The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-27
LOVED TOO WELL
Tragedy Revealed by a
Divorce Suit.
TO Do MURDER.
Mrs. Stone Would Have Killed Her
Husband in Order TO Marry
HaSSett.

CHICAGO, Aug. 26.-In a bill for divorce
filed in the Superior Court to-day by Mrs.
Bella II. Hassett against William F.hHas-
sett of this city the most astounding
charges were made. 1t is alleged. and the
allegations are supported by written EVIL
dence, that Hassett conspired with the
wife OF wealthy farmer named Strong,
now living near Nashua, Ia, to murder
Stone. get a divorce from his OWN wife
and then marry the widow of Stone, who,
by the letters attached, was more than
ready to put her husband out Of the way
that she might marry Hassett.
Hassett comes of a wealthy family in
Jefferson. Ia. His father. who was a hard
ware-dealer, died some time ago and left
him between $4,000 and $4,000 He was
married to Miss Hicks, who lived in Hamil-
ton, Ohio.
About one year ago. while Hassett was
travelling through Iowa, he became ac-
auainted with Mrs. Stone, who was living
with her husband. a wealthy farmer in
Nashua. The woman, the bill alleges, be-
came enamored of Hassett, and, it is
charged, made propositions 10 make away
with her husband, who was past middle
age and an invalid. The alleged plot, a
evidenced by the data attached to the bill,
was to bring Stone to Chicago on trip to
the Worlds Fair. and place quantity OF
poison in the medicine he was taking. The
couple hoped to shield themselves, it is
said, from the clutches of the law by Civ
ing out that the death of Stone was from
natural causes.
Mrs. Hassett became aware of the So
called intrigue through mere accident. Not
long ago her husband came home intoxi-
Gated. and quarrel arose. resulting in de-
PENDANT telling his wife that he had a
woman living in Iowa who loved him more
than she did. aud if she did not believe it
she would find number of letters in his
trunk which would prove it. Mrs. Has
sett opened the trunk while her husband
was away from home, and found the let
ters. She was Mortified at their contents.
and Immediately placed the matter in the
hands of her attorneys, who prepared the
complaint for a divorce.
The first letter from Mrs. Stone was
dated Nashua, Iowa, June %, and in it the
preliminaries were decided upon. 1t was
planned that she would reach Chicago
early the following Sunday morning and
attend the fair July 9. when she was to ad-
minister something that would make her
husband sick and then, if death resulted,
attribute it to something else. The next
letter announced change of time in start
ing. In this letter Mrs. StOne asked Has
sett to procure some ''prussic acid and
morphine" The letter ends with a eau
ton to Hassett to destroy all her letters.
The letters are signed Nellie" and are
thickly sprinkled with terms of endear-
ment.
When Hassett became aware in his
sober moments that his wife had obtained
possession of the letters he made an at
tempt to kill her. it is said. and was only
prevented from doing so by the interfer-
ence of neighbOrs. He was in Chicago to-
night. but could not be located.
Mrs. Hassett was seen tonight and adj
mitted all the allegations contained in the
bill. Whether the alleged plot to take the
life of Stone was frustrated or not could
not be ascer aimed tonight. 1t is thought
by the attorneys that Mr.. and Mrs. Stone
were in Chicago on the night of July 4,
but not h ing definite could be learned.