Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-30
ONCE A BELLE IN WASHINGTON.
DOvie Forney Under Arrest ~ Accessory "a
Murder.

Dovfe Forney Under Arrest ~ Accessory 10
Murder.
SENSATIONAL TRAGEDY IN BRooKLYN-rHE
CAREER OF A YOUNG WOMAN ONCE PROMINENT
IN SOCIAL LIFE BKRE-HER MARRIAGE AND d.
voRcE-THE SHOOTING IN HER APARTAKSra
Darwin j. Meserole shot and killed Theodore
Larbig in Mrs. Dovie F. Comstocks fat at S7S
sackett street, Brooklyn, Saturday night. The
tragedy has caused . great sensation in Brook
lyn, because Meserole is member Of one Of the
best known families of that city. The incidents
connected with it are Of no less interest here
because Mrs. Comstock, in whose apartments
the shooting occurred, and who 10 said 10 have
been the cause of the trouble, was formerly
well-known in this city as Q belle, under her
maiden Of Clara Forney, but she was always
known as "'Dovie" Forney. She is a
daughter Of Mr.. D. c. Forney, . we'll
known newspaper man and niece Of the
late john W. Forney. She was attractive and
noted in this city for her gayety, and her mar
rage here in 1880 to Walter J. Comstock, q
wealthy young man of Providence, was one Of
the chief social events Of the season. The
marriage, however. did not prove happy one.
There was a divorce, and since then her life
has been such, according to reports. that her
old friends and associates in this city have lost
sight of her.
THE SCENE N COURT YESTERDAY.
Meserole, who is twenty-three years old, and
Mrs. Comstock were both in Justice Tighe Q
court in Brooklyn yesterday. A bandage cir
cled Mrs. Comstock's forehead, concealing her
left eye. The ragged edge OF . bruise showed
beneath it. just above the neck of her dress a
blue Line showed family. The New York World
reporter describing the scene says: "A closely
fitting frock of light gray stuff displayed the
small, daintily rounded form. A bit of patent
She seemed not pretty and she looked old,
thirty-hve at least. Yet there was about
her that indefnable air of breeding, of
gentility, which nothing can eradicate.
Coupled with this was certain grace of man
ner, quick intelligence and & spirit which
suggested champagne and laughter"
Meserole, who was neatly dressed in black,
had one eye discolored and one cheek was
bruised. His thin face had the pallor of the
sick room. Meserole was committed on a
charge of murder. charge Of vsgrancy was
made against Mrs. Comstock as a makeshift in
order to hold her. but the judge dismissed the
charge and she was rearrested as an accessory
to the killing.
The victim Of the shooting was Theodore
Larbig, q commercial traveller, q middle-aged
married man, who, it appears had become in
fatuated with Mrs. Comstock. The story of
the circumstances Immediately attending the
shooting, as told in the New York World today,
are follows:
For two or three months young Meserole
had been sick. He has been suffering from
excuses. On May 20 last he sailed for Europe,
hoping that a sea voyage would benefit him.
He returned week ago last Wednesday and
Immediately took mp quarters in Mrs. Com
stocks fiat. His father had closed hls house at
400 Washington avenue and gone with the fam
lily to Englewood, n. J. Meserole was very
much exhausted when he reached the fiat He
had to go to bed at once. He sent for his physi-
clans, DIR. Schenck and DIR. Carter. For the
first few days they attended him three times a
day. The janitress of the building says that
Mrs Comstock represented him as her cousin.
Larbig returned from a trip last Saturday.
He went to the bank and drew out &125. He
did not 80 to his home. He called upon Mrs
Comstock about noon on Wednesday. Mes
erole was in the fiat at the time and Mrs Com
stock introduced them to each other. 1t seems
that Meserole greeted Larbig in naughty
way, which made him very angry The fiat is
on the first floor. Meserole occupied the par
Tor, with an alcove bed room. Next to his
room was Mrs Comstock's room. Adjoining
that is the dining room, with the servant 8
room between. Mrs. Comstock took Larbix
utes and then Mrs. Comstock and Larbig went
into the dining room. He didn't stay long.
SAID SHE FEARED LARBIa.
Later in the afternoon Mrs. Comstock asked
Meserole to take her to Coney Island. She
said that she didn't want to see Larbig be-
cause she was afraid of him. He had gone to
the races and might return to the fiat later.
The two went to Brighton Beach, where they
dined. Mrs. Comstock saw Larbig there. He
signaled to her several times to leave Meserole
and come to him. She shook her head in
refusal.
1t was after 9 o'clock when Meserole and Mrs.
ComstOck returned to the fat. He was ex-
hausted and went into his room and laid down.
Mrs. Comstock went out to the grocer's Just
after she returned the door-bell rang sharply
Mrs. Comstock went to the door. Alter a par
ley she admitted Larbig. His face was flushed
and he acted as if he had been drinking. He
followed Mrs Comstock through the dining
room and into her own room, accusing her Of
unfaithfulness, saying that Meserole was her
lover. She denied it. Larbig struck her. She
shrieked. He grasped her arm and planted his
fist on her chest. Again she screamed for
help. The powerful man fastened his fingers
about her throat and rained blows upon her.
Her head was against the folding-bed, which
had not been lowered.
Meserole jumped from his bed. Drawing
his revolver from his pocket he sprang into
the other room. He placed the weapon at
Larbiss head, saying he would shoot if the
woman was not released. Mrs. Comstock ran
out of the room. Larbig turned upon Mese-
role. Larbig weighed at least 100 pounds. He
had always been known as a man of remark
able strength. Meserole il wasted with illness
and is very weak. He weighs hardly ITO
pounds.
Larbig told the young man he would have
him arrested for threatening his life. Meserole
replied that he had only saved the woman q
life. Again was Larbigs anger aroused. Ha
struck at Meserole, hitting his eye. The young
man warned him that he would shoot. Larbig hit
on Larbig's breast. He was not nervous. He
didn't even shoot hurriedly. When he fired
the bullet sped to the heart. Again he pulled
the trigger. The second bullet entered an inch
from the first one. Larbig swayed forward and
fell dead at Meseroles feet. All this happened
in Mrs. Comstocks little bed room The BODY
was found between the closed bed and the two
walls.
HE WAS COOL EVEN AFTER THE SHOOTING.
The slayer told Mrs. Comstock they had bet
ter go to the police station. He dressed him.
self as he would for a walk and they started.
He entered the Butler street police station with
Mrs. Comstock tucked under his arm. Her face
showed the beating she had received. Sergt.
Maude glanced at them and guessed that there
had been q fuss in the fiat. Meserole walked
W. and looked him in the eye.
Sergeant" he said, in q quiet common
place way, II have just shot q man down the
street."
"What?" exclaimed the sergeant, jumping
up from his seat "You have done what?'
II said have just shot q man down the
street." repeated Meserole, raising his eye
brows as If he could not understand why the
officer was making such time about it.