Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-16
TERRIBLE! TERRIBLE!
A Sensational Salvation Army
Tragedy.
The Big Meeting at Omaha
Marred by Murder.
Captain Hattie Smith Shot by q Fe-
male Friend.
The Murderess Also Blew Out Her Own
Brains-A Queer Manifes-
tati0n of Religious
Frenzy.
Associated Press Dispatches.

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 15.-The muster of
the northwestern division OF the SALIVA
ton Army, at Omaha, to meet La Mare
chale Booth Clibborn OF France has ter
minated in tragedy, sad, sudden and
inexplicable. While yet the bell OF the
army's headquarters in Omaha tolled
| curfew-like requiem for the dead Sum-
day, and the soldiers were filing slowly
out of the barracks, the sound of pistol
shot 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 vet lodged on the
sidewalk when second report wac heard
and private 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.
| 1t was just after O'Clock in the even
ing, and the army's forces had gathered
at the barracks for the purpose of max
ing the usual parade prior to the SER
| vices. The presence in Omaha of
| the official heads of the army
in France and America, La Mare
chale Booth Clibborn and her
Brother Ballington Booth had drawn
| hither all the forces of this division,
which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota
and Nebraska. For four days the army
has held daily and nightly demonstra-
tions, and thework was seemingly meet
ing with great success.
The real motive. 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 results stand
out only toe plainly, for the body. of
Nettie Biedler, murderer and suicide,
rests on marble slab at the city
morgue, and her victim, Capt. Hat
at Oskaloosa, Iowa, is awaiting,
ment of the vital spark, at her tenn
porary boarding place on Davenport
street. The murderess came upon the
victim as she was standing on the side
walk conversing with companion.
| Without speaking, she drew revolver
and fired. The wounded captain gave
shrek of pain, and with her comrade,
started to run down the street. The
crazed murderess followed, firing Sec
ond time, just as her victim reeled and
| fell. Without waiting to see the result
OF the second shot, the murderess placed
| the muzzle of the weapon to her right
temple. A muffled report was heard,
and the body of Nettie Biedler plunged
forward and sank lifeless into the gut
ter, blood and brains gushing from
| CHASTITY wound.
All happened so quickly that not a
hand could be raised to prevent the
commission of the awful deed. The life
less body was carried into livery sta
/ BILE near by and the wounded captain
was taken to drug store, and physi-
clans summoned. The doctor whis-
pered, after. feeling the pulse of the
Biedler woman: "She is still alive"
Just then, with convulsive gasp, she
died.
AS the doctor crossed her hands above
her breast, there was a commotion at
the door, and young man entered. He
| looked on the corpse, and a sob OF an
guish burst from his lips. Then he
spoke, saying he was her brother, but
knew nothing of the crime or its mo-
tive, and hurriedly left.
Captain Smith was soon removed
from the drug store to a boarding house
near by. The physicians said her
wounds would certainly prove fatal
The rapidly sinking captain spoke a
few words concerning the deed and its
motive. She said she sought to induce
Miss Biedler to join the army in Council
Bluffs a month ago. 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
afternoon she sent word from the rear OF
the church to Captain Smith that she
wanted to talk with her. The latter
was busy then, but after lunch went
back and conversed time with the
Biedler woman. 1t is not known what
either said.
Later Captain Wallace called Captain
Smith to 60 to boarding. house with
leave her companion, but the latter
barred the way, refusing to allow her to
pass, and finally expressed the threat
that if the captain left her she would be
sorry for it.
When it was known that Captain
Smiths life hung by a thread the mem
bers of the army in the room dropped
on their knees, beseeching the throne of
| grace in true army style in behalf OF
their wounded comrade. 1t was
pathetic scene. AS the fervent suppli-
cations rolled upward there could be
heard above all the others the
voice of the dying girl, praying
that the cup might pass from
her, but it was without avail. Among
others kneeling at her bedside was
Lieutenant Berry of Boone, Iowa, to
whom Captain Smith was soon to have
been married. He sat all night by his
dying fiancee, offering such consolation
as his bruised heart could suggest.
Captain Wallace, who was with Cap
tain Smith at the time of the shooting,
told reporter that just before the
shooting the Biedler woman came up be-
hind them, saying she desired to talk
with Captain Smith. The latter replied
fhat che had NOD 4;.,.< ~ 4all- ...;4b hor