Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-01

llIt again, DuJ clIhcl 'HiOuSh hOi'-
business or weakness, the barrel
turned up and the ball lodged in
the ceiling, Immediately over the
door jam. Still again she pulled
trigger, but this time the weapon
missed fire and fell from her hand
to the floor on the side of the bed.
Ii was at this moment that her sis.
ter, who had heard the explosions,
entered the room and gazed, ter.
ror.stricken, on the scene before
her. Without appearing to notice
her sisters condition, Mrs. Ru-
dolph quietly asked her to pick up
the revolver and fire the remain
ing charge INTO her person.
HER DESIRE TO DIE.
BY this time the other inmates,
the dressmaYer and a servant, APP
peared on the scene and, as best
they could, tried to staunch the
flow of blood. DR.. SadtleT, corner
Druid Hill avenue and Bloom
street, was quickly summoned, but
when he arrived the young woman
asked to be let alone. She wanted
to die and did not care for surgical
aid. A glance at the wounds was
sufficient for the physicians to de-
termine that there was no hope
He made her as comfortable as
possible under the circumstances.
In the meantime a messenger had
Summoned Mr.. Rudolph from his
place of business. The young hus-
band was simply told that his
wife was very i'll. When he en-
tered the room she raised herself
in bed and holding out her arms
exclaimed, "Oh, ] am so happy"
The expression about the eyes
seemed to him different from any
he had ever seen. Not even then
did he know she was shot until the
physician informed him, at the
same time allowing him to infer
that there was no hope. Mr.. Ru-
dolph, however, insisted on Dr.
Sadtler's summoning a consulting
physician, and Professor Edwin \.
Michael, of the University of Mary
land, was called in. DR.. Michael,
however, corroOOrated the opinion
of his colleague. There was no
hope. Any one of three of the
four wounds must prove fatal. The
bullet holes formed perfect semi
circle. They could not have been
placed with greater precision. All
were about the same distance from
each other, and they took a similar
direction. The first three balls
barely grazed the heart. They
passed through the left lung and
lodged in the muscles of the back.
The last struck rib ana glanced
off.
HER TALK WITH HER HUSBAND.
To the physicians Mrs. Rudolph
stated that she did not care to live
! She knew she was on the verge OF
insanity and did not care to be a
burden to her husband. Her con
yersation was not at all like that of
an insane person. She was per
fectly rational, and spoke quietly
but earnestly. At first she insisted
that no further efforts be made tC
save her life, but at the earnest
entreaty of her husband she con-
sented, though she told him it was
of no use, as she was bound to die
She never seemed 80 merry as or
Thursday afternoon. When Mr.
Rudolph began reproaching him
self for having the revolver in th'
house, she simply remarked 81
would have made no difference,
would have found some Othel
means of ending my lite" Sh'
was determined to die, that was
evident. During the night sht
suffered greatly, and in the morn
ing her means could be heard
distance from the house. AbOu
nine o'clock she became uncon
scious, and a.half hour later passe'
away.
1T WAS ALL A DELUSION.
The attending physicians, bot
of whom are experienced surgeons
who have witnessed and treate'
any number of cases in the Mary
land University Hospital. agre
that this is one of the most re
} markable cases that has ever COM
to their knowledge. They fee
, satisfied that the Young womal
labored under the delusion tha
she was becoming insane, when, II
r fact, there was not the slightes
danger. The trouble in her hea
/ was a sort of vertigo, from whic
she suffered now and then. Tn
) idea, however, preyed on her min
that she would be burden to he
p people; and she coOlly, calmly an
r deliberately planned to make ava
I with herself. Mr.. Rudolph sal
she told him about two months b'
/. fore their marriage that she ha
thought of committing suicide
+ year ago because of the trouble
g her head, but laughingly remarke
2 that all such ideas had passed fro
J, her mind. He now recalls tn
> conversation. At the time,
e simply demonstrated with her f
d entering such ideas. The subje
!, had since then never been referr'
@ to. There is no insanity, nor hi
It there ever teen a case in either b
Il. - IL. ....co1, forn;lu