Evening star., 1902-08-09
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE
MRS ADA LITTLEFoRD SHOOTS
HERSELF WITH REVOLVER.
jealousy Alleged to Have Been the
Cause-Has q Chance Of
Recovery.

MRS. Ada Littieford, young married
woman living at 615 9th street northwest.
at 1920 o'clock this morning attempted to
end her life by shooting herself with a re-
volver while she was alone in her room.
The revolver was a .22-caliber short. The
weapon evidently had been placed against
her person, the bullet, striking just above
the heart and taking a downward course,
had caused an ugly and dangerous wound.
The woman was taken to the Homeopathic
Hospital at I'd and N streets and placed
under the care of Drs. Metford and Loch-
boehler. The physicians at late hour this
afternoon state that she has a chance for
recovery.
Domestic troubles are said to be the
cause of the unfortunate affair. The hus-
band OF the woman, Mr.. Harry IIittleford,
a local restaurant proprietor stated to a
star reporter that his wife was twenty-six
years OF age, and they had been married
ABOUT seven years. They have one child
girl of six. Mr.. Littleford said that his
wife had long been in poor health, and
that she was at times despondent Accord
ing to his story, Mrs. Littleford became
Jeiaous OF a young woman In his employ
and about three nights ago the young cou-
pie had quarrel. At that time she threat
ened to take her own life but a reconcilia-
ton was effected and she became uuiet
ana the family did not believe she would
carry out her threat.
Mrs. divers Statement.
Mrs. Anna Oliver. the mother of the
young woman. said that Mr.. Littleford left
the house this morning about S:45 o'clock,
and after he had gone his wife, together
with neighbor and herself, sat in the par
lor talking. Mrs Littleford, it is said, had
been informed that her husband was seen
last night at Chesapeake Beach in the COM
pany or another woman, and she was dis
eussing the incident with her mother and
the neighbor. According to Mrs. divers
account. her daughter did not seem to be
In any desperate state Of mind and seemed
to treat the matter with slight degree Of
levity during her part Of the conversation.
Presently Mrs Littleford went upstairs to
her room. and her mother went into the
dining room to look after some household
affairs
A few minutes later, the neighbor heard
cries and means from the room upstairs,
and she called to Mrs Oliver to go up and
comfort her daughter. When the mother
reached the young woman's room she
pushed open the door and saw Mrs. Little
ford living on the bed. When she attempted
to put her arms about her the daughter
said Don't. mSmma: I've shot myself"
Mrs. oliver then noticed the blood stains
and she began to scream for help
"Oh, why did / shoot MYSELF" cried the
young woman as she continued to sob.
The Neighbors Aroused.
The screams of the mother attracted the
neighbors and soon an immense crowd was
collected in front Of the dwelling. Police
man'Dyson, who is stationed at the corner
of 5th and G streets, was called, and by
this time a number of the neighbors were
in the room vainly trying to render assist
ance.
Mrs. Littlefords brother is employed in a
drug store nearby. He was summoned and
when he reached the room of his sister he
asked her why she had committed such a
rash deed. She replied: Because I wanted
to die; l don't want to live any longer"
The ambulance from the hospital men
toned was Immediately called and the in
jured woman was taken to that institution.
Precinct Detective O'Dea of the sixth pre-
einct arrived on the scene and made an
investigation. He took possession of the
revolver with which the woman had at
tempted suicide. The weapon had been
placed on the mantel after the shooting
1t is stated that it was very rusty and
had not been used in years. Mr.. Littieford
said it had belonged to his father and he
kept 1t as a relic in a bureau drawer, from
which place his wife had taken 1t for her
purpose Of self-destruction.
Report of Pistol Not Heard.
The women in the house at the time Of
the shooting declared that they had not
heard the report of the pistol and did not
know that the young woman had shot her
self until the mother went up to comfort
her. The discovery Of the shooting was
particularly startling, because no report
had been heard. 1t had been noticed by
none of the neighbors, and they were in
ignorance Of the shooting until they heard
the screams Of the mother.
On a table in the young woman's room
was paper-back book with the cover torn
Off The name of the owner. Mrs. Little
ford" was written just above the title.
which was "a Struggle for Ring The
mother stated that her daughter was In the
habit of reading such novels, and book
case in the room, with all the shelves fun
of books with similar titles, was shown to
the police officers and reporters.
Lieutenant Moore and Officer Small made
an examination Of the premises about
hree-quarters of an hour after the affair
occurred and became satisfied that 1t was
a case of attempted suicide.