ht
On Feb. 19, Pierson sold some of his possessions and left for Michigan,
The next day Mrs, Withey testified at the grand jury concerning her———
Pon's shooting of Mr. Withey and then, after leaving her children in
the care of different relatives, she, too, went to Michigan where she
met Pierson and they were married on Feb, 26. Pierson returned to New
York on March 22, the day of the inquest, and when it was revealed that
Withey had died of arsenic posioning, he was arrested and charged with
the murder, Mrs. Withey was’also indicted and she was returned to
Livingston County to await trial, While Pierson was convicted and sen-~
tenced to die, she was acquitted because the jury felt that there was
not sufficient proof that she had known that Pierson was poisoning her
husband, His execution was delayed by appeals in the State Count and
by a sustained effort fo have the Governor commute his Sentence, He
was fiaally hanged behind an enclosure in the Jail Yard at Geneseo on
March 19, 1880. On the morning of his execution, his composure broke
and he became sick at his stomach and cryed for some time. However, he
finally regained control of himself and his only statement from the
scaffold was to deny the murder, :
LIVINGSTON REPUBLICAN CENTENNIAL HDITDION, September 23-5193 Ts
LIVINGSTON REPUBLICAN, March 18, 1880. Pagex 2, Colu,;ns, 3, 4,5 & 6
WOE 4/3 bF0b-) Lee [ufos lindi-ug
On Feb. 19, Pierson sold some of his possessions and left for Michigan,
The next day Mrs, Withey testified at the 9: 5 ing "
on’s shooting of Mr. Withey and then, after leaving her children in
the care of different relatives » She, too, went to Michigan where she
met Pierson and they were married on Feb, 26, Pierson returned to New
York on March 22, the day of the inquest, and when it was revealed that
Withey had died of arsenic posioning, he was arrested and charged with
the murder, Mrs, Withey was’also indicted and she was returned to
Livingston County to await trial, While Pierson was convicted and sen-
tenced to die, she was acquitted because the jury felt that there was
not sufficient proof that she had known that Pierson. was poisoning her
husband, His execution was delayed by appeals in the State Count and
by a sustained effort fo have the Governor commute his sentence, He
was fiaally hanged behind an enclosure in the Jail Yard at Geneseo on
March 19, 1880. On the morning of his execution, his composure broke
and he became sick at his stomach and cryed for some time, However, he |
finally regained control of himself and his only statement from the
scaffold was to deny the murder, y
LIVINGSTON REPUBLICAN CENTENNIAL EDITDION » September 23, 1937.
LIVINGSTON BEPUBLICAN, March 18, 1880, Pagem 2, Colu,ns, 3, hh, 5 & 6
WE dapbtob-) hae lafins nck
On Feb. 19, Pierson sold some of his possessions and left for Kichigan.
The next day Mrs, Withey testified at the grand jury. ing-h
scaffold was to deny the murder, F
FAVINGSTON REPUBLICAN CENTENNIAL EDITDIGN, September 23, 1937»
LIVINGSTON REPUBLICAN, March 18, 1880, Pagem 2, Colu,ns, 3, hy 5 & 6
WEE a ffhF0b-Y) hee lupo link-up
oe Fabs 2
FUG Septerer 2, 105
an Pa 2y Cain sy 3p by 58 6
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oh
| PIERSON, William
Pierson, a 32-year-old white man, was born William Gillette but he
was adopted by an Avon, Livingston Co., Ne Y., family named Pierson
and given their name, A farmer by occupation, he lived near Avon
with his wife and several children, lLeamon Bradley W ithey, a 36-
year-old lbaroer, and his wife and children moved into a tenant
house near the Pierson residence’ in 1876, In December of that year,
Withey, who had already lost the sight in his left eye at the Battle
of Gettysburg during the Civil War, was shot in the right eye and to=
tally blindad by his 16-year-old son, Willie, during a family argu-
mente All of the SAMAXXHASXSSAXEX neighbors were solicitous of the
Withey family but none moreso than Pierson and shortly after the inci!
dent he and Mrs, Withey began having an affair, On Jan, Ole LOT Ts
he drove the Withey's into Avonand while there he purchased some ar-~
senic from a pharmacist stating that he wished to poison some rats,
That night Mr. Withey wesame ill after eating some mush and milk,
Pierson was in constant attendance as a friend of the family and
hii doctors were summoned, Withy ‘lingered until Feb, 8, 1877,
when he died in agony, Prior to his funeral, an i
the viscara extracted and sent for analysis bo Buffalo while fee
quest adjourned until Mare
h 22 to await the result of the analysis,
PIERSON, William
Pierson, a 32-year-old white man, was born William Gillette but he
was adopted by an Avon, Livingston Co., Ne Y., family named Pierson
and given their name, A farmer by occupation, he lived near Avon
with his wife and several children. Leamon Bradley W ithey, a 36-
year-old lbaroer, and his wife and children moved into a tenant
house near the Pierson residence‘in 1876, In December of that year,
Withey, who had already lost the sight in his left eye at the Battle
of Gettysburg during the Civil War, was shot in the right eye and to-
tally blindad by his 16-year-old son, Willie, during a family argu-
ment. All of the SHMAXRXWAEXESALEAL neighbors were solicitous of the
Withey family but none moreso than Pierson and shortly after the inci
dent he and Mrs, Withey began having an affair, On Jan, rey alseliis
he drove the Withey's into Avonand while there he purchased some ar-
senic from a pharmacist stating that he wished to poison some rats.
That night Mr. Withey wasame il] after eating some mush and milk,
Pierson was in constant attendance as a friend of the family and
ne doctors were summoned, Withy ‘lingered until Feb, 8, 1877,
when he died in agony, Prior i i
the viscara extracted and Bent for anaieete tone rent as rea
quest adjourned until March 22 to await the result of the analysis,
PIERSON, William
Pierson, a 32-year-old white man, was born William Gillette but he
was adopted by an Avon, Livingston Co., Ne Ye, family named Pierson
and given their name, A farmer by occupation, he lived near Avon
with his wife and several children, lLeamon Bradley W ithey, a 36-
year-old Ibaroer, and his wife and children moved into a tenant
house near the Pierson residence‘ in 1876, In December of that year,
Withey, who had already lost the sight in his left eye at the Battle
of Gettysburg during the Civil war, was shot in the right eye and to-
tally blindaa by his 16-year-old son, Willie, during a family argu-
ment. All of the ghbors were solicitous of the
Withey family but none moreso than Pierson and shor:
dent he and Mrs, Withey began having an affair,
family and
Withy lingered until Feb. 8, 1877,
agony. Prior to his funeral, an inquest d
a cted'and sent for analysis to Buffalo whise tee
Guest adjourned until March 22 to await the result of the analysie,
