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Tillie Klimek, right, and her cousin Nellie Stermer-Koulik, left, were accused of poisoning 20 husbands, children and friends between the two of them with arsenic poisoning. Fourteen of the 20 died and six lived. Klimek, who had killed her first three husbands, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison on March 31, 1923 for the death of her third husband who, according to the Chicago Tribune, had in him “enough arsenic to kill four men”. Klimek was described by the Chicago Tribune as the "Poison Widow" and the two cousins were called high priestesses of the Bluebeard clique. “We have here a woman of average intelligence, a modern housewife and a good cook. When she is among women she is affectionate and it is said, she is the most popular woman in the jail. Yet, the testimony showed, cold bloodedly, without feeling or remorse, she killed three of her husbands and attempted to kill the fourth”, said Judge Marcus Kavanagh as he sentenced her to life in prison. Stermer-Koulik was found not-guilty. (Photo by Chicago Tribune Historical Photo)
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