More than 130 years later, the mysterious deaths of two Hamilton County women remain one of Iowa’s most chilling unsolved murder cases.
Alta Alice Fisher Paul, 25, died suddenly on July 3, 1896, just six months after marrying James “Jim” Paul. According to newspaper accounts from the time, Jim Paul pushed for a quick burial so he could attend Independence Day celebrations the following day. His decision to escort 17-year-old Ella Hartman to a dance less than 24 hours after his wife’s funeral shocked many in the small community.
Only weeks later, Alta’s grandmother, 80-year-old Maria Dulin, became ill after drinking tea with Jim Paul. Family members recalled Maria saying the tea had a bitter taste before she suffered severe convulsions. She died on July 27, 1896, with symptoms later believed to be consistent with strychnine poisoning.
Public suspicion intensified after Jim Paul married Ella Hartman on Aug. 1, less than a week after Maria’s death. Many residents believed Alta had been poisoned so Paul could pursue another relationship and that Maria was killed because she stood in the way of an inheritance.
Authorities reopened the investigation, exhumed both women, and sent their remains to state chemists for testing. Independent analyses found unmistakable traces of strychnine in both victims, leading to murder charges against Jim Paul and his father, Dr. George Paul.
During Jim Paul’s trial, prosecutors presented testimony about missing property, suspicious behavior, and chemical evidence linking the deaths to strychnine poisoning. The defense argued the women died of natural causes or that the poison tests were inconclusive. After deliberating for 14 hours, the jury found Jim Paul not guilty. Charges against Dr. George Paul were then dismissed.
Although no one was ever convicted, the deaths of Alta Paul and Maria Dulin continue to be remembered as one of Iowa’s most intriguing historical murder mysteries, leaving questions that have never been answered.
Author: Nancy Bowers
Source: Iowa Unsolved Murders: Historic Cases
