National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-25
ARRIVAL OF THE MOTHER OF THE VICTIM
Snort Sketch of a Wonderful Career
Some Notable Incidents in the Life
of WOman-She FOrgIyes Her
Would bessnurderer- Scenes
at the Bedside.


tn have any knowledge of the affair were closely
questioned as to the facts in connection with 1t.
The two victims Of the case were all this time
living on their beds Of pain within few feet Of
each other, but seemingly miles apart. The man
DEMPSEY was attended by the policeman detailed
for that duty, the monotony being broken by the
occasional call of a friend, but the bed Of Lolita
was surrounded with kind female friends who
were untiring in their endeavors to administer 10
her wants and to assuage her suttertngs. The
physicians Drs. Dexter and Magruder, called at
stated intervals, but beyond the application OF
sedatives for both patients and the ordinary
treatment for gunshot wounds they could not
suggest any relief, both agreeing that it would
prove an unnecessary and painful operation to
probe for the balls.
In the morning 1t was ascertained that Mr..
Dempsey was somewhat stronger than during the
previous night, and he added to this by q copious
draught Of brandy, which he swallowed with
gusto On the other hand, the lady was semi
unconscious, and although not apparently suffer
ing much physical pain, It was known that her
position was precariVus in the extreme. During
the morning she rallied several times, and made
feeble attempts to converse, but was soon COM
PEELED to desist About 10 O'Clock she was in
formed that it had been decided to remove
Dempsey to the Providence hospital, and she at
once sent word to him that
SHE FoRGAvE HIM FREELY
for the deed. In response to this message he
asked permission to see her before his departure,
which was granted, and he was assisted to the
room when 8 scene occurred which, as described
BIZ eye witnesses must have been peculiar. As
he reached the bedside Of the dying woman he
leaned over and kissed her tenderly. She imme-
dlately returned the salutation, and repeated the
assurance that she forgsye him freely for the
crime. He then sank on his knees at the bed and
fervently imployed forgiveness from her and
Heaven, and prayed that the bullet might not
a.
few, but the occasion was trying one, and friends
interposed and the interview ended by his bidding
her a long and last farewell, he evidently having
made up his mind that she must die Shortly
after the ambulance of the Providence hospital
arrived, and he was carried to it and taken at
once to that Institution, where he was provided
with suitable rooms and attendance. At late
hour his condition was unchanged, but the opinion
was that his wounds were not fatal.
About ten O'Clock the Assistant District At
tOrney sent word that he would at once take the
ANTE MoRTEM STATEMENT
Of the woman, but as she was at that time Sleep
ing, and as there was no immediate danger 1t was
concluded to defer 1t until to-day. Subsequently
she rallied and soon after Rev. ]. A Walter, pas
tor Of 81. PatriQks church, called, and she signi
fed her desire to have administered the rites Of
the Church in which she had been raised. Ac-
cordingly after due but hurried preparations
the Sacrament of Communion was administered,
and after that the last of the solemn rites of the
Church, Extreme JUNCTION. While the seemingly
dying woman lay on her bed holding in her hand
the symbolic crucifx, which the sacrament re-
Quires, her mother, who had been SUNNI Oned,
arrived, and entered the room. When the tele-
gram was sent her no mention was made OF the |
occurrence, but on the train by the purchase of !
one Of the morning papers she had been made |
aware OF the terrible facts and yet with the hope
that it was not bad as represented, she has |
tened TO the bedside OF her errtng daughter to |
administer TO her wants as only mother can.
Familiar with the rites of the Church, the an !
guish-stricken parent, as she entered the room,
saw that the case was desperate and uttered q |
cry Of anguish. In moment, in fact in second, |
the daughter intuitively knew that the dear one
was present, and rallying opened her eyes and |
exclaimed:
"oH, DEAR MOTHER,
an SO happy" The scene which followed is too |
sacred for even the pen Of reporter but it so
sensibly affected those present that there was not
dry eye in the party, and many Of them were
used TO such occasions. After the first paroxysm |
OF grief had subsidized the mother Gained down
and took her place at the bedside where with
the other watchers, she remained during the
night. Among the most devoted Of the attend
ants was the young professional gentleman men
toned below, who, It is said, she met at the Bal
timoTe and Potomac depot the night previous.
and whom many allege was the immediate cause
OF the tragedy. At late hour last night bercon.
dition was unchanged.
Further Facts About Lolita,
The Shocking double tray" ,
at No. 427 FourtN -~Hs WHICH occurred
evenir~ - 'Hest nOEtn"es' LuesuAy
. furnishes . fearful warning TO those who
are disposed to lead lives of recklessness and
dissipation. We have obtained additional in
formation since our account Of the affair, which |
invests the woman with an air Of romance; the |
man with one Of desperation, and other parties
familiar with the relations which existed between
the two, with a carelessness for the fate Of the |
victims which amounts to criminal connection |
with the tragedy. Lolita Warren was
NOT A STRANGER TO WASHINGTON,
nor is this the first winter she has ever spent here
Last winter a gentleman, we'll known to the pub
lie of Washington, became enamored of her.
and If reports be true they were intimate friends
up to the date Of mis- marriage, which occurred |
late In the winter or spring. His marriage broke |
up their intimacy: but she seemed to remember |
him with strong devotion. Every Saturday after |
noon regardless Of weather or other engagements,
Lolita Warren, neatly dressed and wearing . |
jaunty hat with handsome flowing ostrich plume,
might be seen vending her way to Ford's Opera |
House, not to enjoy the play, but with the hope
that she would get glimpse OF the man to whom |
she was attached. She was seldom disappointed. |
Her mind dwelling upon the past, and it being |
brought back to memory these occasions, |
she would drown her regrets IN the wine tu0. |
Leaving the theatre she usually repaired to some
restaurant, where she drank
DEEP pRAUGHTs OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS,
and almost invariably Saturday nights she was |
more or less under their influence. In her Satur-
day evening rounds she preferred to be alone with
her thoughts; and yet this was strange for she
often confessed that her hckleness was a source
OF great trouble to her. and to those who admired
AL,
returned to Baltimore, the home Of her mother, in
the fall. There she formed an alliance with a
young man Of that city, whose visits to Washing
ton this winter to see her gave his devoted mother
much pain. His last was so extended that the
mother came here almost brokeR-hearted, and in
person plead with Lolita to spare her son. She
said the mother came to induce her to marry the
son and save him from the life Of dissipation and
disgrace he was leading on her account. She
came to Washington early in the winter, and took
rooms with some friends in the Federal build
ingD corner Of Seventh and streets. 1t was
there she met the man who attempted her life.
He fell desperately in love with her, and willingly
sacrificed his reputation in order to supply her
extrayaRant demands upon him for money. The
watch she wore was given to her by him, and there
is inscribed inside the case the simple words,
s.v1ECENT TO LoTTA."
Some unpIeasantness occurring between the
acuuaintances with whom she was boarding on F
street. more than two months ago she secured
apartments at At Fourth street; Dempsey pay
ing her board ans room rent. Soon after the |
rooms were taken, becoming dissatisfied with her |
conduct he offered TO rent the rooms for num- |
Der of months and pay for them in advance, on |
condition that the lady OF the house would re-
ouIre Mrs. Warren to Vacate them. She de- |
clined his proposition because Of her kindly feel
fnRs 10 the occupant. Last week a professional |
gentleman, Of Richmond, Va, came to the city |
osteusibIy on business with one Of the Depart |
ments but it is known that frequent cOmmunica- |
tiops passed between the gentleman and Mrs. |
Warren, and it is probable he came to visit her.
Tsey mutually admired each other, and the two |
we're frequently seen on the streets by their re-
Epeetfve friends and by none were they more |
closely watched than by Dempsey. He soon dis |
covered enough to arouse his Jealousy, and he |
began to drink quite freely Lately, he was fire. |
quently seen drunk, and Il was MS naoit to visit
,usnted and 70 make INQUIRIES concerning her |