A reward of $200 was offered for her arrest, and the officers tracked her as far as Columbus, Ga., and there gave up the chase.

Mrs. McKee was found near the home of her parents in Deland, Fla. When arrested she said: “I am Mrs. McKee of Rome [sentenced obscured by fold]

Officers from Rome arrested and brought her here. A large crowd met the train and stood gazing at the fair prisoner, and by the time the jail was reached a tremendous crowd had gathered in the street and the doors of the jail were closed. They had gathered out of curiosity. Mrs. McKee looks as handsome as ever, was nicely attired in a gray traveling dress and was in splendid humor.

The poisoning was the most sensational affair that ever took place in Rome, and the news “Mrs. Ora McKee is in jail,” flew like lightening on the streets and broke the peaceful quietness of the Sabbath evening.

 

GO TO: Text Site Map
 
CONTACT US
archives@bartowhistorymuseum.org
770-382-3818 ext. 6283
13 N Wall Street
Cartersville, Georgia 30120

Home
Bartow GenWeb Coordinator: Trey Gaines   
Georgia GenWeb State Coordinator: Linda Blum-Barton

          ©2002 - 2019 Bartow History Museum

Last modified: June 11, 2006