The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-06
'ZELLA COMING HERE
THE FAMOUS MRS. NICOLAUS TO AR
RIVE THIS EVENING.
Coming to Watch mt the Bedside of
Her Dying Sister, Mrs. Wether-
bee, Who In Insane.

Mrs. celia Reuhman, more generally
known as leila Nicolaus. has telegraphed
that she will arrive here this evening to
visit her sister, Mrs. Elite Wetherbee. who
is lying at the point of death at the home OF
Mr. George w. Shields, 100 Hosbrook street.
Mrs Wetherbee is one of four sisters, of
whom Zella is the most widely known Mr..
Shields was at one time the husband of one
of the sisters. His wife died number OF
years ago, and he has remarked. The other
living sister, Mrs. Ella Wainwright, lives in
Chicago. She was here last week and spent
several days at the bedside OF her dying
sister. Her mother. Mrs. Wesly Lyle, OF
Wabash, is also seriously Ill and Mrs. VAIN
wright was unable to remain with Mrs.
Wetherbee, and telegraphed to Mrs. leila
Reuhman, who now lives in st. Louis. Sew
eral kilograms concerning Mrs. Wetherbee's
condition have passed between her sister and
Mr. Shields, and learning that she could
not possibly recover, Mrs. Reuhman yester-
day telegraphed that she would come here
tonight.
Mr.. Shields and his present wife were both
well acquainted with the Lyle family be-
fore they moved here from Wabash, and
Mrs. Wetherbee has spent considerable time
with them since the death of her husband in
Chicago, three years ago. She has one
child. little daughter, who is in the Ma
sons Orphans Home, of Chicago. New
Years day Mrs. Wetherbee came here from
Ladoga and remained at the Shields resi-
dence until she obtained a situation at the
Occidental Hotel, where she worked for two
weeks, when she became seriously i'll and
was taken to the City Hospital at her own
request: Almost as soon as she reached the
hospital Mrs. Wetherbee became a raving
maniac, and the physicians were unable to
learn anything of her friends. A commits
sion declared her insane and she was about
to be removed to the Central Hospital for
the Insane, when Mrs. Shields accidentally
learned of her condition and asked that she
be allowed to remain at the hospital until
Wetherbee's mother, Mrs. Lyle, was notified
Of her daughters serious condition but as
the old a mother herself ns hs III
Wainwright, came instead. When Mrs
Wainwright arrived Mrs. Shields volunteered
to look after Mrs. Wetherbee, and she was
taken to the Shields home. on Hosbroob
street.
Mrs. Wetherbee is in a deplorable condi-
dicted to the use of opium' and the loss OF
her mind is due to that fact. The last day
or two she has been comparatively calm
hear for a week after she was taken to Mrs
| Shieldss home. Her physician says that
| her death is but matter Of two or three
| days.
| Mrs. Shields is intimately acquainted with
| the history of the four Lyle girls. She says
the story that Mrs. Wetherbee and her
husband we're separated three years ago be-
cause OF incompatibility is untrue. as at tina,
| time Mr.. Wetherbee died Of consumption
Mrs. Shields attended his funeral. The cou-
ple she says, were devotedly attached, and
| had no trouble. Mrs. Shields bears no rela.
| tion to the Lyle girls, and has simply be-
| friended Mrs. Wetherbee through the respect
she has always had for her mother, Mrs
Lyle. who she says, is most estimable
| woman. She has a kind word for leila
| Nicolaus, or Reuhman, who, she says, was
| led into committing rash acts through her
| youth and inexperience. leila was beauti-
| full girl and her head was turned by fiat.
| terry and love for admiration and fine clothes