Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-29
ATTEMPT ED SUICIDE
MRS. EDNA II. ACKER SWALLOWS
cARBoLIc ACID.
The Potion Not Sufficient to Cause
Death-sent to Hospital in
Hysterical Condition.

Mrs. Edna NJ. sAcker. wife Of Samuel N
Acker, a patent attorney, with an office al
9th and F streets. made q sensational at.
tempt to END her life this afternoon by swal
lowing carbolic acid while walking along
9th street northwest between D and E
streets. Her husband, who recently entered
suit against her for divorce, was walking
with her at the time. He grabbed the bot
tie from her hand and engaged in a strug-
gle for possession Of it.
Mr.. Acker succeeded in getting his wife
into carriage. and drove her to Herbsts
drug store, at 9th and D streets, but
trouble was experienced in getting her into
the store for treatment. All this time the
woman was struggling with her husband
and screaming. and 1t was not until Bailiff
kendfg reached the vehicle that she was
taken from the carriage.
she complained that her husband was re-
sponsibie for what she had done. referring
70 the divorce proceedings, and then said to
Bailin Kendig: LET me CO. want to die. -
The ambulance from the Emergency Hos
pital reached the store in a few minutes,
and Mrs Acker was hurried of to the hos
pital. It was found by the surgeons that
sne had swallowed small amount OF
the ACID. which was mild solution. Her
race ana mouth were ScOrched, but her
condition was not regarded as serious, al
thougn she was hysterical.
Refuses to Give Her Name.
II won't tell what my name is." said the
woman when she reached the hospital. "Tm
a clerk in the post office, and that's all 1
intend to tell you
The affair created considerable excite
ment in the vicinity Of the Police Court
where Mrs. Acker swallowed the acid. and
also In the neighborhood Of police head
quarters. Mr.. Acker ran to the office OF
MS attorney, Joseph Shillington, after his
wife had been carried 10 the hospital, hold
ing the empty bottle In his hand and evil
dencing great excitement. A pol.cem fol-
lowed him to Mr.. Shillington's office and
then had him go to the office of Capt
Boardman and relate his version Of the af-
fair to Detective Peck.
Telephone to her mother, Mrs. Howard
i4A street." was the request of Mr.
Acker, and tell her to go to the hospital
he was also anxious that her brother
samuel Howard. be notified in order that
he might go the hospital. Mr.. Acker was
then or the opinion that his wife was in a
serious condition and he seemed greatly re-
ieved when informed by q Star repo. ter
that she was in no danger
Alleged to Have Made Threats.
Mr.. Acker told Detective Peck that he
had not lived with his wife for about eigh.
teen months. They were married four years
ago. About two weeks ago he entered suit
Tor divorce against her and since then, he
stated, she threatened to kill him and then
END her own life. Last Friday night, he
said. he saw his wife at the door Of his
oftice and She then said she Intended to
Kill them both.
Today about noon Mr.. Acker said he was
In his office when his wife called and they
mad controversy over their domestic
troubles. When he started out to lunch
his wife was still there, and, he said. She
talked In loud tone and called him a
liar" She had threatened suicide a num-
per OF times before today. but he was new
ertheiess Mortified when he saw her swallow
some of the poison.
She had the bottle in her satchel," said
her husband. and as she took 1t out she
remarked: Il will fix it,
Mr.. Acker said he grabbed the bottle from
her as soon as he could and took her to the
drug store In a carriage In grabbing the
bottle he got some of the acid on his hand
ana was slightly. burned. He said he was
with his wife about four weeks ago when
she purchased the acid at a 14th street
drug store. 1t was purchased for medicinal
purposes.
Mr.: Acker is prominent in degal circles.
His home Is at 1892 18th street northwest
ana his office Is In the Warder building with
the firm of c. A. Snow. 1t was regarded
as probable that the allegations In the bin
for divorce tncensed Mrs. Acker and caused
her to make an effort to end her troubJes
by taking her life.