The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-14
DRIVEN TO SUICIDE.
A Suffering Wife's Attempt at
Desperate Escape.
WEARY OF CONTINUED ABUSE.
Sad Story Told by . Woman Snatched
From Death - Arrest of Her
Husband for Assault.

woman named Mrs. Flood made resoiule
attempt at the Seattle hotel yesterday to abrupt
~ END her life by taking the contents OF u phiaI
OF strychnine. The history OF the causes that
drove her TO this rash act is BRIEF yet sad one.
Three days ago the woman aud her husband,
whose name is John Flood, went to the hotel
ana took room They said they came from
Tacoma, and 1t was apparent that their finances
were very low. The man is butcher and
Claimed to be looking for WORK, but could nad
none Every day, il is s1id he would get drunk
ana abuse his wife shamefdliy, even in the
presence Of the other guests and the proprietor.
IL Is said by employees OF the house that he
mas endeavored TO compel her TO go out Oh the
stree, and would take men to her room, and,
WneL sac declined 10 entertain them, he would
abuse her sile tolerated his abuse. however,
complaining only OF his drunkenness ana say
ing mat he Was ali right when sober. She made
arrangements 10 60 10 work cooking in the hotel,
taxing her husbands board in part payment.
On MONDAY Flood came into the hotel st noon
and met his vile IN the hallway. He asked her,
II low voice, TO do something-what IL was no
one put themselves knows, enc replied, cooliy,
Il Wall not" "You musti" ne said, savagely.
AGAIN she replied, more resolutely, IL Will not.
nave submitted TO your abuse as long as | am
going 10; wneTeupoD he seized ner BY the two
saTs ana lerked her head back and forth VIC
ienuy, uniu guest, who had witnessed the
analr, said 10 him, '.Iet that woman 60. You
snail not hurt her IN my presence. or / viii
strike you He then let go and said no more.
mat night he abused her again in their room,
anu II TIE morning about clock, he ate his
breakfast ana weRt out, leaving the woman IN
Ded. enc oid not go TO breakfast but no notice
was TAKEN Of IL until about P. m, when her
rom was entered by one of the cham bermaids,
ana she Was found IN unconscious condition.
messenger was Immediately sent for the city
pn5sleIan The deputy, DIR. Heliker, soon
rived, and after laboring hard with her Tor
about four hours, she commenced 10 recover
consciousness.
She told the doctor that she was Is years old
ara had been married 10 her present husband
ntlie over year; that she had been previously
married and had one ehi.d-a little girl--by her
nrst husband. She said she loved ner present
husband, but when he gets drunk he abuses her.
bis aIsgraeeful treatment, she sand, mas made
. saeh burden to her that she deliberately
bought a paIal OF strychnine in Tacoma for the
purpose OF ending her troubles. Monday night
nc abused her, and in the morning struck her
on the head-Ihe spot being marked by bru.se
-aliu aitSr ne lett the room she decided to carry
our ner plan Oh seif-destrueiIon ana took the CON-
tents OF he phial- She begged that no action pe
taken 10 prosecute her husband.
concerning her previous history, or the where
aDouIs OF her parents, the woman would say
nothing, Is she Goes rot want the story of her
troubles ana attempt at suicide TO reach her pa
rents she was very weak and could speak but
Lite, ana that scarcely above whisper. she is
good-sizeu woman. tail but ( heshy. with a
counteHanee that Despeaks tair intelligence and
large degree OF womaniiness. Her startled
IOoA, Wild screams, and attempts to Jump up in
the 6ed when any one she thought to be her
husband entered the room. told louder than
WORDS the story OF her deep suffering ana fear.
About hall past clock in the evening tall
man, OF medium build, with dark hair and
brown musfache, entered the hall door He was
fairly dressed, but his face wore sneaky ex-
preston, as II he were half stupefied by whisky
or opium.
That's her husband whispered the clerk,
as he dashed out ana stood at the foot OF the
Stairs facing the fellow. AS Flood approached
the stairs the clerk told him he had orders not
70 let him up stalrs ana In reply to Floods
question told him his wife was very Ill in con-
sequence OF the injuries he had inflicted on her
in the morning. Flood stood calm and IN
moved.
just then the landlord came down the stairs
ana informed him OF his wifes attempt at sui
eide he was still unmoYed. He started
toward the door, saying, II viii call
and inquire how she is later The
landlord stopped him, however, and told
him he thought iG best 10 turn him over TO the
oIiicers OF the law to investigate his conduct
This caused him some little dis surbance, though
he pretended 10 b. uneoncerned. An officer was
Called. who took him TO poiice headquarters and
booked MIN Tor assault and battery. At the sta
ton he denied having assaulted his WIFE and
appeared indignant wnen asked regarding the
story Oh his having tried to coerce her INTO lead
ing a lie of shame.