The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-03-11
AN AWFUL TRAGEDY.

AN AWFUL TRAGEDY.
Theodore p. Rich Kills His Wife and
Then Himself at the Hotel Astoria, St.
Paul-She Had Eloped with Her Lover,
DIR. H. 8. Gale, from Coblsskill. New
York.
Two sharp pistol shots-one following
the other in quick succession-a woman's .
low moan, the smell OF powder smoke
creeping stealthily into t,ie halls; two dead
bodies on the floor with wide-open eyes
and from their heads red life blood gushing
and IL nd !, that is the epitome Of the tragedy
enacted in Room No. 20, Hotel Astoria,
No. 375 Wabasha street, St. Paul. Sat
urday night the 9th. 1t was the old, old
story OF husband and erring wife, and
MephistOpheles in the disguise OF lover.
She fleeing from home and all it's honored
ties to the West, with lover. The guilty
couple reach st. Paul, seek seclusi on in
private hotel. throw off forever
the bands that held them loyal to them
selves and, ostensiby as husband and wife,
dreamed OF days and weeks and months OF
such happiness as they might win to come.
But back OF them, like a winged Nemesis,
came the wronged husband, brooding on
his way OF tho terrible injury to him and
.of the late that was to befall both him and
her. Last night they met face to face
husband and wife-in Room No. 20 OF the
Hotel Astoria, and he, after one last plea
for her return to him, shot her dead, and
then killed himself. There is the weaving
OF a romance out OF such a tale, taken
as it is from everyday life. She was Mrs.
Fannie Rich, late OF Cobleskill, N. Y, and
be. Theodore p. Rich of the same
place. The third party to the affair (the
lover) was DR.. Fl. s. Gale, also OF Coble-
skill. He is forty years OF age, about five
feet, nine inches tall, weighs about IT'S or
$50 pounds, has a full face, the upper liz
being covered by blonde mustache. H
dresses in dark, clothes and wears a black
derby hat. Evidently he is an intelligent
man and accustomed to move in society
circles. Mrs. Rich was dressed in black,
even to her stockings, and slippers on
small, shapely feet. A woman Of petite
form, with regular features and light, fluffy
hair, that waved in bangs above d low
forehead, she possessed many attractions
OF form and face. Rich was carelessly
dressed, in ordinary clothes OF black that
did not fit him, heavy shoes and overshoes.
He has a heavy, solid face, well-knit form
and a black moustache. His chin showed
a lack Of the BARRIERS care for several days.
DR.. Gale gives the following sta tement:
left my family behind when / came west
with the woman who has been killed. We
eloped together, although there was no
particular effort to conceal the fact of our
departure, except from the womans hus-
band. The dead woman was Mrs. Fannie
Rich. She was tkirty-five years of age.
Her father, Henry Smith. was one OF the
most prominent lawers in New York State,
and a man of wealth and social standing.
Theodore p. Rich who did the killing and
then shot himself was about forty years of
age. He had no regular profession and
never engaged in any permanent business.
He was not a dissipated man, but he never
provided for his wife properly and abused
and mistreated her. They never had any
children. Fannie Smith first married u
man named Frank Trimble, from whom
she obtained divorce more than ten years
ago, soon afterward marrying Rich. 1t
was afterward discovered that there was
some informality in the divorce proceed
ings, 50 that really her marriage with Rich
was OF no binding force or effect. Mrs.
Rich has for some time past informed h IT
husband that she did not intend to live
with him any longer, and we arranged to
leave Cobleskilil come west to Dakota, and
obtain divorces. Then we intended to go
to California, remain there for six months,
and return to Cobleskill to live.
Then we started for St. Paul, arriving
toria hotel where we have been ever since.
About z O'Clock this evening we went down
to supperin the dining room. We had not
been there a great while before we were as
tonished to see Rich enter from the outside
door. He came directly up to us and held
out his hand to his wife, saying: "How d.
do. Fannie" She refused to shake hands
with him.. why have you done
this way?" he asked her. She
told him that she never would have
any thing more to do with him, and he had
beginning to attract attention, and l sug-
gested that we go up into our room No.
(20) and talk the matter over. This was
agreed to and we went up stairs. When got
into the room Rich asked me to step out
side, as he wanted to talk to Fannie alone.
l told him I would if she was
willing. She assented to the proposition
Rich making the remark by way OF reassur-
ing her: Fannie. you know l wouldn't
hurt you." went out and left them in
the room. had no thought that Rich in
tended doing her any harm. After waiting
about twenty minutes l went back and
Rich asked me to allow him little more
time. 1 went away again. Returning after
a lapse OF ten minutes he asked me to 60
away again. Fannie said: "Oh, yes, give
him chance!'' A third and fourth time
went back, and Rich persisted he was not
yet through with his talk. The last time
Fannie told him there was no use talking
further, as it would not change matters. l
was standing in the office talking with the
clerk when one Of the bell boys came in and
said he had heard two pistol shots, he
thought in No. 20. rushed up stairs
the rocking chair by the bureau, gasping
for breath, her head far over to one side
Rich lay flat on his back upon the floor.
The landlord, Mr.. Baugh, came in right be-
hind me, and we lifted Fannie to the floor.
soon discovered that life was extinct,
however, and gave up all efforts to resusci-
tate her, just before left the room the
last time Fannie told me that Rich had
agreed to accept the money and 60 back
home by an early morning train, and l
supposed everything was all right and that
he would leave st. Paul and not give us
Lny trouble,
The first that was seen OF Rich the mur-
derer and suicide. at the hotel, was about
Z o'clock yesterday evening. when he made
his appearance in tho office and asked the
clerk if Gale was stopping in the house.
There was nothing unusual to be noticed
in his appearance, and he did not attract
more than casual glance from the clerk,
who answered HIS question affirmatively
and informed him that Gale and his wife
were down in the restaurant at dinner.
Rich went down stairs into the restaurant
and went over to the table where his wife
and Gale were seated. Rich, upon enter
ing the dining room, was approached by
the headwaiter with the intention OF seat
Ing him, but as he took his seat with the
couple at the table, that dignitary sent q
waiter to him to attend to his order.
There was nothing unusual noticed by any
OF the attaches ofthe place during the meal,
and they all left together for the upper
part OF the house.
The following are recent appointments OF
postmasters in Minnesota: Beaufort, Blue
Earth county, A. Fleming, vice Leander F.
Finley, resigned; Bernadette, Mic
ollct county, G. G. Carson, vice G. Carson,
resigned; Deerfield. Steele county, c. Yust,
vice A. c. Ruger, resigned; Heath, pipestone
county, J. Hagan, vice c. Heath, resigned;
vice J. Donenhour; Kost, Chisago county,
=. a. English. vice Fred H. Kost, resigned;