Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-01
MRS WREN ARRESTED
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Mrs. Omega Wren. widow u John Wren.
TIE famous detective who died aboui ivo
years ago. was arrested yesterday mofniog
on q warrant charging her with keeping On
iil-govorncd house. For some time past
the police OF tie FIRST District have re-
ceivod complaints about the accused, who
resides on Ross street near Mayo. aud re-
Gently there have been several disturb
anees in tho house. Hor arrest, however.
was more directly tho result u very un;
fortunate affair. which reveals the sad
story Of an unfaithful husband and
much-abused wife.
Charles T.. Berry. n young married man
Of this city who is the father Of bright
little girl, has been frequent visitor at the
house Of Mrs. Wren for some months past.
Several weeks ago his wife, who knew Ot
his conduct, called at Mrs. Wren's and be-
sought her husband 20 return home. a
rather disagreeablo scene followed. and
two Of the Police-Court officers visited the
house, but no official action was taken, a.
the wife, after consulting friends. decided
not to swear ont any warrant. When the
officers, who were accompanied by Dis
PATCH reporter, sreached the house there
was no disorder, but broken umbrella In
the hands of Mrs. Berry and marks on her
neck indicated that there had been some
trouble. That night, however, Berry and
his wife were down town together.
WARRANTS ISSUED AND WITHDRAWN.
Other occurrences in which Mrs Berry
discovered the infdelity of her husband
are known TO the police. On one occasion
she sWore out Q warrant charging him
with drunkenness, but this was withdrawn
by her. Later she swore out another
charging him with assault, but this, too,
she revoked.
Last Sunday Mrs. Berry learned that her
husband was at Ms. Wren's house and she
went after HIM. IL is said that she en-
countered very rough treatment at his
hands. but at any rate she returned Monday
and also on the following day, when her
little gIrl accompanied her, On the latter
occasion she was exceedingly nervous and
excited, and finding that her pleadines
were Of no avail she drank the contents Of
a vial of laudanum which she had with
her. DIR. Marion B. Carter, who has an
Office IN one Of the basement rooms or the
Exchange Hotel. was Immediately sum-
moned. This was about half-past II O'Clock
in the morning.
HARD TO RRsUSCITATR.
The physician found an empty bottle
which had contained about an ounce OF
the deadly liquid. Ee Immediately set TO
work on the sufferer. She had not fallen
into a state of como and did not appear 20
have swallowed the entire contents OF the,
vial. Sulphate of zinc and caffeine were
administered To the unfortunate woman,
and vigorous efforts were made TO keep her
from falling into "a stupOr She was taken
III the yard back Of the house and
kept III constant motion 10y Dr. Carter
and Mrs. Wren, who lent her
assistance in resuscitating The pa
ferer for several hours. DR.. Carter, who
was compelled to leave. called IN DR.. Cud-
lipp. and the latter stayed with Mrs. Berry
for some time. Upon DR.. Carter's return
both OF the physicians combined their ell
forts TO revive the patient, and by half
past she was considered out of danger.
While the doctors were trying 10 revive
the woman a considerable crowd collected
in the front and rear OF the house, and
policeman called to see what was the mat
Ter The rumOr that Mrs. Berry mad been
badly beaten by her husband probably
arose from the fact that some Of the crowd
saw The doctors shaking the woman while
they were attempting to fight on the
effects Of the laudanum.
Mr.. Andrew Berry, the father of the
errng husband. accompanied by Police
men Saunders and Butler, called at the
house late in the afternoon and carried ms
little granddaughter nome. IHe Cullu hau
been a witness to the scene.
Mrs. Berry, who was quite sick from the
effects OF the laudanum, remained at Mrs.
Nren's house for several hours after she
was pronounced ont Of danger She could
not be found yesterday, although repre-
sentative of the DIsPATcH called at her
rooms, over Harrlson's drugstore, several
times during the day.
MIS-. wRES's VERSION.
Mrs. Wren. in speaking OF the affair TO
reporter. stated that the rumOr that she
and Berry had beaten Mrs. Berry was en-
tirely false. She said the unhappy wife
had been at her house several times IN
search of her husband. On the dag she
took the laudanum she had met with no
maltreatment. Mrs. Wren asserted that
she carefully nursed the patient after she
had swallowed the drug, and this fact is
confirmed BY one Of the physicians. She
did not deny the charge of keeping an i'll
governed house, although she did not ad-
NIT il.
The police have not been able to pro-
cure any evid, ee that Mrs. Berry received
blows at the Lands of her husband.
The warrant upon which Mrs. Wren was
arrested was sworn out by Sergeant
Howard. and this officer, accompanied by
Policeman Holdcrait, served II on the
prisoner. She was taken to the First po-
lice station, where she was shortly after
wards baled IN the sum of SlOD, with Mr..
Chris G. Delarue as surety.