The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-29
SMITH MADE THREATS
HE TOLD HIS WIFE, In LETTER,
HE WOULD KILL HIMSELF.
Mrs. Smith Calls mt the Police Station
promised to Marry n PaIes-
tine, H., Woman.

Mrs Flora Smith, of 1923 Yandes street.
was yesterday afternoon soliciting the aid
of the police department and private de-
tective association In locating the where
abouts of her husband, who left home
Thursday morning and has not been seen
since. The cause of Mrs. Smiths inquiries
was letter, postmarked Indianapolis, re-
ceived yesterday from her husband, in
which he condemned himself for the man.
ner in which ne had treated her. He began
his missive with the statement that she
would never see him again, and in the
course of his statements said that by the
time the letter was received his body would
be at the bottom of White river with bull
let through his heart.
Mrs- Smith said she was not so solicitous
as to his welfare after the things she had
learned she of another woman
whom she did not want her husband TO
impose upon as she claimed he had upon
her. In fact, she said she did not care
at all for him. but didn't want other women
to be taken in They were married five
years ago at Columbus. Ind, and came
here several months ago. Smith became
connected with the American Detective
Association here in some capacity, and his
wife said that shortly after his engage
ment with the company he went to Pales-
tine, ILL.,, where he remained several
weeks, after which time she noticed a
change in his attitude toward her. He
had, she said. absented himself several
times from home without making any ex-
PLANTATION of where he had been except that
he had been working.
Thursday morning she said he was at
home and received letter from III. c.
Webster, the manager of the detective as
ISOLATION, saying he wished to see Smith
and herself at the office. Her husband, she
claimed, became very nervous, and, taking
the letter from her, went out, saying he
would go to the office and what was
wanted. He kissed her goodbye and the
next she heard of him was upon receipt of
the letter in which he declared the inten-
ton of killing himself and throwing him
self into the river.
Yesterday afternoon she called upon Mr..
Webster, who told her that he had received
a letter and telegram from Ida Swain, of
Palestine, ILL.,, inquiring about Smith.
Webster told her that the message in
qujred as to whether or not Smith was in
the city. Smith had not for some weeks
been in the employ of Webster. but he had
been in the office several times. Webster
replied to Ida Swain that he had the day
before seen Smith on the street with his
wife She then wrote a letter in which she
stated that he (Webster) must be mistaken,
for Smith had while there promised to
marry her on Dec. Is, and that her tele-
not at Palestine to fulfill his part of the
contract. She also wrote letters to Smith
In care of the detective association.
Mrs. Smith was greatly surprised when
she read the letters to Webster and after
ward called the second time at police head
quarters. The police were not inclined to
take the threatened suicide as intended
seriously, and after Mrs. Smith had ex-
the letter told her she had better look in
Palestine for her husband.