The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-02
DEATH ENDS SHANE.
Exposure of Her Frailty Drives
q Woman to Suicide.
THE MAN WANTED TO FOLLOW.
Mrs. Brundage Takes Laudanum and
Dies BEFORE Her Lovers Eyes-Hs
Also Takes Some, But Repents.


20 initiate her example. In room at the
Grandvue hotel. corner of Front and Pine
streets, Mrs. Nellie Brundage, the wife Of
c. y. Brundage, a prominent real estate
man living at 1422 Fifth street, ended her
life with laudanum before the eyes of S.
X. Clute. her companion and clandestine
lover. When he beheld her deed he also
took dose OF the same drug. but regret
ting his action, took an antidote, and
thus saved his life. The husband Of the
unfortunate woman is heartbroken over
the caIaunity, and finds heavy grief instead
of JOY az the beginning of the new year.
Clute came to Seattle about a year and a
half ago and opened law Office in the
Occidental block. He was supposed to have
come direct from Montezuma. Ia, but men,
toned to a friend that he had been patient
at the Kelley institute, at Dwight. Ill. After
two or three months he began to drink
again. About this time he took rooms at
Brundage's house, at 1422 Fifth street,
and from his wn lips comes the admission
that here begaf, the fatal infatuation. The
husband knew nothing of the secret love
affair, but it went on nevertheless, and
when, about six months ago, Chute left
Seattle and went to Telluride, in Colorado,
correspondence was kept up. and it is
known that Clute has letters in his room
Mt the Grandvue that he would not like to
have made public
The separation was too much for the in
fatuated pair, and two weeks ago she tele-
graphed to him TO return. He complied
with the request and arrived here ten days
ago and took rooms at the Grandvue
hotel. Mrs. Brundage absented herself
from home so much. it is said, that her
husband took rooms at the Snoqualmie
She was drinking great deal. but the
husband had no idea who her companion
was or where she was going. Christmas
night she went with Clute 10 house on
Seventh street 10 call upon a woman. and
a lively time occurred. Liquor flowed
freely, and when she started home she was
in muddled condition. This incident
however, did not check the round of
pleasure she was having with Clute, and
together they drank, caroused and led a
far from model life.
Mrs. Brundage met Clute on Saturday
night and they went INTO the Cactus
saloon, on Madison. corner of Front. and
commenced to drink whisky. The drinks
came fast and soon both were in what
might be called the first stages of exhila-
rating intoxicatlon. This was not enough,
6nU 'NoiHHitls tic dSdi tiits iUctc.
They were thus engaged when the woman
picked up a copy of the Mercury and was
Mortified at seeing the following article,
headed "Dsgraceful Show" which she in
stantly knew referred to herself and her
companion:
Not thousand miles away from the Central
school. on Madison street, on Christmas eve,
there could have been witnessed scene that to
say was disgraceiul would be putting it mild.
Il was simply disgusting. and we are sorry in
deed to have learned that IL was all caused by
married lady, whose name 10 known to the Mer-
cary. but for the sake OF her husband, who has
an office down town, We refrain from mention
ing names.
1t seems that IN company with man mot her
husband) this lady in question called upon
friend of hers who lives in the vicinity men,
toned, and where We understand she goes very
often when she wishes anything like this to be
carried on. Christmas eve, and commenced
drinking and carousing in a manner that would
certainly have put TO blush many of our so-called
"chippies." Alter several hours dissipation
and noisy merriment the lady's husband called
for her, and as a matter OF course a great COM
motion was caused, but to get the man out of
the way.was the work Of but a few minutes and
husband and wife departed for their home, the
good. true. loving wife that she appeared 10 be,
being, TO use O slang phrase, "oyer a barrel
What happened after between husband and
wife we cannot learn, but We do hope that she
vii! mend her ways and only live for the one
man that she swore to love, cherish aud protect
through life.
The male companion in her revelries Is also
well known, and we promise that If such prac-
tees are again brought under our observation
we shall certainly publish names.
The article is cautious in the extreme
The scene took place on Seventh street.
and at the house of Il man who was away
and did not know what was going on. No
names are mentioned but the woman who
is referred 20 as being ''over a barrel' was
Mrs. Nellie Brpndage. and the man "not
her husband" was 5. +. Clute, by his own
admission.
Mrs. Brundage showed II to Clute, and
both were stricken with fear OF public
exposure. She became nervous and they
started for Clute's room in the Grandyue
arm in arm. They walked IN the street
and entered the house, both intoxicated
After they entered the room and she had
thrown her hat and boa upou the bed. she
told Ciute that she was going to commit
suicide and walked ont of the room. She
returned IN a moment and Clute asked
her whif she was talking about suicide
for. She repeated ner former remark and
concluded by saying:
II have taken lauduum and want to
die'
Cute laughed at her and derided the
idea a. absurd, and tried TO make her say
that she was joking, but she stuck 10 her
former assertion and threw herself upon
the bed. Drowsiness took possession Of
her and Ciute found that it was a hard
matter to arouse her when he spoke At
first he thought Il was the result OF the
liquor, but the situation soon alarmed him
and he called IN the assistance OF some OF
the people in the house.
Ii was now evident that the case WAS
serious. and DR.. Belle Smith was sum-
moned. Before she arrived the patient
did not respond when spoken TO, and the
first glance of the doctor Was enough Ia
convince her that the case WAS almost
hopeless. She worked. however, for long
time. using all the methods known 10 re-
suscitate the dying woman, but 10 no yur-
pose. The handsome woman lying on the
bed before ClUte and the doctor breathed
her last at 2:i5 o'clock in the morning
with scarcely more than parting casn.
Cute stood dazed for moment as the
doctor said:
"She is dead" but then went To her
head. removed the diamond earrings from
her ears rolled them IN niece OF paper
and placed them on the bureau.
AS he stood with his HAIR all dlsheyeie,,