The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-11
Lieut.. Ashton Potter, Nephew
of Bishop Potter,
Was Cold to Miss Violet Van
Ness.
so SHE SAID De-
And Shot Herself, but Is Re-
covering.
Story of the Affair as Told in
San Francisco.
SHE SAID De-

San Francisco, Aug. u.-With her white
face peeping out of a wealth of brown
hair and the reflection of a pink pillow
that she rested on giving a faint color to
her cheeks, Miss Violet Van Ness, the
beautiful young woman whose love for
soldier led her to try to end her existence
in a, moment of pique by shooting herself,
smiled sadly last evening as she told or
the reasons that led to her rash act.
IF had only been able to get the tele-
phone of the University club she said,
as she wrinkled her brow, 4 would not
have done it. I was angry at the stupid
ity of the telephone girl and said d-n-"
As the young lady made this admission
she looked al her interviewer with a ques-
tioning look, and then remarked that al
though she was able to speak five diff
ferent languages the good old American
word expressed her feelings.
I then picked up my pistol, which was
lying near by, and without moments
hesitation shot myself. I did not feel
much so that when I heard the people
rushing toward my room L walked to the
break it down. 1 was attired in my night
gown at the time and the flash set it on
fire and I exunguished the flame.
I don't want the idea to go forth that
Mr.. Potter deserted me when I fired the
shot, because he did not. He was at the
University club, and as soon as he heard
that 1 was hurt he came to my bedside. We
are still the best of friends, even though
we did have slight quarrel the day be-
gentleman, and am sorry that this Incl
dent got out, as the story will travel
As she said this her eyes wandered, over
to her bureau, where two large
lay. Thinking that they were from her
absent hero, she was asked whether he
sent them, but she declined na1Vely to
During her conversation her. colored
brow, rubbed her hands with alcohol, and
in fact treated the woman as if she were
bringht little butterfly tattOOed on her
snowy arm. and cleverly executed stalk
Van Ness said they were placed there
during her stay in Japan.
journey around the world, and when he
arrived with his regiment he called to see
until few days ago, when he 7,.o and l l
angry. I went out the next day, and
was happy because Ihought eVerythn
ments threw aside my wraps and put
on my robe de mutt, and then tried to ring
him up a his club. Being of an ungoVern-
able temper, said 'd-n,' and then shot
mySen- am use sorry now qld ct, It., ana
Miss Van Ness thought it sufficient pun
ishment to be cooped up in her apart
was about enjoying the bright sunshine.
such a hard lot to bear, as she was sur
her boudoir we're doTnV couc6es ana
beautiful and expensive souvenirs of her
ber, walls We're covered WITH tapestrfes
paintings, knives and tasty knick-knacks
and Ja6a6- Miss Van Ness IS SLOWLY re- re
cuperating from her self-inhicted wound,
and will probably be able to sit up in a
Corporal Potter of company A, First
New York volunteers, comes from one of
the most prominent families Of the me-
trOpolis. He is a of the late F.
New York banker and a nephew Of Bishop
and at the seaside of Greater New York
he has had innumerab bic rows with his
relatives. As soon as the war broke out
he decided to enlist, and owing to the
large number of his personal friends in
the First New York regiment is compos-
ed he enlisted as member of the Albany
battalion of which Major Robert Emmett
AS soon as the camp was broken at
Hampstead this battalion was ordered to
While stationed at this post Potter amused
himself by getting into all sorts of diff
causing no end of trouble to the people
running the cafes and places of amuse-
ment at the neighboring summer resorts
In his quest for pleasure Potter was IA
vorable to South Beach. This place is a
sort of a miniature Coney Island, located
a few miles beyond the fort at the s6Uth~
ern end of Staten Island Here is a thea
ter, innumerable cafes and open air dance
halls. In short it is a Midway PIafsance
of the merry soubrettes then Dlaving at
the South Beach theater Potter laid Siege
He had plenty of money and an unlimited
capacity for the stimuIants and other
beverages. for sale at the cafes: He was
in the habit of giving nightly dinners to
the fair soubrette. At these little affairs
his fellow soldiers were always present.
One of the laws of the post stipulated
that all privates had to return and report
for duty at a certain hour each evening.
But Potter persisted in disregarding the
regulations and finally placed under
arrest and ordered court martialed. Al
though the proceedings Of the court were
never officially made public it was un-
derst0od that he. spent two days in the
guard house for breach of discipline. At
the time Bishop Potter refused to admit
relationship with the corporal. On his
way to this city young Potter amused
himself by buying anything his fellow pri-
Yates longed for. Incidentally he pur-
chased the little beaE which is now the
mascot of company A. His career in this
city has been a continuance of the per-
fOrnance which he held at South Beach