Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-19
HER HUSBAND NOT DEAD.
A Lady startled BY n Mysterious Visitor
Washington POST


Washington POST
Mrs. j. NJ. Richards, wife of the fore
man of the Post composing-room, was
awakened shortly after 3 O'Clock yes
terday morning by the ringing OF the
door-bell of her residence, No. 63l ID
street, northwest. The bell was pulled
with a quick, violent jerk, as if by
telegraph boy, and she hurriedly dressed.
When she opened the door she saw
white man of medium size and smooth
face. wearing an overcoat buttoned close
up to his chin, and SLOUGH hat pulled
down over his eyes.
"Good morning." said he, in voice
which Mrs. Richards had never heard
before: 81 have bad news for you.
Your husband is dead up at the office
of the Post. You had better get car
rage and all the money you have got IN
the house and 60 up there"
The scream which Mrs. Richards gave
upon hearing this startling news was
heard in an upper story of the house,
where Mr.. William A. Jacob, COM
positor on the Post, has room. lie
had entered the house only few mo-
ments before, and not having retired
hurried down stairs.
Mrs. Richards was then standing in
her room, trembling like an aspen leat'
The man who had delivered the mes
sage was nowhere to be seen. She ap-
pealed to Mr.. Jacob, and together the
two went to the composing-room OF the
Post, where Mr.. Richards was found
Just finishing up his nights work, alive
and well. =,
The Joy felt by the lady upon find
ing that she had been deceived wa'
soon followed by fit Of nervous pros
tration. and this was succeeded in turf
by . series of commissions. Her con
dition soon became critical, and despite
the fact that several physicians wer,
constantly at her side. consciousness
was not restored until 6 o'clock las
evening. From that time her conditio
improved, but at 10 o'clock she sutiere
q relapse, and at an early hour TIL
morning was thought to be worse.
What was the mans motive! II
answer would at once be robbery b'
for the fact that this 10 not the fr'
time that Mrs. Richards has been d
csiyed in like manner. Some six mont
AGO shs received telegram from Bal
more. signed by her brother-in-la'
sayipg that her sister was dead. Hu
nedly she took the train for Baltimor
only 70 ind her sister in perfect healt
This telegram was followed by anoth
about six weeks ago. in which MI
Richards was informed that her niece W
dying. This necessitated another tr
/ 70 Baltimore, but the intelligence,
before. was false.
Was the motive one of mean revenge
Such supposition makes the who
matter more mysterious TO Mr.. Ric
ards, who does not know who his eneu
can be. The fact that the mysterio,
visitor advised Mrs. Richards TO tai
Ill the money she could Is the only pc
upon which the idea Of robbery can /
hung. The man might have had ca
risgs into. which Mrs. Richards
her anxiety might have been il
ducsd 10 enter. She might then has
been robbed Of the money whic
she had taken from the house, or nigh
have been forcibly detained Will
thieves rsnsscked tho premises she ha
90 suddenly left. II this was the In
tsntiop Of the man the presence Of Mi
jacob frustrated 1t. Either Of thss
possibilities, improbable - they ma,
seem, would find supporters were !