The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-16
THEN TURNS PISTOL ON hrRsELF
She Falls Dead in the Gutter While
Her Victim Still Lingers.
Whole Army sends Prayers for the
victim's Recovery-The Leaders Arc
Badly shocked-Captaia's Lever by
Her Side.


In q tragedy sudden and inexplicable.
While yet the bell of the army's chapel in
Omaha tolled the curfew-like requiem for
the dead Sunday. and soldiers were filing
slowly out of the barracks the sound of
pistol shot rang out above the notes of
the bell, and with groan one of the
army 5 captains fell to the pavement, the
blood gushing from her mouth and nos
trils. Her body had not yet lodged on the
sidewalk when. second report was heard.
and woman reeled from the ranks and
staggering blindly step or two fell dead
In the gutter, her soul winging away amid
a cloud of smoke from her own pistol
Itwas just after 6 o'clock in the evening,
and the army forces had gathered at the
barracks for the purpose of making the
usud parade prior to the services.
The presence in Omaha of the official
heads of the army in France and Amer
les la Narchale Booth-Clibborn and
her sxother. Baliineson Booth, had
drawn 7hither all the forces of
this divisiee, whicn includes Iowa,
Minnesota, DAkcta and Nebraska.
For four days the Sfsay has held daily and
nightly demonstrations and the work
seemingly meeting with great ioarss.
The real motive for the fearful double;
crime is not clear but indications point to
a rather queer combination of jealousy and
semi-religious frenzy. However obscure
may be the motive that prompted the deed
its results stand out only too plainly,
for the body of Nettie Bedier, murderer
and suicide, rests on marble slab at the
city morgue, and her victim, Captain
Hattie Smith, Of the Salvation Band at
Oskaloosa, Ia, is awaiting in untold
agony the final extinguishment of the
vital spark at her temporary boarding
place on Davenport street.
The murderess came up on her victim
as she was standing conversing with q
companion. Without speaking she drew
her revolver and fired. The wounded cap
tain gave shrek of pain and with COM
rade started to run down the street; the
crazed murderess followed, firing second
time just as the victim reeled
and fell. Without waiting to
see the result of her second shot the
murderess placed the muzzle of the weapon
to the right temple, q muff1ed report was
heard and the body of Nettie Beidler
plunged forward and sank lfeless into
the gutter, blood and brains gushing from
the CHASTITY wound. 1t all happened SO
quickly that not hand could be raised to
prevent the commission of the awful deed.
The lifeless body was carried into q livery
stable near by, and the wounded captain
was taken to drug store and physicians
summoned.
The doctor whispered, after feeling the
pulse of the Beidler woman, "She is still
alive" Just then, with a gasp, she died.
As the doctor crossed her hands above her
breast, there was comn.otion at the door
and young man entered. He looked on
the corpse and 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 hurriedly left. Captain
Smith was soon removed from the drug
store to the clearinghouse near by. The
physician said the wounds would certainly
prove fatal.
Rapidly sinking the captain spoke few
words concerning the deed and its motive
She said she sought to induce Miss Beidler
to join the army in Council Bluffs a
month ago. On coming to Omaha Miss
Beidler had 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 some
time with the Beidler woman. 1t is not
known what either said.
Later Captain Wallace called Captain
Smith to 60 to the clearinghouse with
her (Wallace) The captain tried to 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.
Captain Wallace. who was with CAPTAIN
Smith at the time of the shooting. told
reporter that just before the shooting the
Beidler woman came up behind them.
saying she desired to talk with Captain
Smith The latter replied she had not
time to talk with her. The girl said
You will be sorry if you don't talk with
me-" A few minntes later | heard a re-
volver shot right at our backs Captain
Smith screamed and we started to run.
Then there was a second shot never
knew the assassin. She was not a member
of the army.
To reporter who called at the resi-
denee OF w. w. Beidler. father of the muir
deress at Council Bluffs, younger sister
stated that Nettie and Captain Smith had
been fast friends long time, and the for
mer had been in the habit of attending the
army meetings for the purpose of meeting
the captain and other girls. When she
left home yesterday evening to 60 to the
army celebration she had no revolver so
far as her sister knew. nor had any
trouble arisen between the girls which
might account for the fearful deed. Com
missioner BaIlington Booth would not
talk concerning the tragedy, and simply
saws. sit is terrible, terrible"
When it became known that Captain
Smiths life hung by thread, the men,
bers of the army in the room dropped on
their knees. beseeching the throne of
grace, in the army style, in behalf of this
seriously wounded comrade. Ii was pa
thesic scene as the fervent supplicstions
rolled upward There could be heard
above all Others the voice of the dying girl.
PRAYING that the cup might pass from
her. bat il was without avail Among others
kneeling at her bedside was Lieutenant
Berry, of Boone, Ia, TO whom Captain
Smith was soon to have been married
He sat ali night by his dying fancee offer
ing such consolation as his bruised heart
could suggest.
At an immense meeting tonight La