Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-04-06

j
love-making was transferred to New
York. Captain Kirkman left his post
without leave and Mrs. Chandler hur
ried to him. She found him III and
almost insane from the effects OF
drink and drugs.
Captain and Mrs. George W. Kirk
man" were registered at the Grand
hotel New York. They were always
together and Mrs. Kirkman's beauty
and her fashionable attire were re.
marked uponi mt he dining-raams of the
hotel. 1t was plain to everybody that
the man had been drinking heavily,
but the devotion of Mrs. Ktrkman"
saved him many contretemps.
They left for Baltimore.
Mrs. Chandler went to her mothers,
Captain Kirkman to the Hotel Stafford.
Captain Kirkman got a check cashed
for $50 by Manager Downs and 1t was
returned as worthless by the Wells
Fargo company upon which 1t was
drawn. Captain Kirkman was arrested,
sent 10 jail, but the case was settled
out OF court.
Meanwhile "deserter" had beem N,W
ten against Captain Kirkman's name
on the army rolls. A court-martial
was ordered.
Other charges were piIing up against
the captain. He was accused OF de-
stroying $500 worth Of furniture in
o hotel. Several firms reported to
General Grant, then in command at
New York, that Captain Kirkman had
imposed upon them with worthless
cnecks, which they had unhesitatingly
cashCd upon the word OF an officer OF
the army.
Sull Mrs. Chandler eIung madly to
the man.
She begged him to quit drinking and
10 remember that her life was In his
keeping. Between them they had
secret compact to marry as soon as
Lieutenant Chandler got his divorce.
But the pleading of the woman who
had given up honor Itself for love was
like chaff before the wind. Captain
Kirkman grew even wilder than ever
and finally disappeared. Mrs Chandler
was forced to go to her mother, Mrs.
Cecilia Henley, in Baltimore.
Formal charges were being prepared
against the deserving officer He was
accused of failure to pay his debts, Of
"arsIng spurious checks of intoxica-
ton, Of deserton, Of conduct unbe"om-
ng an officer and gentleman On
Oct. "a he was captured by Captain
n.orton eighth infantry, in the house
of retired army surgeon, so Flatbush
avenue, Brooklyn. Though only 35
years old, Captain Kirkman looked
90. He was bent and aged.
In due course the court martial
came up at Fort Niobrara, Mrs. Chand-
Ter was summoned as witness. She
went to her husband there and fell on
her knees before him. begging for a
reconciliation.
Things had gone too far then. Lieu.
tenant Chandler, II is said, refused,
Mrs. Chandler gave her testimony and
the case was adjourned pending lepo-
sitions TO be taken In the Philippines.
Mrs. Chandler went back to Omaha.
Captain kirkman remained at the fort.
Then came the end,
A beautiful woman walked into a
store In Omaha on March |
and asked to see some revolvers.
MY husband Is an officer In the
twentlfth infantry a negro regiment
fIxI,, al. NJ I
was alone in my home the other night
] saw negro at the window. If | had
owned a pistol there would have been
a dead negro, I'm used to handling
firearms"
Four days later Mrs. Chandler
killed herself with this new pistol In
the Paxton hotel.
Nobody paid much attention to the
handsome young woman who came to
the hotel with her beautiful boy. Reese
son of former husband. Her only
conndante was Lucille Phillips, maid
employed In the hotel.
Il am the most unhappy woman in
the world" sobhed Mrs, Chandler. to-
lHt Sci VAIN, lht WHY NblllhH w w h'ih
she could turn. II had beautiful
homo, everything wanted and a good
husband, and have sacrificed every
thing for the love Of II man, for the
love of Captain Kirllman, Now my
husband will have nothing to do with
me and am the most miserable wo.
man on the earth. I'm past redemption,
There Is no chance Of forgiveness
ever"
Then the distracted woman sohhing
and praying, throw herself upon the
maids breast and wept like a little
child In her misery,
An hour later Mrs, Chandler was
dead, Reside her was the picture of
little Reese, and lock Of his hair,
sealed in an envelope, addressed to her
husband In her hand was the new
rcvulNor.
Bury those with me-" was written
upon the back of the photograph.
which was marked with blood. The
moor Wifh had trlSd Ia hold Them In