River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-11-19
A "sALvATIon" TRAGEDY.

Mortally Wounds Capt. Hattie smith,
and Takes Her Own Life-The Motive
for the Crime Mystery.
OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 16.-The muster
of the northwestern division of the
Salvation Army at Omaha to meet la
Marechale Booth Ciibborn, of france,
has terminated in a tragedy-sad,
sudden and inexplicable. While the
bell at the army's headquarters in Oma-
ha was tolling Saturday evening and
the soldiers were fling slowly out of
the barracks the sound of pistol shot
rang out above the notes of the bell
and with n groan one of the army's
captains fell to the pavement, blood
gushing from her mouth and nestrils.
Her body had not yet lodged
on the sidewalk when the sec
ond report from the pistol was
heard and private reeled from the
ranks, and staggering blindly step or
two fe!l dead in the gutter. 1t was just
after o'clock in the evening and the
army's forces had gathered at the bar
racks for the purpose of making its
usual parade prior to services.
Motive for the Crime.
The real motive for the fearful double
crime is not so clear as it might be. but
the indications point to a rather queer
com bination of jealousy and semi-re
ligious frenzy. However obscure may
he the motive that prompted the deed,
its results stand out only too plainly,
for the body of Nettie Biedler, the muir
deress and suicide, rests on a marble
slab at the city morgue, and her vic
tim, Capt. Hattie Smith, of the saliva
ton band at Oshaloosa, Ia, in untold
agony is awaiting death at her tempo
rary boarding place on Davenport
street.
without Word.
The murderess came upon her victim
as she was standing on the sidewalk
conversing with Capt. Wallace from
Marshalltown, Ia Without speaking
she drew revolver from beneath the
folds of her dress and fred. Almost
simultaneously with the crack of
the pistol came the shrek of pain
from the wounded Capt Smith
and she and Capt Wallace started %
run down the street. Evidently fear
ing the bullet had not reached vital
spot, the crazed Biedler girl followed
her fleeing victim few steps and fired
again. The first bullet evidently went
wide OF the mark, but when the wom-
an leveled the revolver the wounded
captain reeled and fell.
shot Herself Dead.
Without waiting TO see the effect of
her second shot the woman placed the
muzzle of her weapon to her right
temple and pressed the trigger third
time. A muifled report, a heavy plunge
forward and the body of Nettie Biedler
sank lifeless to the gutter.
Not 30 feet away Jay Capt Smith I'M
consciously moaning, a crimson flood
dyeing the bright red folds of her SOM
Der uniform, while her lips were the
portals of 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 stay the
commission of the awful deed. 1t was
the work of but a moment Soon the
horror-strieken onlookers recovered
and the body of the dead woman was
raised and carried into the Office of a
liz cry stable, while the wounded cap
tain was removed to drug store and
medical assistance summoned.
The Captains Story.
Capt. Smith was removed from the
dug store to her temporary boarding
house, only two blocks away. Hardly
had she been placed upon a
bed when she was attacked by
violent hemorrhage from the lungs
and bled copiously. A resident ply
stefan who had been summoned
said the wound certainly would prove
fatal AS she lay on the bed, rapidly
sinking toward death, Capt. Smith
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 great
show of affection told her she loved
her On several occasions Miss Bed
Ter sought to occupy the attention of
the captain to the exclusion of all 9TH
ers. There was meeting at the army
barracks Saturday afternoon and the
Biedler woman seems to have been
there, but whether she was there
during the entire meeting is not
known, as no one noticed her until
after the close of the service At that
time she was in the rear portion of the
church and sent mp word to Capt. Smith
that she wanted to talk with her. The
latter replied to the messenger that she
was busy then and could not grant her
the request, but after eating lunch
went back and talked to the Biedler
woman for some time. What was said
by either of them is unknown.