Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-11
THE UMSTEAD CASE.
THE GENIAL AND DEBONAIR GEORGE MADE
LOTS OF TROUBLE.
Pretty Mrs. Lewis Makes Fourth AHeupt
on Her Life-Umstsad Leaves Pitsburg for
the East-Lsgal Proceedings.

manifested in this city, yesterday, over
the case of Hotel Clerk George Umstead
and Mrs. r. P. Lewis, OF Plttsburg, the
news being exclusively published in this
paper. Lewis has filed suit for $4,000
damages against Umstead, for alternating
his wife's affections, and suit in d.
yorce, and another for the possession Of
his three-year-old child have also been
filed by the injured husband. Umstead
eyaded arrest and fled from Pittsburg,
going East on an early morning train.
In addition to attempting TO end her
life, on three occasions, by taking
poison, Mrs. Lewis made fourth at
tempt TO end her existence by leaping
from a third story window OF the st.
Charles Hotel. She had been hysterical
all night, and was quite Ill from eXhaus-
ton when her husband and Detective
Heiner entered the room about 9 o'clock.
They caue to inform her that at $3.50
proceedings would be entered in Court
to obtain possession OF her 3-year-old
child. She listened TO their statement,
and then turned her head away as II she
did not desire to see them any more. As
she lay there In bed and heard Of
the effort to take the child away
from her she ceased weeping
and pallor spread over her pretty
face. The Two men turned to leave the
room. The nurse was not near the bed
at the time Suddenly Mrs. Lewis
leaped from the bed, threw upa window
and sprung out on narrow balcony.
She was in the act OF leaping over the
low railing when the detective, who
had turned just in time to see the
movement, jumped through the window
and caught her. A moment later and
she would have been dead on the pave
ment forty feet below. She was carried
back into the room helpless. All the
rest of the day she remained passive
and made no further efforts at suicide.
Mr.. Lewis has about forty letters In
his possession, which were addressed to
his wife by at least four different men
with reference to fifth, who is the son
of a noted ex-iurist of Pennsylvania.
These will all be read In court,
and some sensational disclosures are ex-
pected. The young men concerned are
all said to be well known. The letters
are not particularly salacious, but rather
business like, referring to money sent
and appointments made. George Y m
stead, the correspondent, has more let
ters in the batch than any OF the others.
One says in substance: al am real sorry
| can not send you any money now,
but will do so on my pay day."
When Umstead sent her money the
amount generally was SIS, and sometimes
even less, while other Of her acquaint-
ances sent larger sums. One letter
| chides Mrs. Lewis for not keeping an
appointment with the writer, and still
another advises her to cease her secret
meetings with young men. The letters
were signed George" "Sir Alfred"
tom c." according to the person writ
ing them. The real names OF the young
men were easily learned, for Mrs. Lewis
had foolishly written them in full under
their partial signature, and had put
| their letters in bureau drawer, access
| ible to her husband.
The proceedings for the custody OF
the child were inaugurated in the Com
mon Pleas Court at Pittsburg yesterday
afternoon. Mrs. Lewis was not pres
ent. She has retained counsel and says
she will fight the divorce proceedings.
Umstead is from New Martinsville or
Sistersvile, and was located at two
or three hotels in this city. He had
quite reputation here as rapid youth,
and was especially fond Of female socie-
| ty of certain sort.