The first installment of "The Kiser Trial" set the stage for the eventful trial soon to follow. Here is the second installment in the series. Enjoy!
The beginning of the nightmare
Josh Kiser’s nightmare began with the purchase of a single can of oysters from a local grocer. Kiser came home from work and declared: “I’m as hungry as a bear; how does oyster stew sound?” Martha Kiser told her husband that if he wanted oyster stew, she would make it, but he’d have to go get the oysters from the store. Josh Kiser went to the store and purchased a can of oysters. Mrs. Kiser made a nice big pot of oyster stew. The family sat down to their meal, enjoyed the stew, and probably conversed about the upcoming holiday season. That evening all three people who ate the stew, Martha, Josh, and Edna Kiser all became ill. Josh’s appetite had subsided by suppertime, and as a result he didn’t eat as much of the stew as his daughter, Edna, and his wife, Martha. He was ill only for a short time, and he was able to function and care for his daughter and wife. The Kiser’s daughter, Edna, was sick and practically bedridden for a couple of days. Mrs. Kiser remained very ill for almost six days when she finally succumbed to the sickness and passed away at 3:50 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 1915. Martha Kiser was laid to rest in Oakwood Cemetery on November 19, 1915. Soon after, rumors of the cause of her death began to circulate around Fremont.
It didn’t take long for the rumors to make it to the ears of Josh Kiser. Many folks in Fremont were discussing the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Kiser. Did Josh Kiser have a girlfriend? Did he poison his wife?
Meanwhile, Josh Kiser was getting nervous. He had an admirer that just would not leave him alone. Kiser thought to himself, “if that darned Mrs. Boston doesn’t stop pestering me and sending me letters, this gossip could get worse and who knows what could happen.” Kiser was at work one day and the subject of the rumors came up. Kiser said, “I don’t know what to do about this Mrs. Boston, she just won’t stop pestering me.” One on his friends said, “Josh, you need to go to her house and demand that she stop sending the letters, and to leave you alone.” Kiser took his friend’s advice and after work went to have a talk with Mrs. Boston.
Meanwhile, at the very time Kiser was at Mrs. Boston’s home, his brother-in-law, Philip Hetrick, along with two of his brothers knocked on the front door. “Who’s out there, inquired Mrs. Boston.” Kiser evidently saw the men coming; not knowing why they were there, he was afraid of how his presence might look, so he headed out the back door. Kiser’s brother-in-law answered Mrs. Boston, “I’m Phil Hetrick and I’d like to see Josh Kiser.” “He’s not here,” came the reply from Mrs. Boston. “Try looking in the front room,” replied Hetrick. With that Mrs. Boston flung open the door and said, “you are a perfect stranger, and I won’t let you in my house. I told you Mr. Kiser is not here; he’s at home.” At this time, Hetrick walked around behind the house and saw Josh Kiser. When Hetrick and Kiser saw each other Kiser ran away, terrified of the implications of his being caught at Mrs. Boston’s house. Hetrick called after Kiser to stop. Kiser continued running a little bit, then stopped and returned to his brother-in-law, and brothers. Upon reaching them, Kiser explained that he knew how this looked, and he didn’t know what to do. He just wanted her to stop bothering him. He wanted the rumors to stop.
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