The times., 1900-03-30

Mrs. Bette Ann Wren, thirty-fve year
old, whose home was at 6S4 z Street south
west. died at Columbian University Hos
pital at ? O'Clock yesterday afternoon, sup
| posedly from paresis and complications sai'
to have resulted from injuries alleged t.
! have been inflicted by James Lancton.
| pensioner Gfty-four years old, on Marcl
u. The body has been viewed by Coronel
/ Carr. who viii hold an inquest at No.
! station, at II O'Clock this morning. Tn,
( alleged assailant is now confined at the
/ District jail, where he was committed
! Tuesday by Judge Kimball, to await the
! result OF the injuries to Mrs. Wren. He
( denies that he assaulted Mrs. When, and
claims that the injuries she sustained were
due to a fan at her home. while she was in
III health.
Laucton was arrested on March 10 on
4 information given the police by Or. G. G.
Morris, Of Fourteenth Street northwest He
had been IN attendance On Mrs Wren since
the date she was injured. From Dr. Nor
lis IL was learned that the woman had been
assaulted, ana it was said that Lancton
was her assailant 1t appears the assault
!,
and was actuated by her refusal to marry
Lancton. II was further said that Lancton
was in an intoxicated condition at the time.
According to Mrs. Wren, who was en-
ployed at a pension agency in f Street,
LancJon was a client of her employer. He
was seeking an increase in pension, and in
his frequent visits to the pension agency
became acquainted with her She repulsed
the advances Of LanctOn, but he frequently
waited for her to leave the Office and de-
spite her protestations. accompanied her
TO her home. Finally he called at the house
where, it is alleged. he made himself OBJ
noXious because of his inebriety. 1t is
claimed that Lancton was asked to discon-
unue his visits, but refused to comply. and
finally made formal proposal Of marriage
TO Mrs. Wren, which was declined
On the night OF March u. Lancton called
again on Mrs. Wren and renewed his pro-
posal Of marriage. II was again repulsed
and, it is said then assaulted Mrs Wren.
beating and bruising her severely. An in
valid sister of the woman. ii is claimed
witnessed the assault The condition of
Mrs. Wren became such that Dr. Morris
was called in and after giving medical at
tention for several days, advised that the
patient be sent TO a hospital. 1t was then
that the police we're asked TO take action
ll INT matter WIN jNe result thaL Lane
ton was arrested.
When taken into custody the condition
Of Lancton was such that it was necessary
10 send him TO the Emergency Hospital.
where his trouble was diagnosed as alco-
hcllsm. He was detained at the hospital
for one week. when he was suffi siently re-
covered 10 be taken into court and COM
mitted 10 jail. Il was while at the bospital
that Lancton made the statement as to the
manner il which Mrs. Wren was injured.
he informed Or. Williams. esident phvsi-
clan al the hospital. that he was in love
with Mrs. Wren and was going to marry
her in May Regarding the injury to the
woman. Lancton is said TO have stated that
she fell from stool and that he picked her
up aud cared for her
The condition Of Mrs. Wren beca ne
serious. and Dr. William Ward resident
at the Columbian University /
Hospital, diagnosed her troubles as paresis .
resulting from injuries inflicted The pa
,ieut rallied slightly at times but she 1
showed no marked Improvement over her
condition. Her death was not unexpe tied. I
The police had been informed that her
-hances Of recovery were slight
Immediately after her death yesterday
fteuoon the police were notified. aed
'oroner Carr summoned 10 decide upon a . f
Investigation into the circumstances slr-
'ounding the cause of the death. TIE
harge Of assault, which had been placed /
against Lancton, was then changed to mur-
Ter