Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-30
GEORGETOWN AFFAIRS
DESPoNDENT CoLoRED WOMAN
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
Had Written a Note Announcing Her
Purpose-Church Dedication
General Items.

Brooding over the death of her brother
in-law, William Wheeler, colored. who was
shot and instantly killed early Wednesday
morning last while attempting to escape
from Policeman ]. l.. H. Sawyer, and de-
spondent over personal affairs, Ossie Riggs.
colored. twenty-five years Of age, attempted
to put an end to her life about o'clock
yesterday afternoon by swallowing half
ounce Of laudanum in the restaurant Of her
employer John j. Burke. at 1880 32d street
northwest.
The woman had been working all day,
and was unusually cheerful and there was
nothing in her demeanor 1t was stated,
which would have caused one to think she
contemplated committing suicide. About
quarter OF she complained to her en-
ployer's wife that she felt sick at the stom-
ach, and asked that she be advanced 10
cents, adding that she wished to purchase
some medicine to allay the pain. She was
given the desired amount5 and accordingly
went to the drug store.
When she returned Mrs. Burke was con-
versng with a customer, and did not notice
what the coiored woman had in her hand.
Several moments later. however. upon en-
tering the kitchen, Mrs Burke found Ossie
kneeling upon the floor, with her face
buried in her hands. Mrs. Burke inquired
several times what the matter was, but re-
ceived no reply. and. believing that she was
feigning illness, commanded her to get up
off the floor and stop fooing. In a weak.
faint voice the colored woman answered
that she could not, informing Mrs. Burke
that she had drunk poison.
Aid Summoned
Mrs Burke was not inclined to credit the
womans story and 1t was not until she
discovered an empty vial and a note lying
on a nearby table that she summoned aid.
Two policemen of the seventh precinct sta
ton answered Mrs. Burkes screams and
the woman, who had become unconscious,
was conveyed with all possible haste to the
Georgetown University Hospital, where,
with the aid of stomach pump, the physi-
clans relieved her of the deadly dose. After
regafning consciousness she was allowed to
go to her home in Cherry alley, near SD
and Water streets. She was reported to be
out of danger this morning.
The note referred to above read as fol-
lows:
Some one has hurt me. can't tell but
berry my body, if you can. Please go get
my husband, for I am going to die. May
God Bless him forever.
"ossIE RIGGS
"P. S.-Don't show this to my husband"
Church Dedication.
It was officially announced yesterday that
the West Washington Baptist Church.
work upon the main auditorium Of which
was recently completed, will be dedicated
at $3.50 o'clock Sunday afternoon. April u
next. Rev. E. c. Dargan, D. D., of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Of
Louisville. KY, will deliver the dedicatory
sermon. One feature of the ceremonies will
be reunion of the former pastors of the
church. The edifice was erected at cost
of $4,000.
Death Of Henry Poore.
Henry Poore, one of the best-known resi-
dents of Tenleytown, D. c., died early yes
terday morning at the home of his son-in-
law, Mr.. Edward Wise, at Chevy Chase.
Md. Death was due to pneumonia, with
which he suffered about ten days. He was
in the SEVENTEEN year Of his age, and is
survived by two daughters, Mrs. Edward
Wise of Chevy Chase, Md; Mrs. John Nor
ris, and a son, Mr. Pendleton Poore of
Tenieytown. His funeral will take place
tomorrow morning at o'clock from St
AIMS Catholic Church, Tenleytown, where
requiem mass will be celebrated, the Rev.
Father Joseph Mallop officiating. Inter-
ment will be made in Carroll Chapel ceme-
terry, near Sligo, Md.
Involuntary Bath.
William T. Tomplzins, sixty-five years
old. whose home is in Homestead. Pa, and
who is on his way to Scottsville. Albemarle
county, Va, to visit a friend, was unex-
pectedly delayed in Georgetown yesterday
Cumberland. Md, on the canal boat Wa
bash, and was about to disembark from the
vessel, when he lost his balance and tum-
bled headllong into the canal He was pull
ed out by the captain of the boat. and after
changing his clothes at the seventh pre-
cinct station house resumed his journey.
southwark.
In Semi Conscious Condition.
Otto Dudley, twenty-one years of age.
living at 1910 30d Streef found In
semi-conscious condition at the corner Of
Potomac and M streets late Saturday night,
suffering from commissions. He was con-
veyed to the Georgetown University Hos
pital in the seventh precinct. patrol wagon,
where, under treatment, he was quickly re-
suscitated and was allowed to go to his
home.
Upon leaving the hospital the horse at
tached to the patrol wagon gave a sud-
den jerk and collided with the side of
hospital building. throwing Policeman
Fisher from the drivers seat to the pave
the head and shoulders The collision
somewhat frightened the animal, which
attempted to run away.
General Items.
Mr.. C. NJ. Phelps. a leading figure in
local temperance circles, delivered an adj
dress on the general temperance move
ment at the regular gospel temperance
meeting, held yesterday afternoon at Good
Templars' Hail. Tenleytown, under the
auspices Of Silver Star Lodge, No. 20.
1. o. G. T., Of that place.
Prof. c. H. Hinton, formerly attached
to a Japanese college, and late of Prince
ton and the University of Minnesota, re-
lated his Adventures in Japan" before
the membership of The Boys, a fraternity
of Tenleytown. and their friends Saturday
evening at Masonic Hall, that place.