The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-10
MRS. C0MST0CK'S LIFE.
AProvidence Woman's Story Told to
a Brooklyn Jury.
1T FREES DARWIN T. MESER0le.
Declared Not Guilty OF Numbering Theo-
dore w. Larbig-Mrs. Comstock swears
She IL Now Living as "a Pure and Chris
tian Woman.

BRooKLYN, Dec. l0.-Darwin j. Meser-
errole, the young man who was accused OF
shooting Theodore w. Larbig in Mrs.
Dovie Comstock's fiat on Sackett street
last June, was acquitted by the jury in
the Court of Oyer and Terminer early this
morning. There was wild scene when
the verdict was submitted. The court
room re-echoed with cheers, and after
Judge Cullen had made the formal an
nouncement of acquittal Meserole was car
ried out into the corridor on the shoulders
Of his friends.
Mrs. Comstock is the divorced wife Of
Walter G. Comstock, prominent Provi-
dence merchant. She was the only wit
ness of the shooting and was the principal
witness for the defence. She occupied the
stand nearly all day yesterday. She Is not
as handsome as she once was, though the
sedentary life sne has pursued since the
shooting has improved her appearance.
She described the shooting as follows, the
questions being put TO her by the counsel
for the defence.
II opened the door, and Mr.. Larbig en-.
tered the dining-room L asked him what
he meant by following me about at Coney
Island He said he wanted To see me.
said was dining with a gentleman and
could not get up from the table. Then he
said he intended To sleep in the fiat that
night. / said; Mr.. Larbig, you cannot
sleep here tonight Mr.. Larbig said:
big took me by the shoulder and showed
me against the mantel. said: Mr.. Lar
Dig, you would not hurt meP He said;
Yes, would pulled away from him
and ran into Mr.. Meserole's room"
II opened the door of Mr.. Meserole's
room and asked him To protect me: Mr.;
Meserole jumped from his bed. He Said
he knew nothing about Mr.. Larbig and
me, and added, Pm sick Mr.. Larbig
seated himself on the bed, and Mr.. Mese-
role moved away. Mr. Larbig said he
proposed to sleep in the fiat that night,
sleep in this fiat tonight He said
Then i want my picture. i went and
got his picture and handed it to him. He
was angry, and pulled the picture out OF
the frame. l said:
Don't break the frame and he said,
yes, will Then / went and got another
picture of his and told him he had better
take that, too Then Mr.. Larbig took
hold of me and pushed me on the bed,
'"i'nt T'iY Kill you.'"
"Mr. Larbig grabbed me by the throat.
jumped on my hips with his knee and
commenced to beat me as hard as he
could. I.cried, Don't. you. are killing
me- Mr.. Larbig got me SO tight by the
throat that / was gasping for breath
Mr.. Meserole told Mr.. Harbig three or
four times to stop beating me. Mr.. Mese-
role said, Stop beating that woman or
IN shoot YOU; Then looked up and saw
"When the pistol was thrust in his face
Mr.. Larbig let go of me and said to Mr..
Meserole: 'I'll have you arrested to-mor-
row for threatening my life
81 had rolled of the bed on the other
side. Mr. Larbig dashed at Mr.. Meserole
Ia
said Keep off, or IN shoot Mr.. Larbg
sprang at Mr.. Meserole and ran into the
dining room. Then / heaed the shots
fred j did not see the shooting. / ran
10 the door of the next fat and hammered
upon the door, calling for help. Mr.. Mese-
ments. / returned. Mr.. Meserole was
weeping and was very much agitated. He
said: NV God, have shot him, but what
could do. He'd have killed me, or killed
you
Mrs. Comstock then told how Meserole
and she went to the police station and
surrendered.
The woman was cross-examined by
District Attorney John Il. Clarke, she
said she was 81 years of age, and was born
at Middletown, Pa. Her husband, Walter
j. Comstock, got divorce from her in
Providence, with the custody of their
child. After the divorce she came TO New
was living on Concord street, this city,
when she first met Meserole. She firted
with him on an elevated train in New
York, and he spoke to her. He visited her
house two or three times week. She
met Larbig five months ago, but he never
met Mesrole until the day of the homicide.
She dined with Meserole repeatedly at the
Clarendon and brunswick Hotels.
She acknowledged that she knew bud"
Baldwin, a young man about town, and
had been intimate with him. Mr.. Clarke
asked her If she went TO Philadelphia
with Baldwin, and she took advantage of
Judge Cullen's admonition that she need
not answer any question which tended To
criminate her and refused TO answer.
Mr.. Clarke--Are you going under the
name of Mrs. Coffin nowl A.-Yes, sir.
Q.--That is not your namep Alt il
my mothers name.
Mr.. Gaynor-Where were you during
the past summerp AIT Ocean Grove
with my father and mother.
Q.-Under Christian and good inhu-
encesp A.-Yes, sir.
Q.-Are you under that influence nowp
Mrs. Comstock--Yes, sir.
Mr.. Gaynor-Mrs Comstock, have YOU
been converted to Christ yourself and are
you now leading proper life
Mrs. Comstock-Yes, sir.
Mrs. Comstock on leaving the witness
stand was escorted from the court room
by her father When she reached the
corridor she tainted. \ physician was
summoned aud she was taken TO the
waiting room. This morning she is re-
\ I. L. =