The times., 1898-09-23
WANTED TO KILL HIM.
Nj. N. Richardson's Life Threatened
by m Supposed Insane Woman.

Dy n EupHOtcu InSune w Omuu
Mason N. Richardson. assistant attor
ney for the District, spent very unpleas-
ant hour yesterday morning in his Office
at the corner of Four-an-a-half Street
and Louisiana Avenue, and but for the
prompt assistance which was given him
by Acting Inspector Robert Boardmap, of
the detective office, his career as prom-e
ising young attorney might have been
nipped in its blossom
Yesterday morning when Mr.. Richard
son went to his office he found among his
mail the following letter awaiting him.
Mrs Blanche slocum
Washington d. G.
Mr.. Richardson
When left the city four months ago my sis
ter Elizabeth living at your house a servant
and sence that time ! have heard nothing from
her until a friend enform me that she was ever
Ill and was Wandering around the streets OF
Washington and when she was no longer able
to take care OF herself she went TO the Polece
and you had her sent TO the workhouse claiming
that she was going crazy. That is the reward for
the secret Of your fsmbily that she has garded
for the last eight years. Everyone up here knows
all about il up here, and | Mrs. Hensey in
the country last weak, and she simply wild
about tie way you had treated her when she
had done everything that she could TO sehield
you Now the Winter is coming on and my
husband is living in Pittsburg with another
woman ard have three little children to support
and matt. all that l have in this world to
depend upon fer help
Mrs. Blanche Slocum is the sister of
Martha Dorsey, colored, who was for
merly employed by Mr. Richardson as a
housemaid, and was discharged several
months ago. Martha evidently is
identical with the Elizabeth" referred to
in the letter While Mr.. Richardson was
perusing the somewhat unusual epistle,
Justice Hewlett entered his Office with
the startling information that Martha
was waiting for Mr.. Richardson with the
avowed intention of killing him.
she Swears that you are Howard
Schneider, come back to life, and says
she won't have the law cheated" said Mr.
Hewlett.
Martha was waiting in Mr. Hewlett's
office, and had announced there that MIR.
Richardson was the re-incarnation of the
long since executed murderer. and that
she purposed defeating his Theosophical
by executing him again. Mr.. Richard
son was very much perturbed at the
F., news which came so patty on top of the
letter and he went to police headquar-
ters where he obtained the experienced
aid OF Acting Inspector Boardman-
The latter acted very promptly. He
/ detailed Detectives Weldon and Lacey TO
go after the woman. and in u few min
utes she was taken into police headquar-
! ters, protesting against the indignity
/ which the officers were doing her very
/ brief examination sufficed to convince DIR.
Boardman that she was insane and he
! had her sent TO the First precinct police
/ station where she was turned over to the
/ matron.
| Last night the police surgeons examined
! her, and their report on her mental con-
! dition will be made today. She will prob
: ably be sent 10 the insane asylum.
After her discharge, Martha was ar
( rested as d vagrant and happened to ap-
pear in the Police Court while Mr.. Rich
ardson was acting prosecuting attorney in
the place of James L. Pugh, jr., then or
his vacation. AT Mr.. Mason's request the
woman was committed for examination
into her sanity. but through some error
she was released. Since then she has
been harboring resentment against Mr.
Richardson, and there is little doubt tha
she would have fulfilled her threat o.
killing him yesterday had she been givel
an opportunity.