Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-10
TO KILL
John Ashcraft on Trial for Trying
to Force His Sick Wife
to Drink Poison.
SUICIDE IS FIRST PRETENDED
Woman Fights Him OFF, But Her
Face is Terribly Burned
by Acid.

John Ashcraft was placed on trial
in the circuit court this morning on a
| charge OF assault with intent to Kill
his wife, Mary Z. Ashcraft, down
whose throat it is alleged he attempt
ed to force carbolic acid while she
was bedridden with typhoid fever at
her home on Eleventh street on the
eTenfng of Jan. 10 last.
States Attorney II. \. Weld, in his
opening address to the jury, repre-
scented that the married life of the
Ashcr2fts had been stormy for years
Before coming here they lived in
BearGstown, and On one occasion at
their home in that city Ashcraft fired
shot gun at his wife, but missed her
the attorney being charitable enough
to believe that it was not the intent
of tie husband 20 kill then. but mere
ly to terrifv his wife. Later they set
tied in Moline. where Ashcraft con-
tinued his cruel treatment resulting
in his wife leaving him and moving
to Rock Island. where she rented
house on Eleventh street. earning a
livelihood by taking in washing.
Husband Sent for.
She was taken Gown with typhoid
fever. and she ccnfided to the neigh
boring women who would visit her
and assist in caring for her during
her helplessness that she had a hus-
band who was able to provide for her.
and that perhaps if he knew her con
ditiOn he would come to her. Ash
craft was appraised Of his wife's i'll
ness. and reaching her bedside show
ed disposition to be kind to her in
her hour Of offiiction. The attending
physician prescribed carbClic acid as
a disinfectant. Ashcraft procuring
bottle of the liquid ut the drug store
of August Heimbeck
On the night in question, according
to the statement of the prosecution.
Ashcraft after preparing tc retire lay
down on a couch near TO the bed oc-
cupied by his sick wife He com
planned that he was tired of life and |
had determined to abandon the strug-
gle for existence. and going after the |
carbolic acid bid his wife a farewell |
and left her a message to deliver to |
his mother.
Thought He Had Shielded.
He placed the bottle. as she sup
posed. to his mouth. and drank of the !
contents. She thought he had,, des |
strOyed himself. but was too weak to |
give an cutlery that would arouse the
neighbCrs. But she was surprised |
presently to see Ashcraft arise and /
approach her bed stealthily. He had !
the bottle in one hand. and placing |
one arm around her neck tried to
force her to drink some of the poison.
She closed her mouth tightly. ard the |
acid was spilled over her face. terri
bly, cauterizing It. This occurred |
about o'clock in the evening. and !
one Of the neighbCr women happening
in To see if there was anything she !
could do for Mrs. Ashcraft. was re-
queSted by the latter to summon a
physician. that her husband had drank
carbolic acid. The physician came,
but finding that the wife had been the
more seriously affected, Ashcraft hav-
ing only spilled portion of the acid
on mis- night shirt. telephoned for the |
police. and Ashcraft was arrested. II.
VI. McCaskrin is conducting the de-
Tense.
Olson is Acquitted.
The jury that tried John Olson. of
Moline. who was indicted for an al
legged rape committed on Hannah Gus
tafsCn. aged 10. at whose home he
boarded. this morning returned "A YER
diet of not guilty. \ child was born
to the girl Nov. - last. but has since
died. Olson swore that he had never1
been intimate with the young woman.
He i - years Of age. and is employed
in one of the Moline shops. She is an
imbecile.
Particulars Called for.
{. J. Searlc. attorney for the de
PENDANT today filed motions for the
state to furnish bill of particulars
in two of the Il embezzlement cases
= oaiust 1 W Narr \ hin of mart 10 |