New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-11-18
TWO GIRLS DEA. til,
Tragic interruption to a Salvation
Army Demonstration at
Omaha.
Cant. Hattie Smith Fatally Shot by
Nettie Biedle, Who Then Takes
Sc. Her Own Life.

Her Own Life.
OMAHA, Nov. 16.-The muster of the
Northwestern division Of the Salvation
Army at Omaha to meet La MARKETABLE
Booth Clibborn of France has terminated
in tragedy. sad, sudden and inexplicable.
While:yet the bell.of the Army's headquar-
tiers in Omaha tolled, curfew-ike, the re-
QUEEN Tor dead Sunday ard 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''s captains fell to- the pavement
blood gushing from her mouth and nos
trils. ~
Her body had not yet lodged on the side
walk when the second report from the pis-
toll was heard and a private reeled from the
ranks and staggering blindly step or two
tell dead in the gutter, her soul winging
away amid the cloud Of smoke from her
own pistol. :, ...
1t was just after o'clock in the evening
and the armys forces had gathered at the
barracks for the purpose of making its usual
parade prior to service. The presence in
Omaha of the official heads of the Army
in France and America, La Marechale
Booth Clibborn and her brother, Commits
sioner Ballington Booth, had drawn hither
all the forces of this division. which in
cludes Iowa. Minnesota, the Dakotas and
Nebraska. For four days the Army has
held daily and nightly demonstrations and
the>Work was seemingly meeting with great
success.
The real motive for the fearful double
crime is not so clear as it might be; but the
indications point to a rather queer combi-
nation of jealousy and seni-religious frenzy.
How CIR obscure may be the motive that
prompted the deed, its results stand out
only, too plainly, for the body of Nettie
Bledser, the murderess and suicide, rests on
marble slab at the city morgue, and her
victim, Capt. Hattie Smith, OF the Salvation
band at Oskaloosa Iowa, is awaiting in I'M
told agony the final extinguishment of the
vital spark. at her temporary boarding
place on Davenport street.
The murderess came upon her victim as
she was standing on the sidewalk convers-
ing with Capt. Wallace from Marshalltown,
Iowa. Without speaking she drew a re-
volver from beneath the folds of her dress
and fired. Almost simultaneously with
'~A~ NAoSN Va SAO plolOl CdHlc tu0 SuTlGk Oh
pain from the wounded Capt. Smith, and
she and Capt. Wallace started to run down
the street.
Evidently fearing that the bullet had not
reached vital spot, the crazed Biedler fol-
lowed her fleeing victim and fired again.
The first bullet evidently went wide of the
mark as, even as the woman leveled the
revolver, the wounded captain reeled and
fell.
Without waiting to see the effect of her
second shot. the murderess placed the muz-
zle OF her weapon to her right temple and
pressed the trigger the third time. A
muft1ed report, heavy plunge forward,
and the body Of Nettie Biedler sank life
less to the gutter. Blood and brains were
gushing from CHASTITY wound in her FORE
head. Not twenty feet away lay Capt.
Smith unconsciously moaning, crimson
flood dseing the bright red folds of her uni
form, while her lips were the portals of a
fountain from which blood gushed forth
with every convulsive heave OF her breast.
All this happened so quickly that not a
hand could be raised to prevent or stay the
commission of the awful deed 1t was the
work OF but moment. Soon the horror
stricken onlookers recovered, and the body
OF the dead woman was raised and carried
into the office Of a livery stable while the
wounded captain was removed to a drug
store and medical assistance summoned
while crowd gathered in front of the liv-
cry stable. When the police had taken
charge OF the corpse awaiting the coroner's
arrival, doctor bent over the wounded
woman and felt for her fleeing, Pickering
pulse. ''She is still alive" he whispered.
although her breathing could hardly be
discerned. "Stand back and give us some
room" said the doctor; but before the
onlookers could move there was a
convulsive gasp a shudder and Nettie
Biedler was beyond the reach OF medica,
or surgical skill. She was dead A ragged
mole in the forehead, red line down her
pale lace marked the path through which
hersplrit shook off its clay. 1t was grue-
some scene. IL can do no more tor her."
said the doctor, with pro essicna calmness,
and the hands were crossed above her
breast.
Then there came a commotion at the
door. Here's her brother" said some
one, and young man entered. He looked
on the corpse of his sister and sob OF an
guish burst from his lips. Then he spoke
q lew words, saying he was her brother but
knew nothing of the crime nor its motive
and hurriedly lett. The coroner came
and took charge Of the body, order
ing it removed to the norge.
Can't. Smith was removed from the
drug store to her temporary boarding
house, only two blocks away. Hardly had
she been placed upon bed when she was
attacked by a violent hemorrllage from the
lungs and bled copiously. A resident
physician who had been summoned said
the wound would certainly prove fatal.
As she lay on the bed. rapidly sinking
toward death, Capt. Smith spoke lew
words concerning the deed and its motive
She said she had sought to induce Miss
Biedler to join the army while stationed at
Council Bluffs some thirty days ago. On
coming to Omaha Miss Biedler sought her
out and with a great show of affection.
told her she loved her. On several occa-
sions Miss Biedter sought to occupy the at
tention OF the captain to the exclusion OF
all others.
Pair of Liquids.
Workers Gazette: A liquid laugh may be in
fictitious. but it is not considered as stimulating
as a liquid smile.