Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-01

c0sc was 1nEuhi Upon neE-A ne
markable Set of Circumstances
Brought to Light by Extradition
Proceedings Under Way MT st.
Louis A Tragic Tale of Two
Cities.
CHICAGO, Ills, January 27.-Like
the wild dream of the novelist appears
the case Of Mrs. Leona Lay, who is
fighting requisition at st. Louis to es-
cape being brought back to Chicago to
face charges of attempted murder. But
Mrs. Lay-the heroine of the story, who
left her second husband, Mr.. Lay, be-
cause her love was greater for the hus-
band of her youth, Augustus Wisch-
man, from whom she had been divorced
| proves a secondary character in point
OF interest when compared with Lay,
who not only emulated the example set
by Ruskin in separating from his wife
to give her in marriage to the artist
Millais, but outdid him by taking her
back when she had been rejected by the
man of her choice.
Augustus Wischman, the first hus-
band, narrowly escaped with his life,
and now, when he is trying to bring
the woman to trial for the attempt to
kill both himself and his bride, Lay
steps to the front as her protector and
may yet prevent her having to answer
for alleged assault in the courts Of
Illinois.
brought to Light a Strange Tale.
This strange tale is brought to light
in reports received to-day by Lieut..
Charles Healey, of the Stanton avenue
police station, from Detective Thomas
Fitzgerald, whom he sent to st. Louis
to bring back Mrs. Lay.
On November 4 Augustus Wisch-
man, proprietor OF the Perfecto cafe,
at Thirty-ffth street and Cottage
Grove avenue, together with his bride
of but a few days, as they were pass
ing Woodland park, an exclusive resi-
dence, section at Thirty-fourth street
and Cottage Grove avenue Both were
thought to have been mortally wound
ed, and each, in giving a%nte-mortem
statements, accused Mrs. Lay, Wisch-
mans divorced wife, of having shot
them. Two witnesses were present at
the time of the shooting. and they
also declared Mrs. Lay fired the shots.
The latter was arrested within a few
minutes of the occurrence in an ex-
cited condition, but refused to make
any statement, declining to even en-
ter a denial of the charges against
her.
Contrary to expectation, the bullet
wounds of Mr.. and Mrs. Wischman did
not prove fatal, and after a long per-
iod of suffering at Mercy Hospital, both
were discharged Oh the road to re-
covery. They failed to appear in the
police court to prosecute Mrs. Lay at
the preliminary hearing, and she was
discharged. Immediately she went to
st. Louis, where she Joined her hus-
band, Louis Lay, who had not yet Sc
cured a divorce. Mrs. Lay is man
ager of the buffet of the st. James
hotel in that city.
Wischman took his grievance before
the grand jury and indictments were
voted against Mrs. Lay. She was ar
rested in st. Louis. The legal fight
that followed brought to life the
strange story of her life.
EmuInted Example of Ruskin.
Lay, who, at the solicitations Of his wife.
instituted divorce proceedings in order that
she might marry another, demonstrated the
affection that he entertained for her when
she, disappointed and rejected by the man
she loved, eturn to St. Louis practically
a fugitive from justice. With open arms
he received her and it was at his home, 100
South Fourth street, St. Louis. that she
was taken into custody last Saturday. He
has twice defeated the aims of the Chicago
police, but the final struggle is booked to
take place Monday.
History of the Case.
According to the story told by Mr.. Lay
she is 81 years old, although she appears
more youthful. AT the age of 16 she says
she married Wisehman, from whom she
was afterward divorced. In 1898 she mar
ried Lay, only to discover that her affec-
lions were still centered on Wischman.
The latter gave her encouragement, she
affirms, to believe that if she could secure
freedom from Lay he would remarry her.
Lay discovered the situation and gener-
ousIy gave her sufficient money for her
needs, sent her to Chicago and at her
solicitation brought divorce proceedings.
Mrs. Lay arrived in Chicago to discover
the marriage of Wischman to another.
Then followed the shooting and her fight
to st. Louis. With her appearance there
Lay withdrew his petition for divorce and
became once more the husband and protec-
TOR of the thar has be-
come the talk of st. Louis.
Mrs. Lay. it is said, did not reciprocate
the affection he felt for her. 1t is affirmed
that some time before Lay had agreed to
permit a divorce in favor of Wischman.
AS the plan was about to be put into exc
cution he met with an accident and his
wife forgot all her plans in her efforts to
minister to his comforts. When he had re-
covered the separation was arranged
amicably.