The morning call., 1893-04-13
TO END HER LIFE.
Unhappy Julia Driver
Drinks Carbolic Acid.
A HUSBANDS INDIFFERENCE.
He Sits Quietly By While the Wife He
Deserted Attempts Suicide
in Despair.

Mans perfdy and womanly devotion to
an undeserving and brutal husband came
near causing the death OF Mrs. Julia
Driver, young woman in delicate health,
on Tuesday morning in the rooms OF the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children in the Donohoe building, on Mar
ket street.
Mrs. Driver, accompanied by her little
daughter Irene. aged 8 years. visited the
Office OF Secretary Holbrook to meet her
husband. Charles E. Driver, who deserted
her ON March q and left her penniless. i'll
and with two children TO support
The meeting was by appointment, and
upon the request of the woman husband
and wife were permitted to occupy the sec
retary's private Office alone 10 talk over
their troubles
II want to try to tell him how wrong he
IS IN refusing TO live with his family, and l
DO hope can persuade him to came back"
MRS. Driver said to the officers of the sOci-
ETY. In making her plea for private room.
secretary HolbrOok had 10 leave before
the couple met but Mr.. Best a gentleman
connected with the Society for the Preven-
ton OF Cruelty to Animals, was in the outer
once during their interview. MIR. Best
heard some low conversation, interrupted
Dy woman's sobS, when suddenly the door
opened and Mrs. Driver staggered across the
bottle of carbolc acid, the contents of
which she had just swallowed with the ex-
ception of a small remnant which remained
in the vial.
Best at once went to the poor woman's
assistance, and, taking the situation in at
glance, he saw the husband sitting uncon-
cernedly In chair, Just as If it mattered
very little to him whether his wife commit
ted suicide or not
Luckily the physicians who have offices In
nrnmnflU n
attenu the woman and relieved her OF most
oil The poison she had swallowed with the
evident desire TO end her life, and Best
lound time To tell Driver what he thought
OF man who calmly sits in chair and
sees his wife commit suicide without stir
ring finger to prevent it.
Alter an hour had passed Mrs. Driver
was well enough to be removed TO her home
at i4oo Broderlck street. her husband dog
gedly accompanying her.
The Story OF the Drivers domestic trou-
pies. as taken from the records of the So.
clety 1or the Prevention of Craelty to Chill
dren, Is sad one. and shows Driver, who is
a painter and decorator, up in q very bad
light.
AS stated he deserted his family on March
y. ana left them without cent
On March 81 Mrs. Driver stated her case
to se;retary Holbrook, and Officer Christy,
att + looking the case up, obtained a warrant
tor The arrest OF Driver in the Police Court
vide"
Hearing OF this the accused left his en-
ployment, and told the firm for which he
had been working for years that he intended
leaving the city.
On April 6. before the warrant had been
served on Driver, his wife asked that pro-
ceedlngs be temporarily suspended. because
she had received letter from him in which
he made promises OF monetary assistance.
Monday morning she visited tie Office Of
Secretary HoibroOk once more and Informed
him that her husband had consented to
meet her there on Tuesday morning.
IL was on that occasion that she eXprassei
nope to be able to induce Driver to return
to her and his children. 81 will do anything
ne asks and shall try so hard to get along
with him II he only will come back TO me"
she said. full Of love for the man WHO had
acted so basely toward her.
When the meeting took place. as stated in
the foregoing, Driver probably stubbornly
refused 10 listen to her prayer and there
lore, In her despair. she wanted to die
That she came prepared for such a step
the poison she brought to the meeting
proves beyond 4 doubt.
George w. Loehr. q druggist on Geary
and Devisadero streets, sold the carbolic
acid 10 the woman. who is now slowly re-
covering from the effects Of the drug.
The officers OF the society are greatly in
terested 10 the case, and they will continue
to attend to Mrs. Driver until the husband
has at least made arrangements for the
support OF herself and the children.