The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-05
Then Turned the Revolver and
Killed Herself.
WAS A MARRIED MAN
But Miss Mabel Burke Learned
1t Too Late.
Why David j. We'll, a Chicago
Lawyer, Is Dying.

Chicago, May 5.-David J. We'll, one
of the most prominent young attorneys
In Chicago. is dying in the Postcard
nate hospital from bullet wounds in
hicted by Miss Mabel Burke, beauti-
full and talented young woman, who,
after shooting We'll. turned the re
volver to her own breast, fired once and
dropped to the floor corpse
Miss Burke was hardly %. She lived
with her family at No. 1929 Champlain
avenue. Not only was she beautiful
of face and figure, but unusually tai
-ented, possessing a voice of much
Sweetness and dramatic power.
= We'll is about 40 years old and lives
with his wife and 14-year-old daughter
in the O'MalIey flats, No. 3749 Indiana
avenue His law offices are in the
Hartford building.
A year ago We'll and Miss Burke met.
on the young woman's side grew an ar
dent infatuation. We'll reciprocated the
affection to an extent and paid the
pretty singer many attentions. Miss
Burke. supposing that We'll was a sim
gle man, had hopes of some day be-
coming Mrs. We'll. Yesterday she
learned that her lover had a wife and
daughter with whom he was living. AL
most broken hearted. she sought Mrs,
We'll at her home, confessed her reIa-
tions with her husband, explained that
under the impression that he was single
and apologized profusely between tears
for the wrong done.
Miss Burke's recital and apologies to
Mrs. We'll did not appear to affect the
latter in the least
Il am sorry for you, young woman
said the wife calmly, but Mr. Well
mas been very good to me and my
daughter Why don't you resort to
Christian Science to get out of your
troubles? That is a cure for all trou-
bIes, both mental and physical"
After this the two discussed Christian
Science for some time, and Mrs. We'll
gave her caller tract on the subject
to read.
and made an appointment to go with
him today to the Hotel Anthony, No.
2703 Wabash avenue. In the morning
she borrowed some money and pur-
chased a revolver. At 1 O'Clock in the
afternoon the couple went to the APP
pointed rendezvous, and. refusing to
register their names, asked for room
containing a piano.
A few moments later several notes
We're struck on the instrument, and
shortly afterward three revolver shots
rang out, followed after an interval of
a few seconds by fourth.
Alice Powell, the negro maid, investi-
eating, found We'll swaying Imply in
a chair, with blood tricl1ling down his
back and pointing on the floor to the
dead body of Miss Burke lying in the
center of the room, still clutching the
revolver.
When the Cottage Grove avenue sta
ton officers arrived, We'll begged to be
taken to his own home, in order that
the matter might be kept quiet, but he
was placed in a carriage and removed
TO the hospital.
Miss Burke's body was taken to Nc
Neils undertaking establishment, No.
29O7 State street, all her family at pres
ent being on visit to Benton Harbor,
Mich.
We'll told Lieutenant O'Brien that he
met Miss Burke a year ago in a pro-
fessional way, and for no cause ap-
parent to him, she showed signs of an
infatuation. He met her yesterday on
the street and she asked if he would not
play and sing to her this afternoon. He
consented. and she took him to theA
Hotel Anthony. After reaching the
room, he sat at the piano, ran his
fingers over the keys a few times and
chatted pleasantly until suddenly Miss
Burke drew a revolver, fired three shots
at him and then one at herself.
Mrs. We'll arrived at the hospital soon
after the shooting, but did not seem in
the least disconnected over the occur
renee. She explained that she was a
Christian Scientist. and that her re-
ligion taught her to accept all life's
crises with philosophical demeanor. She
also intimated that her belief might
have furnished the primary motive for
the tragedy. Mrs We'll remained at the
bedside of her husband the rest of the
day
We'll insisted on sending for Attorney
A. S Trude, saying: He knows many
things about my personal and business
affairs which 1 would like to talk over
with him before-that is if anything
should happen. I think 1 am done for"
Miss Burke was one of the secretaries
of the Board of Lady Managers during
the Worlds Fair. Recently she had
been employed as cashier at the Hotel
Norwood. We'll has been identified with
a number of important local cases and
m n