Stephenson v. State

Stephenson (defendant), with the aid of several others, abducted a woman he knew socially, Madge Oberholzer, from her home in Indianapolis and took her on a railroad train destined for Chicago. While on the train, Stephenson struck, bit, beat, and attempted to rape Oberholzer. Stephenson, his chauffeur, and Oberholzer got off the train in Hammond and drove to a motel. While in Hammond, Stephenson’s chauffeur took Oberholzer to a store where she purchased a hat and then took her to a drug store where she surreptitiously purchased six tablets of lethal bichloride mercury. When she was in her hotel room, Oberholzer ingested the tablets in order to commit suicide, but instead became violently ill. Stephenson had Oberholzer drink a bottle of milk and offered to take her to the hospital but she refused. Stephenson then drove her back to Indianapolis. Along the way, Oberholzer screamed for a doctor, but Stephenson refused to stop until they got to his house. Shortly thereafter, Stephenson took Oberholzer to her parents’ house and a physician was called to treat Oberholzer for poisoning. Over the course of the following ten days, all of Oberholzer’s wounds healed except one which became infected. Oberholzer subsequently died “from the effects of her wounds inflicted,” and the “poison taken.” The medical cause of death was a combination of shock, loss of food and rest, action of the poison and infection, and lack of early treatment, none of which singularly caused Oberholzer’s death. Stephenson was found guilty of murder and he appealed.