The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-16
shot down IN THE RANKS
The Terrible Tragedy That Inter-
rupted q Salvation Army Par
ade In Omaha.
A Female Captain Fatally
Wounded by One of Her
Own Sex.
Tho Would-Be Mnrdercss Sends q Bullet
Through Her Brain--Details
OF the Affair.


OMAHA, Nov. h. The muster OF the
northwestern division OF the Salvation
army at Omaha to meet LA Marechale Booth
clibborn, OF France, has terminated IN a
a tragedy, sudden and inexplicable. While
yet the bell of the army's chapel in Omaha
tolled a cnrfew-like requiem for the dead
on Sunday, and the soldiers were filing
slowly out Of the barracks, the sound OF a
pistol shot, followed by another, rang out
above the notes Of the bell, and with a
groan one OF the army captains fell to the
pavement, blood gushing from her mouth
and nostrils. Her body had not yet lodged
on the sidewalk when third report was
heard. and girl reeled from the ranks,
and staggering blindly step or two, fell
dead in the gutter, her soul winging away
amid cloud of smoke from her own pistol.
Tt was just after six o'clock in
the evening and the army's forces
had gathered ut the barracks for
the purpose of making the usual parade
prior to the services. The presence in
Omaha of the official heads of the army in
France and America, LIN Marechale Booth
Ciibborn and her brother Ballington Booth,
had drawn hither oil the forces of this
division which includes Iowa, Minnesota,
Dakota and Nebraska. For four days the
army has held daily and nightly demon
strations and the work was seemingly
meeting with great success. The real mo-
tive for the fearful double crime is not
clear, but the indications point to rather
queer combination Of jealousy and semi
religious frenzy. However obscure may be
the motive that prompted the deed, its re-
suits stand out only too plainly, for the
body OF Nettie Biedler, the murderer and
suicide rests on q marble slab at the city
morgue, and her victim, Capt. Hattie
Smith, Of the salvation band Of Oskaloosa,
la. is waiting, in untold agony, the final
extinguishment of the vital spark.
The murderess came upon her victim as
she was standing on the sidewalk conyers-
ing with a companion. Without speaking
captain gave a shrek of pain and with n
comrade started to run down the street.
The crnzed murderess followed, firing a
second time inst as her victim reeled and
fell. Without waiting to see the result Of
the second shot the murderess placed the
inuZZle of the weapon to her right temple,
a muffied report was heard and the body OF
Nettie Biedler plunged forward and sank
into the gutter, blood and brains gushing
from CHASTITY wound.
1t all happened SO quickly that not a hand
could be raised to prevent the commission
carried into livery stable near by and the
wounded captain was taken to q drug store
and physicians summoned. The doctor
whispered after feeling the pulse of the
Biedler woman, "she is still alive" Just
then, with gasp, she died. AS the doctor
was u commotion at the door and a young
man entered. He looked on the corpse and
a sob of anguish burst from his lips. Then
he spoke, saying he was her brother, but
knew nothing of the crime or Its motive,
and hurriedlv left.
Capt. Smith was soon removed from the
drug store to her boarding house near by.
Her physician said the wound would Ger
tainly prove fatal. The rapidly sinking
captain spoke few words concerning the
deed and it's motives She said she sought
to induce Miss Biedler to join th o
army in Council Bluffs last month. On
coming to Omaha Miss Biedler. sought
her out, telling her how much she loved
her and on several occasions attempted to
enjoy her company to the exclusion of all
others. At the meeting yesterday after
noon she sent word from the rear of the
church to Capt. Smith that she wanted to
talk with her,. The captain was busy then.
but after lunch went back and conversed n
time with the Bieder woman. 1t is no t
known what either said. Later Capt. Wal
ace called Capt. Smith to 90 to her board
ng house with her (Wallace.) Capt. Smith
'ried to leave her companion but the latter
barred the way refusing to allow her to
BASS, and finally expressing threat that if
jhe captain left her she would be sorry
or it,
When it was known that Captain Smiths |
ife hung by q thread the members of the
.rmy in the, room dropped OH their knees
'eseeching tho throne of grace. in true
srmy style, in behalf of their wounded |
There could be heard above all
ng that the cup might not pass
rom her, but it WAS without avail |
Among others kneeling at her bedside was |
Lieut. Berry, of Boone, Ia., to whom Capt.
smith was soon to have been married. He !
at all night by his dying fianoe, offering |
uggest.
Capt. Wallace, who was with Capt. Smith
It the time OF the shooting, told reporter |
hat just previous the Bedler woman came
lp behind them. She said she desired to
ak with Capt. Smith. The latter replied
10 sorry IL you don't talk with me-" "a
ew minutes later" says Capt. Wallace, II
leard n revolver shot right at our backs.
Capt. Smith screamed and we started to
o run. Then there Il second shot. Inever
new the nssassin. She was not member
y the army. lO reporter VINO called al
he residence of w. w. Biedler, father of
he murderess at Council Bluffs, younger
lister stated that Nette and Capt.
'mith had been fast friends
png time and tho former had
een in the habit of attending the army
MEETINGS for the purpose OF seeing the cap
ain. She left homo yesterday to go to the
rmy celebration. She had no revolver 30
ar as her sister knew nor had any troubles
risen between the girls which might ac-
cunt for the fearful deed. The weapon
sed was n 32-caliber bulldog revolver
OMAHA, Nov. 16, 81. m.--Cnpt. Smith is
ow at tha Clarkson memorial hospital still
live bus sinking
NEW MEXICO'S ENOCH ARDEN.