The evening world., 1903-04-27
HUSBAND WHO
DID NOT KNOW
He Had His Sick Wife Sent to
Prison Because She Could
Not Control a Mania to End
Her Own Life.

This is a story OF a sick wife and 4
husband who didn't know.
Mrs. Frederick Arnold. OF No. s3s
East ms Hundred and s~lxty-nrst
street. passing through that critical
period of a woman't lie when every
day she has TO fight to overcome an
impulse to destroy her life, was taken
TO a police court by her husband. who
asked that she be confined in o cell,
because she had attempted suicide.
The doctor who was called to the
prison to examine Mrs. Arnold at once
made a proper diagnosis ma sent her
to the hospital attached TO the Tomos.
She was forty-three years old. In a
temporary At CT depression las:
Wednesday she attempted to end her
life by lnhaling gas.
Made Charge I'm Court.
While the wife was lying In tho
Lebanon Hospital In the Bronx slowly
recovering from ner partial a~sphyxia-
ton the husband went before Magis-
trate Hogan, In the Morrisania Court.
and when asked II he desired to press
the charge OF attempted suicide against
his wife said:
Your Honor, I do. I do not think she
Is In n ht mental condition to care for
our three children. Time n again OF
late stne has said that she cannot stand
the ~monentary fits OF gloom that come
over her. l think IL she were sent
away 1t would be the best thing for
her.
The woman made no sign of protest.
IL there was any expression 1t was one
of pity. Even when she was led away
from her weeping children. n prisoner
under 800 bail. she made no sign.
though her lips trembled and tears
welled In her eyes. She was taken in
the patrol wagon to the Tombs Hos
pitnl.
Up to abou a yea ago Mr.. and Mrs.
Arnold and their three children, Carrie,
eighteen; Alma, eight, and Ethel, four,
were, with the exception OF the few
domestic clouds that will settle over
every household. a happy family.
Then the woman began to act in a
manner that uhe husband was at q
total loss to account for. Her usual
cheerfulness gave way &c Ats OF UNI
controllable dependency. The smile
faded from her lips Inc deep lines
gathered in her face that gave her q
haggard appearance. She complained
OF flashing lights before her Eyes.
impulse Was Overpowsring.
Every now and then, as she would
look out of the wisdom, she would seize
the arms of her chair. as II 60 restrain
to jump down upon the pavement below.
The husband was utterly at a loss TO
fathorn these ,vagarles, and often chided
his wife harshiy. This only seemed 60
norant. Of the crisis In the woman's life.
or undoubtedly the man would nave
shown moro gentleness.
A distinguished physician of this city.
would caution the husband TO lavish on
the wife during this critical period all
love and Affection. often said:
"Ye laundering idiots called men! Get
lives n thank Almighty GOD thar
you we're pot born women"
about a week ago the sufferings OF
Mrs. Arnold seemed to take an alarming
to watch her closely. In many OF her
outbursts she declared that. she could
stand It no longer. Some awful fate
seemed to pursue her. she thought, and
family and all in order TO avoid il for
ever.
RooIu Filled with Gas.
Early Wednesday morning Mr.. Arnold
was awakened by a peculiar faintness.
and when he got out OF bed discovered
that me apartment was filled with Eas.
Entering the adjoining room he found
with a rubber tube In her mouth at
tached to a gas Jet. Another lei was
also turned on. Tearing the tube from
her mouth and throwing up the win
dows. he summoned assistance. THE
W. younger children were partly as
phyxlated and the woman was In
All three we're taken to the Lebanon
Hospital.
overpowering impulse might have
prompted his wife to the action shs
had taken. but Immediately upon 6sS
recovery had her hailed to court ana
pressed tho charge of attempted SUICIDE
against her. Unless Magfstrate HoESn
discovers the true condition OF affsira
the woman may be sent to BlackweiTs
Island for six months or a year.