Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-13
CAYENNE PEPPEH ANDAPIsTOI.
Mrs Hell Blinds Her Husband and Then
shoots at Him.
From Scrurdoys Nesg York. Tribune.


From Saturdays Ne4g York Tri5uas
Bethpage is n cluster Of houses between
the VILLAGES Of Farminedaie and Hicks
Vile, l.. l. 1t is so small that none of the
trains on the Long Island Railroad stop
there. Until Wednesday it had never
been credited with furnishing so choice a
morsel for gossip to theyillages around it,
as was then supplied, and murder was
only prevented by the unsteady arm of
woman, who, after binding her husband
with cayenne pepper, attempted to
shoot him for abandoning her and
two children. Ten years ago Edward
Butler and Nellie BeGeu, of Mannetto
Hill, were married. Both were well
known in the neighborhood and their
wedding was long the talk among the viii
layers. After four years of happy welded
lie Edward died, leaving Il handsome
widow and two attractive children. For
ore year Mrs. Butler wore the widows
weeds and her grief was apparently most
sin cere. 1t caused no little surprise when
after twelve months she discarded black
and came out in colOrs. Her deceased
husbands name she also forgot and re-
quested that her friends call her by her
ma den name.
Matthias Hell, a young German, was
then living ut Breslau and paid occasion
al visits to Mannetto Hill, where the
widow and her children lived with her
parents. Hell had Just returned from
/ Germany, where he had inherited a small
/ fortune. He was good looking and dressed
well, and this with his good nature and
/ pleasant ways soon gained him entrance
/ TO the widows heart and prominent
/ place in her affections and the
! pp1.pla xVQpa initial n rriaoa Tho
second marriage of the woman
was not one of continued hap
/ piness. For a year or more
4 the money LETT to the husband lasted, but
after it had been expended Matthias began
to sell the property his wife had left 10
/ her by her parents, who died shortly after
/ her second marriage. Two months ago,
on complaint of his wife. be was arrested
for failing to support his family and
taken before Justice FOxel, who sent
him to the Queens county Jail for thirty
days. After walking back to Bethpage
he determined TO do better and work for
his family, and he secured employment
at Woodbury..
On Wednesday evening after finishing
| his work be started to walk to the house
whore his wife lived to try to effect some
compromise, and tell her of his future in
! tentiOus. When he had walked about
I HAIL Llt UlbbhuCt DtINGeH W OOUDuIX anu
/ Bethpage he met his wife coming toward
| him. 1t was just dark, and she was nearly
at his side when he recognized her. The
/. word "Nellie'' had just escaped MS lips
when her right hand was raised in the
/ air, and before he could design her inten-
] tons it descended, and as it did his face
/ was covered and his eyes filled with
cayenne paper. "My God, am blinded!"
/ he screamed, as he staggered aimlesslv
] I'D nd nc. Hn hsa1 Arrk d 10 h,x,I
toward where he had seen her standing a
pistol shot rang out, and the bullet
whzZed past his head in such close
4 proximity that there could be no doubt
as to the intention Of the mind that
caused it.
"DOn't kill me; don't kill mev' en-
/ treated the blinded man, as he fell
/ against the fence in front of the house of
Farmer BurtneiL His request was fol-
/ lowed by a second and third shot in rapid
succession, and as the echo Of the last
/ died away Mr.. Burtnell threw open the
/ front door of his house and, with lamp in
hand, hurried out to learn the cause Of
4 the cries and shots. Reaching the gate
/ he heard the grOans of Hell as he lay
/ beside the fence, and fastening to
his side demanded to know the cause.
"Nellie's blinded me. L can't see." re-
/ piled the man, as he was assisted to his
feet and helped into the house. Mr.. Burt
nell hurried to Hickville for a physician.
1t is feared that the nerves of the eyes
are injured. and the silht can never he
restored. When Mr.. Burtnell reached the
road to offer Hell assistance he did not
see any woman. Yesterday Justice Fox
ell. Of Farmingdale, received note di-
rected by Hell asking for advice in the
case. The Justice responded at once, and
il is probable that warrant will be is
Lee. a.. . B OF IF
/ Hell refused to say anything about the
cscapade. but those acquainted with her
saw that if she is arrested she will tell an
interesting story. Her husband is being
cared for by heiehbors.