The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-20
A DEMON FROM DRINK.
WHAT ONE MANS DISSIPATION COST.
Apr..rlsd prunlard 1rI.. to Cat Bis wIh's Throat
While She is III in Bsd-A Terrible story of
SufferIng-An Inhuman nonstsr-ThO
Testimony Of q Friend ofths wife.

NRw YORK, October 19-Richard Med
ing, 81 years Usage, was arraigned in tho
Harlem Police Court yesterday morning.
He was charged with being drunk and dis
orderly, but in her testimony Mrs. Ella
Rex, who resides at No. 9S5 Washington
avenue, Morisania, told an extraordinary
story. Mrs. Rex is a charitably inclined
lady Of diminutive stature, and is
member OF the Morrisania Methodist
Church. She, with others, has formed a
Helping Hand Society, having for its OBJ
ject the assistance OF the poor and needy
in Morrisania, and it was while on one Of
her charitable missions that she witnessed
the brutal conduct Of the prisoner in East
l6lst street, near Elton avenue. While
Ms. Rex was telling her story the prisoner,
whose features bore traces OF long contin-
ued dissipation, listened with flushed face
and trembling limbs. He ID said 10 be OF q
very respectable family.
THE wIFE's FRIENDS STORY.
Mrs. Rex said that she had known the
prisoner and his vile for the past nine
years, the latter being one Of her intimate
friends. During that time she did not be-
lieve NEEDING had been sober for single
day, and he had at last brought his family,
consisting OF wife and four children, TO
the verge ot starvation. Sometimes he
would bring home few dollars and give II
to his wife, but in an hour or two afterward
would demand 1t from her, and, II she re.
fused, would beat her until she gave i; up.
For months past, up to the time Of her
sickness, Mrs. NEEDING had supported the
entire family by her sewing machine and
he had done nothing. The Helping Hand
Society had been taking care OF his wife
during her sickness and providing the fam
ing with food. AS Mrs. Needing was soon
to become q mother and was in very
weak state, Mrs. Rex frequently sat by her
bedside to attend her. Sne had been with
her friend last Tuesday afternoon, as it was
believed that she was on the eve oil confine.
ment The husband bad left the house in
q partial state Of intoxication, and the in
valid had been made as comfortable as
circumstances would permit. At 7 o'clock
In the evening Mrs. Rex was about to 60
TO her own home for an hour or two, pre-
paraatory to sitting up all night with her
friend, when the uncertain footsteps Of the
husband were heard on thestairs. Eater
ing the room, he staggered up to the bed,
and, looking first al his wife and then at
Mrs. Rex, said huskily, "Ain't you dead
yet? thought you would be buried be.
lore I got back" Then, according to MIRA
Rex, whether Intentionally or in drunken
abandon, he flung himself upon the bed
and upon the bodp OF his wife. Mrs.
Rex says be also tried to take
his wife by the throat. Mrs. Rsx says
she seized NEEDING, and by exerting all her
strength managed 10 pull him from the
bed and fling him upon the floor. A
doctor was at once summoned and every
attention was paid the suffering woman,
Before the physician arrived the witness
said that Needing threatened to kill her and
started for small bedroom to get his
razor. Fearing that her own life was In
danger Mrs. Rex rushed out Of the room
and ran to the l6lst street police station,
Two policemen were sent back TO the
house with her and NEEDING was arrested.
He was crazed with drink. Mrs. Rex found
the razor on the bed OF the room the priso-
ner had entered and showed 1t to Justice
Morgan.