THE WORST WOMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81914, 7 January 1907, Page 4

THE WORST WOMAN.

A real ease of the "Wqrst Woman on Earth" (as she is described in the American Press) is at present engaging the attention of crmiiiiologilss 111 American. Lizzie Ualliday is the name of the problem, and some extremists are solving her by suggesting the lethal chamber.

She is a homicidal maniac, who thinks no more of kilbug than of eating; it is a part of function with her. She is at present at Matlcawau, an asylum for insane criminals, but she is as crafty as a wild beast, and as ferocious, when she gets an easy chance :| so the work of constantly watching her to prevent murder tends, in the words of the superintendent of the asylum, Dr Lamb, to "a mental condition that Is nerve wearing."

Recently she killed ,a nurse, Miss Wickes, with whom she had been very friendly. Miss Wickes was leaving the asylum, having obtained another appointment. This she told the mad woman, who threatened the girl she would kid her sooner than fel her leave the place. This she actually did, ,latcr, by securing the nurse's keys, locking the door, and stabbing the' unfortunate girl in the throat with a pair of scissors. That • made her fifth murder. She had killed hei husband, her stepson, and two wo men friends. These murders are proved. She is suspected of others also.

This uncanny woman is 4.~> years of age, and was born in Ireland, emigrating to America in 1867. She had been married six times. Her last husband was Paul Halliday. She set lire the house and burned Ins son. Later. Halliday disappeared, and when neighbors searched for him, they found the bodies of two women, Mrs and Miss McQuillian. The daughter had been a SL-rvant with the Halidays, and the mother, it appears, had gone to the Halidays to see why her daughter did not come home.

Subsequently, Mrs Halliday attempt e-J suicide three times, and was so vio lent at the Coroner's inquest that sle had to be chained.