Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-15
MRS. VAN LEW CHARGED
WITH CRIME OF ADEMON.
AND "A LEADER IN CHURCH
AND SOCIETY CIRCLES.
STANDS INDICTED FOR MURDER
ALICE HAMMELL, THE VICTIM, TOR
TURED BY yITRIOL BURNS FOR
THIRTY DAYS.

Special to the Register.
VAN VERT, O., November 14.-The
trial of Mrs. Emma Van Liew, wife Of
John Van Lew, cashier of the Van
Vert First National Bank, charged
with the murder Of Miss Alice Ham
mel, which began this week bids fair
to become one of the most celebrated
in the history of Criminal jurisprudence
in Ohio.
The crime itself stands unparalleled
for cunning conception and diabolical
execution.
On the evening of September 18th,
Miss Alice Hammel, pretty Van Vert
girl, was assisting her mother to wash
dishes. A pail of dish water was to
be emptied and Alice carried it out.
As she threw it from the back porch
she heard a noise in the heavy vines
which shade the little home. Thinking
a dog or COW was behind them, she
pushed the foliage aside. Her arms
were bare almost to her shoulders and
as it was a warm evening her dress
was open in front, exposing her neck
and shoulders. AS Miss Hammel put
out her arm, there came another crash
in the foliage. Her mother heard her
call Emma" then burst out in agoniz-
ing shrieks. Mrs. Neal, Miss Hammel's
mother, ran to the door and as she OPP
ened it her unfortunate daughter fell
whiting over the threshold.
Her face, neck and arms were seam
ed and burned by Wtriol, which was
running down her dress eating great
holes in the f1imsy fabric and into the
delicate flesh beneath.
The girls agony was frightful.
At least pint of vitrol had struck
the girl full in the face. 1t had deluged
both eyes and burned holes into her
cheeks and forehead.
Medical aid was summoned but I'M
consciousness had come to her relief
When she first fell into the door
screaming in agony she declared re-
peatedly Emma Van LEW did it.
Emma Van Lew did it,
At first her mother and those who
sought to give her relief did not be-
lieve it possible that the leader in
church and society circles could have
done such a thing, but the next day
Alice repeated the charge and added,
When | pulled back the vines l saw
Mrs. Van Lew with a bucket in her
hand"
One morning she called her mother
and the doctors to her and demanded
to know the truth. rs by beauty
gone? Will l not be hideous and re-
pulsive if 1 live?"
They told her what her future life
must be. Only for a moment did she
give way to her grief and with a sob
she said softly, 1T is better for me to
die. l couldn't bear to think that
those who loved me once would turn
away with horror when l came in sight.
| could not see it, know, but l could
feel it. 1t is best for all that I should
die"
For thirty days the acid gnawed at
the flesh despite all medical skill could
do. Hour by hour Miss Hammel grew
weaker, until October 18th, when she
died.
A few hours before the end came,
sac called the grief-stricken watchers
and said: There is no malice in my
heart against the one who did this, and
/ have only one request to make. Don t
let those who used to think was pref
ty, those who loved me, see me when
/ am dead. l want them to remember
ne as l was" Then her mind began
10 wander and prattling as child of
her childhood days, she passed quietly
into a sleep from which she never
awoke.
Detectives have discovered that a tin
pail, such as Miss Hammel described,
was bought the evening of the murder;
also that the same day pint of vltriol
was bought at local drug store. Who
made these purchases will develop in
the trial. Thus far the of court has
been consumed in securing a jury.
There had been talk in Van Vert
among the gossips that Mrs. Van Lew
had been jealous Of attentions her hus-
band had been accused of paying to
Miss Hammel, who had once been a
clerk in his employ. Miss HammeI.
however, bore the best reputation, and
was never accused of encouraging Van
Lew.