Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-19
The Particulars.

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 revolt
YER from beneath the folds of her dress and
fired. Almost simultaneous with the crack
of the pistol came Shrek of pain
from the wounded Capt Smith and
she started to run down the street,
evidently fearing the bullet had not reached
a vital spot the crazed murderess followed
her flying victim a few steps and fired
again. The Internationally went wide of
its mark. AS soon as the woman levelled
the revolver the wounded captain reeled
and fell Without waiting to see the effect
of her second shot the murderess
placed the muZZle of her weapon
to her right temple and pressed the
trigger the third time. A muflied report, a
heavy plunge forward and the body of Net
tie Birdler sank lifeiess to the gutter, blood
and brains gushing from the CHASTITY hole in
her forehead. Not twenty feet away lay
Capt. Smith, moaning unconsciously,
the crimson blood dying bright red the
folds of her somber uniform, while her
lips We're the portals of the fountain, from
which the 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, which was
the work of but a moment. Soon the hor-
ror-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 re-
moved to a drug store and medical assist
ance was summond, while a crowd gathered
in front of the livery stable. When the po-
lice had taken charge of the corpse, await
ing the coroners arrival. a doctor bent over
the wounded woman and felt for her feebly
Pickering pulse. She is still alive
he whispered, although he- breathing could
hardly be discerned. "Stand back and give
US some air. said the doctor, but before the
onlookers could move there was a convul-
sive gasp shudder and Nettie Birdler was
beyond the reach of medical science She
was dead. The ragged hole in her fore
head and the line down her pale
faced marked the path through
which her spirits shook of its claim. 1t
was gruesome sight.
Il can do no more for her" said the doctor
with professional calmness, and the hands
were crossed above her breast. Then
there came commotion at the door
Here is her brother. said someone, and a
young man entered. He looked at the
corpse of his sister, and sob of anguish
burst from his lips. Then he spoke few
words, saying he was her brother, but knew
nothing of the crime nor its motive, and
huriiedly left.
The coroner came and took charge OF the
body, ordering it removed to the morgue.
Capt. Smith was removed from the drug
store to her temporary boarding place only
two blocks away, where hardly had she
been placed upon the bed when she was at
tackled by violent hemorrhage from the
lungs and bled profusely. A second ply
the wound certainly would prove
fatal. As she lay on the bed
rapidly sinking toward death Capt. Smith
spoke few words concerning the deed and
its motive. She said Miss Birdler had
sought her out, and with great show of
affection told her she loved her On several
occasions Miss Birdler sought to occupy
clusion of all others. There was
meeting at the army barracks yesterday
afternoon and the Birdler woman seems to
have been there. but whethershe was there
during the entire meeting is not known, as
no one noticed her until after the close of
the servive. At that time she was in the
rear portion of the church and sent word to
with her. The latter replied to
the messenger that she was busy then and
could not grant her request, but after eat
ing lunch went back and talked to the Bird
Ter woman for some time, What was said
by either of them is unknown, as the only
person who noticed what was going on was
Lieut.. Mary Bannister of What Cheer, who
carried the message to Capt. Smith. When
by Bee representative after
the shooting, Lieut.. Bannister stated she
saw the captain go back and engage in con-
but was so far away that she
could tell nothing about what was said
One of the other officers, Capt. Wallace
If Marshalltown, Iowa, finally went to call
he captain as she wished her |
% go with her, Capt. Wallace) |
Town to her boarding-place. The meeting |
lad closed about 4:30 and it was then fully |
IN hour later, the officers having had their |
unch served there at the church and the |
lieutenant told Capt. Smith to hurry, as |
hey must get back in time for the meeting |
n the evening at the First Presbyterian |
'hurch. The captain tried to leave her |
but the latter barred her way, |
standing before her in the aisle and |
'efusing to allow her to pass. The heuten-
int approached nearer and overheard the |
,aptain say several times that she must go |
md the other seemed to be demonstrating |
galnst it and finally expressed threat |
hat if the captain went out and left her
here she would be sorry for 1t