In the spring of 1911, a British woman named Claire Williamson, who was in her 30s, arrived in Olalla, Washington, with her sister Dora. The wealthy heiresses were seeking treatment at the sanitarium of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard for various health complaints. They had been drawn in by Hazzard's advocacy for a fasting cure. The sisters began their treatment in February 1911 at a Seattle apartment building under Hazzard's care before being moved to her Olalla sanatorium, known locally as 'Starvation Heights,' in April. Their treatment consisted of minimal sustenance, including small amounts of broth, along with hours-long enemas and vigorous massages.
The sisters' health rapidly deteriorated under Hazzard's care. By the time they were transferred to Olalla, they were too weak to walk. Less than a month later, on May 19, 1911, Claire Williamson died, her weight having plummeted to less than 50 pounds. Hazzard performed the autopsy herself and attributed the death to cirrhosis of the liver, not starvation. Following Claire's death, Hazzard took possession of her diamond rings, gowns, and even had the gold fillings from her teeth extracted and sold.
Suspicion surrounding Claire's death grew, particularly with the arrival of the sisters' childhood nurse, Margaret Conway, who found Dora emaciated and learned that Hazzard had been appointed as Dora's guardian, claiming she was mentally incompetent. It was revealed that Hazzard had also become the executor of Claire's sizable estate. The British Vice Consul in Tacoma, C.E. Lucien Agassiz, became involved and launched an investigation into the sanitarium. The investigation uncovered a pattern of patients dying under Hazzard's care, with death certificates often listing causes other than starvation. It became apparent that Hazzard's motive was to gain control of her wealthy patients' fortunes.
On August 15, 1911, Kitsap County authorities arrested Linda Hazzard and charged her with the first-degree murder of Claire Williamson. Her trial began the following January, attracting significant media attention. During the trial, witnesses testified to the brutal treatments the Williamson sisters endured. The prosecution also presented evidence of financial fraud, including forged checks and letters. Ultimately, on February 4, 1912, Linda Burfield Hazzard was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Claire Williamson and sentenced to two to twenty years of hard labor in the state penitentiary at Walla Walla.
