The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-10
LAY DEAD NINE DAYS.,
THEN BODY WAS FOUND
Mrs. Katherine Hansen's
Suicide by Asphyxiation.
DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT
Domestic Infelicity Supposed to Have
Been the Cause of the Des-
perate Deed.

After laying dead for nine days. the
body of Mrs Katherine La Morette Han
sen was yesterday discovered in an up
per room OF her home at 1888 Thirtieth
Street. Georgetown, with gas pouring
from two tubes.
Two women. who declined to give their
names. one of whom was friend OF
Mrs. Hansen. had been to the Oak Hill
Cemetery to decorate a grave. and, OH
returning, decided to call upon Mrs.
Hansen. They did so, but received no
response 20 their repeated rings at the
doorbell They noticed a most offensive
odor. while the ported plants which
adorned the porch and approach to the
house were withered for lack of water
and care. The whole place bore an at
mosphere of such neglect and desertion
that they became alarmed. and asked the
next door neighbors concerning the
movements of the family. The reply
they received was that the Hansen's
had never been neighborly, and nothing
was known of their movements
Not satisfied, the women accosted Po-
liceman E. NJ. Down, whom they met on
the street, and suggested to him that
all was not right at the Hansen house.
The latter reported the matter at the
stationhouse. and Lieutenant Swindells
Sergeant Schneider, and Bicycle Police
man Fur accompanied him on an inves-
tigating trip to the house.
Gas Tube Clasped in Hands.
The front door was found unlocked.
On entering they were assailed with an
overpowering odor, in which was min
gled that of illuminating gas. After a
hurried search OF the lower floors they
assembled TO the second, and in a rear
room they met CHASTITY sight On the
bed lay the terribly decomposed body
OF a woman. In the room was a gas
were turned on. On one was a piece OF
new rubber tubing. leading to the body
of the woman This tube was clasped
in both OF her hands, and had evidently
been inserted in her mouth until IN
consciousness interviewed and caused its
removal an inch or two.
When the door was opened two cats
wild eyed and gaunt. sprang from the
bed and made their escape Since it has
been learned that the woman turned on
the gas on August /, it is wondered how
the cats could have lived. Every open
ing in the room was closed and her
meticaIly sealed by means of strips OF
blanket, and II was evident that IL was
the intention OF the woman that these
pets, all she had left for company in
the world. should die with her. and only
their remarkable vitality defeated her
purpose.
Trouble With Her Husband.
Mrs. Hansen killed herself because of
domestic troubles with her husband. but
Just what was the nature of these trou>
bles is a matter of conjecture. She was
the second wife of Karl Hansen. until
July 81. deputy United States marshal
assigned to the Georgetown precinct.
and he was her second husband. More
than this of her history is not known.
Her husband has for several years been
deputy United States marshal under
Marshal Aulick Palmer. Prior to this
he spent the eighteen years since his
arrival in this country from Sweden in
the Middle West and IN New York. He
married soon after coming over Where
or when the first wife died. and where
and when he married the second wife, is
not definitely known. but it would seen,
the second union was contracted less
than two years ago. On July 81, Hansen
rendered his resignation as deputy mar
shall. closing his letter to Marshal Pal
mer IN these words:
II am very sorry that domestic trouble
impels me 10 resign so suddenly, and
to depart from the city"
Refuses to Support Wife.
At the same time he addressed a letter
TO Chief Deputy Marshal w. 3. Robin
son, as follows:
July 81. 1908.
Mr.. w. P. Robinson:
am sorry 10 tender my resignation
just now, especially IL doing so should
reflect on you. who was kind enough
TO recommend me for the position; but
1 will no longer support my wife. and
as she will not leave. l feel that
must. | take with me my months pay,
to start life anew with / cannot. OF
pay any bills now. and for that
reason only do l leave so suddenly.
l am sorry that / feel that l must
go this way. God forgive me if am
wrong.
1 am very grateful TO you for all your
kindness 10 me in the past.
Sincerely yours.
KARL HANSEN.
OF just what this domestic trouble
consisted IS not known IL IS known,
however. that Hansen has been in the