Bertha Gifford
Female Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Catawissa, Missouri
TIME PERIOD
1900s–1928
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
Bertha Alice Williams Graham Gifford, born October 30, 1871, in Morse Mill, Missouri, was a farmwife accused of murdering three individuals and suspected in the deaths of up to 15 others between the early 1900s and 1928. The crimes took place in Catawissa, Missouri, where Gifford was known for her nursing care of sick neighbors, during which five deaths prompted a grand jury investigation. In 1928, she was arrested in Eureka, Missouri, and following a trial in Union, Missouri, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to Missouri State Hospital #4, where she remained until her death on August 20, 1951. Significant evidence included the exhumation of bodies that revealed high levels of arsenic, raising questions about the nature of the deaths under her care, although the use of arsenic for medical purposes at the time complicates the determination of intent.
Bertha Gifford is believed to have poisoned multiple victims under the guise of caring for them, with speculation that she may have killed as many as 15 individuals beyond the three she was charged with. Some theorize that her motives included financial gain or a desire for attention, as she was known for her cooking and nursing skills. Her trial and subsequent commitment to a mental institution have led to ongoing debates about her sanity and the effectiveness of the legal system in handling cases involving female perpetrators.
The Enigmatic Tale of Bertha Gifford: America's Fifth Solo Female Serial Killer
Early Life and Personal Background
Bertha Alice Williams was born on October 30, 1871, in the small community of Morse Mill, Missouri. She was one of the ten children born to William Poindexter Williams and Matilda, née Lee. Growing up in this bustling household, Bertha developed a reputation for her culinary skills and nurturing demeanor. Her life took a significant turn when she married Henry Graham, and they welcomed a daughter named Lila into the world. However, the happiness was short-lived as Graham passed away, leaving Bertha a widow. She later remarried Eugene Gifford, with whom she had a son named James.
Crimes and Suspicion
In the rural landscape of Catawissa, Missouri, during the early 1900s, Bertha Gifford was known not only for her cooking but also for her care of sick neighbors and relatives. Yet, beneath this facade of benevolence lay a chilling reality. Five individuals, all under her care, met untimely deaths, prompting a grand jury investigation that would unravel the dark mysteries surrounding Gifford.
In 1928, the calm of Eureka, Missouri, was shattered when Bertha was arrested and charged with the murder of three people. The victims, Edward Brinley and brothers Elmer and Lloyd Schamel, had been exhumed, and post-mortem examinations revealed they contained lethal doses of arsenic. This toxic element, often employed in the misguided medical practices of the time, became the cornerstone of the case against her.
The Trial and Incarceration
The legal proceedings against Gifford took place in Union, Missouri. The trial spanned three days, during which the community grappled with the revelations of her potential crimes. Despite the damning evidence, the jury found Bertha Gifford not guilty by reason of insanity. Consequently, she was committed to the Missouri State Hospital #4, a psychiatric institution, where she would remain until her death on August 20, 1951.
Extent of the Crimes
While Bertha Gifford was officially charged with three murders, her ties to the deaths of 17 individuals raised alarm. The grand jury's investigation into the five deaths initially instigated widespread suspicion about an additional 12 fatalities. The high mortality rates, combined with the prevalent yet amateurish use of arsenic for medicinal purposes, left the true extent of Gifford's culpability shrouded in uncertainty.
Legacy and Theories
Bertha Gifford's story is woven into the dark tapestry of American criminal history as she is considered the fifth solo female serial killer in the United States, following the notorious Belle Gunness, Lydia Sherman, Jane Toppan, and Nannie Doss. Her tale presents a perplexing blend of benevolence and malevolence, leaving many questions unanswered. Was she a calculated murderer, or was she a victim of the era's rudimentary medical practices? The truth remains elusive.
Sources
- Missouri Deaths (PDF)
- Wood, Larry. Wicked Women of Missouri. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN: 9781625857392.
- Murphy, S. Kay. The Tainted Legacy of Bertha Gifford. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN: 978-1530983483.
- The Western Star (Coldwater, KS), August 24, 1923.
- Jefferson County Missouri marriage licenses.
- Henry Graham obituary.
- St. Louis Post Dispatch.
- "Story of Murders Verified by Poison: Exhumation Substantiates How Man and Boys in Missouri Died," The Washington Post, October 9, 1928, p. 4.
- "Reflections on Farmington State Hospital," The Daily Journal, April 24, 1987.
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page on Bertha Gifford.
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First Deaths in Care
Five people die while under Bertha Gifford's care, raising suspicions.
Grand Jury Investigation
A grand jury investigates the five deaths, leading to further scrutiny of Gifford.
Arrest of Bertha Gifford
Bertha Gifford is arrested in Eureka, Missouri, charged with three murders.
Exhumation of Bodies
Bodies of Edward Brinley and Elmer and Lloyd Schamel are exhumed, revealing arsenic.
Trial Begins
Bertha Gifford's trial for the murders begins in Union, Missouri.
Verdict Delivered
Gifford is found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental facility.
Commitment to Hospital
Bertha Gifford is committed to Missouri State Hospital #4 following her trial.
Death of Bertha Gifford
Bertha Gifford dies at the Missouri State Hospital #4.
Bertha Alice Williams Graham Gifford, born October 30, 1871, in Morse Mill, Missouri, was a farmwife accused of murdering three individuals and suspected in the deaths of up to 15 others between the early 1900s and 1928. The crimes took place in Catawissa, Missouri, where Gifford was known for her nursing care of sick neighbors, during which five deaths prompted a grand jury investigation. In 1928, she was arrested in Eureka, Missouri, and following a trial in Union, Missouri, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to Missouri State Hospital #4, where she remained until her death on August 20, 1951. Significant evidence included the exhumation of bodies that revealed high levels of arsenic, raising questions about the nature of the deaths under her care, although the use of arsenic for medical purposes at the time complicates the determination of intent.
Bertha Gifford is believed to have poisoned multiple victims under the guise of caring for them, with speculation that she may have killed as many as 15 individuals beyond the three she was charged with. Some theorize that her motives included financial gain or a desire for attention, as she was known for her cooking and nursing skills. Her trial and subsequent commitment to a mental institution have led to ongoing debates about her sanity and the effectiveness of the legal system in handling cases involving female perpetrators.
The Enigmatic Tale of Bertha Gifford: America's Fifth Solo Female Serial Killer
Early Life and Personal Background
Bertha Alice Williams was born on October 30, 1871, in the small community of Morse Mill, Missouri. She was one of the ten children born to William Poindexter Williams and Matilda, née Lee. Growing up in this bustling household, Bertha developed a reputation for her culinary skills and nurturing demeanor. Her life took a significant turn when she married Henry Graham, and they welcomed a daughter named Lila into the world. However, the happiness was short-lived as Graham passed away, leaving Bertha a widow. She later remarried Eugene Gifford, with whom she had a son named James.
Crimes and Suspicion
In the rural landscape of Catawissa, Missouri, during the early 1900s, Bertha Gifford was known not only for her cooking but also for her care of sick neighbors and relatives. Yet, beneath this facade of benevolence lay a chilling reality. Five individuals, all under her care, met untimely deaths, prompting a grand jury investigation that would unravel the dark mysteries surrounding Gifford.
In 1928, the calm of Eureka, Missouri, was shattered when Bertha was arrested and charged with the murder of three people. The victims, Edward Brinley and brothers Elmer and Lloyd Schamel, had been exhumed, and post-mortem examinations revealed they contained lethal doses of arsenic. This toxic element, often employed in the misguided medical practices of the time, became the cornerstone of the case against her.
The Trial and Incarceration
The legal proceedings against Gifford took place in Union, Missouri. The trial spanned three days, during which the community grappled with the revelations of her potential crimes. Despite the damning evidence, the jury found Bertha Gifford not guilty by reason of insanity. Consequently, she was committed to the Missouri State Hospital #4, a psychiatric institution, where she would remain until her death on August 20, 1951.
Extent of the Crimes
While Bertha Gifford was officially charged with three murders, her ties to the deaths of 17 individuals raised alarm. The grand jury's investigation into the five deaths initially instigated widespread suspicion about an additional 12 fatalities. The high mortality rates, combined with the prevalent yet amateurish use of arsenic for medicinal purposes, left the true extent of Gifford's culpability shrouded in uncertainty.
Legacy and Theories
Bertha Gifford's story is woven into the dark tapestry of American criminal history as she is considered the fifth solo female serial killer in the United States, following the notorious Belle Gunness, Lydia Sherman, Jane Toppan, and Nannie Doss. Her tale presents a perplexing blend of benevolence and malevolence, leaving many questions unanswered. Was she a calculated murderer, or was she a victim of the era's rudimentary medical practices? The truth remains elusive.
Sources
- Missouri Deaths (PDF)
- Wood, Larry. Wicked Women of Missouri. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN: 9781625857392.
- Murphy, S. Kay. The Tainted Legacy of Bertha Gifford. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN: 978-1530983483.
- The Western Star (Coldwater, KS), August 24, 1923.
- Jefferson County Missouri marriage licenses.
- Henry Graham obituary.
- St. Louis Post Dispatch.
- "Story of Murders Verified by Poison: Exhumation Substantiates How Man and Boys in Missouri Died," The Washington Post, October 9, 1928, p. 4.
- "Reflections on Farmington State Hospital," The Daily Journal, April 24, 1987.
For more detailed information, visit the Wikipedia page on Bertha Gifford.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Deaths in Care
Five people die while under Bertha Gifford's care, raising suspicions.
Grand Jury Investigation
A grand jury investigates the five deaths, leading to further scrutiny of Gifford.
Arrest of Bertha Gifford
Bertha Gifford is arrested in Eureka, Missouri, charged with three murders.
Exhumation of Bodies
Bodies of Edward Brinley and Elmer and Lloyd Schamel are exhumed, revealing arsenic.
Trial Begins
Bertha Gifford's trial for the murders begins in Union, Missouri.
Verdict Delivered
Gifford is found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental facility.
Commitment to Hospital
Bertha Gifford is committed to Missouri State Hospital #4 following her trial.
Death of Bertha Gifford
Bertha Gifford dies at the Missouri State Hospital #4.