The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-06


NEw YORK., Dec. 5.-The death Of
Mrs. Edith Armstrong, better known as
"Doviep Comstock, in a Kansas jail
sndS strange career of q beautiful aud
notorious woman. She was the daugn.
ter-ot.D. G. Forney, founder of the
Washington Chronicle, and a niece OF
John W. Forney, Of Philadelphia.
All those who knew "Dovie" Com.
stock in her childhood speak Of her
dainty beauty. The name was given
her because ii fitted her. She was a
laughing, hayward child. It seemed
natural that she should fall in love
with Walter G. Comstock. OF Provi-
dence, who was rich and handsome and
Young. His father was very rich. He
10 near relative Of the Armours, and
was In the wholesale meat business.
They lived in Providence. OH Parks
avenue, in tho finest house in the arts.
tocratic Elwood section. They plunged
4. once into tho social whirl. 1t was
not long before she gathered about her
a coterie of young men, many OF them
not In the fashionable set. These young
men drank quantities Of wine. Young
Comstock was at first delighted with
the homage paid his wife. Then hia
eyes opened and no got divorce.
1t is said that the correspondent was
Samuel Post, the man who was killed
by Ella Nelson. Some time after the
divorce Mrs. Comstock came to New
York and lived in various hotels. In
July, 1890, ahe moved to No. 344 Smith
street, Brooklyn 1t was there she met
Theodore Larbig, who lost his life
through her. He was forty-three years
Of age, q man who had seen life. Con.
slant intercourse with many people,
coupled with checkered and valuable ex-
perlence in California. had given him a
certain polish. But 1t was his great
strength and seii.oonfdent manner
which attracted Mrs. Comstock. He be-
came constant visitor to her fiat when
he was in town.
In May she moved to No. 27S Sackett
street and took as boarder Darwin ].
Meserole, son OF General Meserole. She
had known Meserole several years and
bad been very intimate with Kim. On
June q, 1901, Larbig called at the
house and began quarreling with. Mrs,
Comstock. lieserole interfered and
fight ensued, in which Meserole shot
and killed Larbig. The trial attracted a
good deal OF attention. The young man
was acquitted. William ]. Gaynor was
counsel for the defense.
Ten months later "Dovie" was mar.
RED to John L. Watkins and short
time atterward she went west. Being O
victim OF the opium habit. her down.
fall was rapid.
The Kansas City World OF Monday
gives the following account Of the death
Of the unfortunate woman in the coun-
,y jail in that city:
Mrs. Edith Armstrong, alias Mary
Anderson, alias Weldon. alias Miller.
alias Darnell, was found dead in her cell
In the county Jail at $3.50 o'clock yesser-
day morning. It Is thought that her
death was due to an abrupt cessation OF
opiates, as she was slave Of morphine
and opium and had committed mum.
Der OF thefts to obtain the drugs: For
several DAYS she--had not used NOR.
phine, and she had told the prisoners
in the women's cell that she would
either cease using opiates or die in the
attempt. Last Friday she was taken i'll
aud she declared TO May Plunkett that
she believed she would die as result OF
the abandonment OF opium. She was
taken with high fever, and the other
prisoners told the jail officials. A ply.
sician would have been summoned. but
she refused to see one. She was tender
ly cared for by fellow-prisoner, May
Punkett, who had become attached to
the unfortunate woman.
The deceased was last seen alive at j
o'clock Yesterday morning when she
fesbly called to May Plunkett, who had
been detailed to care for her. She went
10 the sufferers cell. The sick woman's
lips we're parched and she begged for
something cooling. May PluEkett had
nothing but an apple, but she pared
this and, scraping some OF the fruit
fine, applied 1t to the dying woman's
lips. She made her companion go back
to bed and was quiet Tor wniie. ABOUT
5o'clock she began to sing. The women
prisoners awoke and listened. The song
died away in a moan and all was quiet
again.
At o'clock the prisonere were
aroused May Plunkett looked into the
sick womau's cell aud thought she was
asleep. At $3.50 an attempt was made
10 arouse her. She was dead.
Edith Armstrong was committed to
the county Jail by Justice Kruger No
wmber "a 10 await the action OF the
grand jury on the charge OF stealing
diamond ring from Emma Won EIsner'
Of l0l6 Oak street. She stole the ring
30 order 10 pawn It to obtain opIates
Ali OF her thefts were committed for the
same purpose.
At one time she thought she was
cured OF the morphine habit, and wrote
a"song Of Rejoicing" for the Banner
Of Cold" a religious hymnal published
in Chicago.