1925: Famous family’s feud leads to historic murder trial

Bollinger County held its breath in 1925 to hear the verdict on a founding family — did Barbara Bollinger poison her wealthy husband, or were the accusations fueled by strife with her stepson? Today’s other highlight is a train derailment near Dexter. No one was hurt, but 19 cars and hundred of yards of track were damaged in the midnight wreck.

No issues available: March 12, 1950.

100 years ago

March 12, 1925

• Bollinger County got its name from the Bollinger family, one of its original colonial occupants. Recently, the name has circulated for another reason: family strife, death and scandal.

Today a jury declared Barbara E. Bollinger, 63, of Marble Hill not guilty of murder after a four-day trial and five hours of deliberation. It was described as “one of the hottest legal fights in the history of Bollinger County” with no historical precedent, and the courtroom was crowded with onlookers.

The accusations arose last year after William Bollinger died after an illness. He left a $70,000 estate — well over a million dollars today — to be equally divided among his children, grandchildren, and wife. A grand jury which included Barbara’s step-son indicted her on two charges of fatally poisoning him. One charge specified carbolic acid, the other vaguely encompassed an unknown poison administered at an unknown time.

Defense witnesses swung the jury by revealing “family troubles and jealousy,” The Daily Republican reported.

50 years ago

March 12, 1975

• Nineteen train cars derailed near Dexter last night, tearing up a main railway.

The train was en route from Pine Bluff to St. Louis on the Cotton Belt tracks when the derailment occurred around 11:30 p.m. Five cars were loaded with reportedly non-hazardous materials. Since the engine was traveling around 45 mph, the dragging cars tore up several hundred yards of east- and west-bound tracks. These were described as main rails for Dexter. Cotton Belt superintendent W.F. Reed said the tracks would be back in service by tomorrow.

The accident occurred about 1.5 miles east of Dexter. No cause is known and no injuries were reported.