The times., 1897-07-17
A WICKED SALVATION GGI'a! G'aa!l
She Caused Mrs. Arthur Morti
mer TO Attempt Suicide.
PLIRTED WITH MR.. MORTIMER
He Was Embracing the Pretty Lit
tie Tamhourine Player When His
Wife Came Upon Them in Her
Own Home-.A Violent Domestic
BravI Followed.

Much excitement was caused In the
vicinity OF New Jersey avenue and :
street northwest yesterday aften oon
by the report that MIS-. Arthur Mortimer,
OF 407 New Jersey avenue, was attempting
to commit suicide. Lieut.. Kelly, Of the
Sixth precinct station, went quickly to
the house and found MIS-. Mortimer about
TO swallow the contents OF a laudanum
phial lie took ii away flom her and she
then claimed that she only wanted 10 take
the poison for her nerves.
Policeman d. I. Lynch went TO the
house, and by skiilful questioning he slic-
ceeded in getting the story or the louDie
winch caused the woman 10 attempt 10
end her life.
1t seems that she is intensely jealous
OF her husband, Arthur Mortimer, Who is
several years her junior. She has watched
hin. closely, and it is claimed has fire.
quenay accused him OF peridy. she has
a married daughter, Mrs. Mary Flower, by
a previous marriage, who lives with the
Murtimers. The daughter is tail. finely
formed young woman. She has been
ktB.tfAIcSl llOib iSi ubSbSi's hSo'As '''N
wears, and has a child five years of age.
A short time since, however, Mrs. Flow
er, the daughter, became much Interested
in the salvation Army and she was finally
converted, though not joining the nrgani-
zation. size met one OF tie army lasscs,
whose name cannot lie learned and became
n.uch attached TO her. Mutual interest
ia the army work brought them together
..sct.. t=rg.ss Lea,
Iited TO her friends hone.
Mrs. Mortimer quickly became suspi-
cious that her husband might be attract
ed by the bright eyes and rosy cheeks Of
the iassie, and sne watched them closely
whenever the two Were in the same rooln
together She accused her husband of
paying the girl attention, but lac iudig-
nantly denied the charge.
Ars Mortimer left the house shortly after
noon yesterday on an errand for her hus-
band concerning the repairs TO certain
| furniture. she was gone nearly two hours,
| and during her absence the pretty Salvation
! Army lassie called TO Sea Mrs Flower Some
time vas spent in conversation between
them and then Mrs. Flower left the room,
klying that she had some ironing TO DO. A
! mcment later Mr. Mortimer appeared n the
room and was soon engagedin conversation
with the lassie. They were so much alb
surhed with each other that they cid not
| notice the passage OF time nor did they
| hea' the approach OF Mre. Mortimer as she
returned.
without any warning that lady opened
| the door and confronted them. She sa W
10th her husband and the lassie on the
same cnair and his arm was around the
| girls neck. 1t did not take the Jealous
| wife long TO act. She rushed at .thc
| confused and trembling couple and Gem
| mcnced to rain blows in tie faces of 10th.
| Thsy retreatel from the room and she
followed them. crying and screaming, as
If in mysteries. They fled TO an upper
/ room, and the daughter, Mrs. Flower,
caught her mother and attempted to
quiet her. This was useless, however,
and after an hours Mysteries Mrs. Morti-
mer sent q neighhor's child to Pearson s
drug store for some laudanum, sa yin g
she wanted it 10 quiet Ter nerves. She
was given cents worth, which druggists
are allowed to sell without presc ription.
1t was then that Lieut.. Kelley was
told by a hcighhor that Mrs Mortimer
was attempting to commit suicide. He
quickly went 10 the Mortimer home, which
IS only a short distance from the station
house. He found Mrs Mortimer about L
take the poison. She did not disclaim heI
intention 10 kill herself, but said size
had an awful Trouble in her life, ant
she didn't know what she was to do
Lieut.. Kelley did not question her much
but, half an hour afterward, Policeman
D. j. Lynch went to the house ana learned
fren Mrs, Mortimer the entire story a.
related above. The husband was in tn
room when she told OF catching him witt
his arm about the Salvation Army lassiei
neck. He laughed scornfuIly, and sal,
his wife must be crazy, although he dit
not once deny the truth Of her state
meDt.
Immediately after the domestic diff
culties the Salvation lassie disappeared
and every effort to learn her name wa
unsuccessful. MIS-. Mortimer refused {,
disclose it, as she said she did not wan
to bring discredlt on the armyin any way
Arthur Mortimer, the husband, is ar
upholsteTer, and is regarded as a very re
spectacle young man. Mrs Mortimer, wh,
is fully ten years Older than her husband
has red hair, blue eyes, and is n good
looking woman. Ncighbors say she ha
violent temper which is most easl
excited by suspicion that her husband d pay
attention to other women