Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Tillie Klimek: Chicago's Arsenic Queen-- Part 1

Wikipedia.

The article about Tillie Klimek in the previous post was something I had never heard of despite living near Chicao most of my life.

Born in Poland in 1876 and came to U.S. as an infant with her parents.  Lived in Chicago.  She was not an attractive woman, but still managed to find husbands and boyfriends.

Her first husband was John Mitkiewocs who died in 1914 after a short illness blamed on heart disease.  She quickly remarried Joseph Ruskowski who also soon died as did a boyfriend who had "jilted" her.

While living at 924 N. Winchester in Chicago, her third husband, Frank Lupzsyk took sick.  Tillie began telling neighbors that he wouldn't live long and began knitting a mourning hat.  She then got her landlady to store a bargain casket she had bought.

Frank died in 1921 and she again soon married Joseph Klimek and lived with him at 1453 Tell Place (now 1453 Thomas Street).  He too became ill and doctors suspected arsenic poisoning.

More Poison to Come.  --DaCoot

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