Telegram-herald., 1890-08-24
CRAZED WITH LOVE
a. Woodruff Threatens the Lafe Of
his Sweetheart.
PUTS / BULLET II his OBs BREAST
He - feeRa fwO Hs0rs Afterwsrd sat
tiRs Ax4last Tree Covered VITA
Bieaa-Ehs Maaaaaa's Act hieh
Occurred Yesterday.

4 trlghtfui tragedy occurred yestsf-
day, o. sand Hui road, just nOTta q
Naiker-aye., near the toll gate. A.
Woodruff, a carpenter, after attempt
.ns 10 xii hs sweetheart, tired 4 5niiet
into hls own breast. lie is nov hover
Ing between life and death at the Z. Is.
A. Home. and al last adyices there
were but slight hopes OF his recovery.
From all accounts case OF unrequlted
love was at tie back OF il, and Wood
rut suddenly became the victim OF sui
cidal mania.
Woodruff had evidently been con-
templating suicide for several days, as
he had openly avowed that he intended
70 take ais own life, and early yester-
day morning il WAS reported 10 Patrol
man sitter that he had shot himself IN
ms room on the third floor at 6z West
Brdge-st. The officer made an inYestl-
CATION, but Woodruff could not be
found. HIS apartments were empty
and nothing indicated that he had
made away with himself at that time.
On the sand hill road stands lonely
looking abode which much resembles
those houses occupied by the poor class
Of farmers. Ii stands alone, isolated as
Il were from all other haoltatlons. lt
WAS here that the tragedy occurred
Here lived butcher Bowser, a man well
known IN Grand Rapids. Bowser bad
hired girl named Annie, with whom
Woodruff became cnamOred. She did
not return his affection, however.
lie had repeatedly entreated her 10
marry him. but she always refused.
Yesterday Woodruff went out TO
Bowser's and just as he arrived at the
gate he met the butcher and Annie on
their way TO the city. Woodruff took
the girl aside and requested her TO walk
with him. She refused as she believed
him intoxicated. He insisted but she
got into Bowser's wagon again, inviting
Woodruff 10 do likewise. Woodruff
became enraged and swore he would
kill her and also Bowser. He
ran about the wagon fiourishin3 a
revolver in a most dangerous manner.
BOWser became frightened, and be hit
his horse a cut and went galloping
down the road. The report of a pistol
was heard a moment afterward, but
BOwser or Annie did not look around.
This scene occurred at 10 o'clock.
Two hours afterward two men were
walking along the road near the ceme-
terry when they saw man sitting
against tree with his head dropping on
his breast. They went up TO hIm aud
found that he was covered with blood.
a 33-calibre revolver lay at his side. An
alarm was spread and soon the whole
neighbOThood was aroused. Woodruff
was carried back TO BOwser's house and
DR.. Dales was summoned to attend
him. Ii was found that the wound was
n dangerous one. The bullet had taken
effect in the chest. 1t had entered at
the medium line IN the sternum. The
physician did all he could 10 alleviate
his sutferIngs after he recovered con
sclOusness.
He was left at Bowser's until last
evening, when ne was brought to the
city and taken to the L. &. A. Home.
DIR. Dales made second examination,
and concluded that it would be ex-
tremely dangerous at the present time
20 probe for the bullet. 1t had IN all
probability entered the lungs.
Woodruff was a brother-in-law 10 w.
C.. Weatherly, Of this city. Weatherly
said last night that combination OF
circumstances was tho cause Of Wood
rufus act. SIX months ago he came to
TINS city from Albion. 1t that
time he had considerable money, but
in some manner it got away from him
Shortly after his arrival he fell IN love
with Annie and insisted on marrying
hm. Her constant refusals 20 her suit
and the loss O bis money were probably
the cause OF his strange actions.