Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-01
mrs. MARY ADAMS IS HELD
Alleged Acid Throwsr Must Stand Trial in
District Court
SHE is BOUND OVER BY POLICE JUDGE
Defendant Asserts She Went to Locust
street Home to Take Her own
Life I'm Presence of
Mr.. Adams.

Mary Adams, on trial in police court on
the charge OF dsshing nitric acid into the
face Of her former husband, Joseph Adams,
declares she went to the Adams home on
LoSust street the night OF February is for
the purpose OF committing suicide in the
| presence Of the man whom she alleges de-
serted her for younger woman.
This story was told by the accused woman
on the witness stand yesterday morning.
She denies absolutely that she went to
the house Intending to infict any harm
upon her former husband. The object OF
her nocturnal visit was, she says. TO see IL
the reports that had come to her concern
| ing the relations between her former hus-
band and a girl whom she had always con-
| sdered In the light OF a sister were really
true She asserted emphatically that she
! did not throw acid OF any kind into her
| former husbands face.
| Al the conclusion OF the attorneys argu-
ments late in the afternoon. Judge Learn
announced that probable cause of guilt had
been shown and held Mrs. Adams to the
district court under bonds Of $500. The
amount was satisfactory to her attorney
end the bond will be furnished Friday.
| Deputy County Attorney Thomas announced
that she would be given a speedy trial in
the district court.
| Mrs. Adams was the principal witness in
| her own behalf. Before she took the stand
but little testimony had been introduced by
| the defense. DR., Ames. police surgeon,
told Of dressing the woman's wounds when
she was brought to the central station after
her encounter with Joseph Adams. He
said the head was cut In two or three
| places and seemed to doubt the possibility
OF the wounds having been inflicted by n
rounded coffeepot. On s-examination
Or. Ames admitted that the cuts might have
come from contact Of the head with the
jagged glass Of broken window.
Mrs. Adams was dressed In mourning.
There was no contrast in the somber garb
except that formed by the white bandages
covering her head, which were easily dis
| tinguishable under the outer fold Of crepe.
During the first part Of the examination
she replied to the questions asked her in
clear voice. When she related the incl
| dent OF her arrival at the house on Locust
| street and her former husbands appear
ance at the door her calm demeanor gave
way to the most violent emotion. FIRE.
quently Mrs. Adams was unable to continue
her narrative because OF weeping.
Tinge of Pathos In This.
IL knew Joe Adams" she said, "for sew
| enteen years. Sixteen years of this time
We were married. Last spring we had
slight misunderstanding. He seemed
troubled and morose and told me his bus-
ness affairs were worrying him. He was
not the same Joe as Of old, and when he
suggested that I 90 away for while and
leave him alone. l reluctantly consented.
l went to Grinnell, Ia. some time last
spring.
Two weeks ago came to Omaha. got
! of the train at Council Bluffs and when |
ua an nj xrh I haa haa
SO happy, and thought OF the things had
| heard about my husband. was nearly
crazy. So 1 went to drug store and
bought a small bottle Of scarbolic acid
Tho following Friday night determined
| to find out the truth and drove out to Joe's
! house. sent a messenger boy to the front
door and went around to the back. I
| wanted to see Joe. SO I intended to walk
| right into the house by the back door.
| thought 1t would be open. Joe and never
locked 1t.
Arriving at the house went to the back
door. II was locked and I knocked. II
opened Just trihe, but l shall never forget
what saw. | cried: My God. Joe. it is
you'
He raised over his head a small hatchet
and struck me twice that | remember Of,
\ The pain was awful and the blood was all
over my face. After that remember but
little. l know / got into the house in some
manner. How do not remember. l was
suffering intense pain. remember walked
through the hall to the door OF what sup
posed was the dining room.
4 81 thought surely I would die. and
! didn't care. Then I remember my husband
| came and kicked me out the back door, and
the next thing remember of was seeing
Captain Hayes as he helped lift me into the
patrol wagon"