Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-11-21
A "sALvAIloN" TRAGEDY.

Mortally Wounds Capt. Hattie Smith,
and Takes Her own Life-Thc Motive
for the Crime n Mystery.
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 18.-The muster
of the northwestern division of the
Salvation Army at Omaha to meet La
Marechale Booth-Clibborn, of France,
has terminated in q tragedy-sad,
sudden and inexplicable. While the
bell at the army's headquarters in Oma-
ha was tolling Saturday evening and
the soldiers were fling slowly out of
the barracks the sound of pistol shot
rang out above the notes of the bell
and with groan one of the army's
captains fell to the pavement, blood
gushing from her mouth and nestrils.
Her body had not yet lodged
on the sidewalk when the Sec
ond report from the pistol was
heard and private reeled from the
ranks, and staggering blindly step or
two fell dead in the gutter 1t was just
| after o'clock in the evening and the
army's forces had gathered at the bar
| racks for the purpose of making its
usual parade prior to services.
Motive for the Crime.
The real motive for the fearful double
crime is not so clear as it might be, but
the indications point to rather queer
combination of jealousy and semi-re-
ligious frenzy. However obscure may
be the motive that prompted the deed,
its results stand out only too plainly,
for the body of Nettie Biedler, the MUIR
deress and suicide, rests on a marble
slab at the city morgue, and her vic
tim, Capt. Hattie Smith, of the saliva
ton band at Oskaloosa, Ia, in untold
agony is awaiting death at her tempo
rary boarding place on Davenport
street.
without Word.
The murderess came upon her victim
as she was standing on the sidewalk
conversing with Capt Wallace from
Marshalltown, Ia. Without speaking
she drew revolver from beneath the
folds of her dress and fred. Almost
simultaneously with the crack of
the pistol came the Shrek of pain
from the wounded Capt. Smith
and she and Capt. Wallace started to
run down the street. Evidently fear
ing the bullet had not reached vital
spot, the crazed Biedler girl followed
her fleeing victim few steps and fred
again. The first bullet evidently went
wide of the mark, but when the wom-
an leveled the revolver the wounded
captain reeled and fell.
Shot Herself Dead.
Without waiting to see the effect OF
her second shot the woman placed the
muzzle of her weapon to her right
temple and pressed the trigger third
time. A muffied report, heavy plunge
forward and the body of Nettie Biedlel
sank lifeless to the gutter.
l Not 20 feet away lay Capt. Smith un
consciously moaning a crimson fioot
dyeing the bright red folds of her som
ber uniform, while her lips were thu
portals of fountain from which bloot
, gushed forth with every convulsiv,
a heave of her breast.
y All this happened so quickly tha
y not hand could be raised to stay th
n commission of the awful deed. 1t wa
. the work of but moment. Soon tn
. horror-stricken onloolsers recovere
d and the body of the dead woman wa
l. raised and carried into the Office of
livery stable, while the wounded caI
tain was removed to drug store an
: medical assistance summoned.
= The Captains Story.
e Capt. Smith was removed from tn
: drug store to her temporary boardin
house, only two blocks away. Hardl
had she been placed upon
bed when she was attacked
Il violent hemorrhage from the lung
and bled copiously. A resident ply
4 sician who had been summone
/. said the wound certainly would prov
g fatal. AS she lay on the bed, rapid
r sinking toward death, Capt. Smit
u spoke a few words concerning the dee
@ and it's motive. She said she had sougl
Il to induce Miss Biedler to join til
It army while stationed at Counc
r Bluffs some thirty days ago.
It coming to Omaha Miss Biedl,
q sought her out and with gre;
o show of affection told her she love
d her. On several occasions Miss Bie'
l. Ter sought to occupy the attention {
5. the captain to the exclusion of all otl
.s ers There was meeting at the arm
e barracks Saturday afternoon and ii
e Biedler woman seems to have bee
n there, but whether she was thel
d during the entire meeting is n
l. known, as no one noticed her uni
Ii after the close of the service. AT tn
G. time she was in the rear portion of Il
10 church and sent up word to Capt Smi
10 that she wanted to talk with her. TT
r, latter replied to the messenger that 81
4. was busy then and could not grant h
10 the request, but after eating lun,
went back and talked to the Biedl
G woman for some time What was sa
~ by either of them is unknown.
y VETERANS TO CONTRIBUTE
,e q. A. Il. Posts Called Upon to Make l.
ir NATIONS TO heip nuud Inc memoir