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Crime and Punishment of William Pierson
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William Pierson Hanging
On March 20, 1880, William Pierson from Avon, New York, was hanged for the murder of L. Bradford Withey despite declaring his innocence from the scaffold to the end.
The specific charges against Pierson was that he and Mrs. Rosetta Withey, the wife of the murdered man, on January 27, 1877, and on other days between that time and February 8, administered to Mr. Withey arsenical poison, with intention of causing his death. The scene of the crime was the Village of Avon. Mr. Withey was a laborer, addicted to drink, and without means, except for a pension of $10 a month given to him for the loss of an eye while in the service during the Civil War. His family conisisted of his wife, Rosetta, and four children. Sometime during the preceeding December, Withey was injured by a pistol-shot fired by his eldest son, and made totally blind. It was at this time that Mrs. Withey and Pierson became acquainted, and Pierson became a frequent visitor at the house. The two became very intimate, while Withey was confined by his wound, so much so that it was remarked and disapproved by the neighbors.
On Saturday, January 27, 1877, Pierson took Mr. and Mrs. Withey to the village. The husband was left at the store of Smith & Hall, while Pierson and Rosetta went elsewhere to enjoy themselves. During their absence Pierson purchased half an ounce of arsenic at the store of Dr. William Nesbit, stating he wanted to kill rats.
They all returned to the house together later that day, and that night Mr. Withey was taken violently ill, exhibiting all the signs of arsenic poisoning. Over the ensuing days, Mr. Witheys was seen by a number of physicians who each prescribed medicine. On occasions he would appear to improve only to relapse. On February 6, Withey died. During the time Withey was sick, Pierson spent about half of his time at the house, and he and Rosetta were together a great deal. According to witnesses, they held many whispered conversations together. While Mrs. Whithey prepared her husbands medicines, one one occasion Pierson was overheard to exclaim,"By God, I wonder how much more he is going to bleed; he's bleeding like a stuck hog". Upon Withey's death, an autopsy was held and it was determined that he had died of arsenic poisoning.
On February 20, just eight days after her husbands death, Mrs. Withey abandoned her children and went to Rochester where she was joined by Pierson, who had sold his property and abandoned his wife and five children. Six days later they were married in Jackson, Michigan. In October, both Pierson and Mrs. Withey were arrested and taken back to Geneseo for separate trials. Mr. Pierson's trial lasted a week. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang.
Mrs. Withey's trial took place in July of 1878. She had much sympathy on account of her children. The jury acquitted her on the theory that Pierson alone gave the poison to her husband, wishing to seduce her. Mrs. Withey returned to live in Livonia where she remained for many years.
For additional stories of historical crimes visit http://www.examiner.com/x-18525-Rochester-Crime-History-Examiner
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