Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-03-09
Mrs, Bessie Chandler
Commits Suicide.

SulCluc dU uIc l. dAJOu lIOtcl III Yin
aha last Friday evening and died
early Saturday morning. She
was the wife of Lieut.. Chandler of
| Ft. Niobrara from whom she had
been separated for six months
past on account of her association
with Captain Kirkman. Lieut..
Chandler had applied for a divorce,
which was pending in our district
court. About two weeks ago
Mrs. Chandler returned from Bal
timore, Md, as a witness in the
Kirkman trial which was in pro-
gress at Fl. Niobrara at that time,
he beng tried by court martial for
misconduct as an officer on num-
Der of charges, one of which con-
nected Mrs. Chandler with the
case. 1t is also believed that Mrs.
Chandler tried to effect a reconcil-
iation with her husband, but being
again found in company Of Capt.
Kirkman under compromising
circumstances, she finally departed
from here Tuesday of last week,
going to Omaha where she COM
mitted suicide. No reason has
been given why she stopped in
Omaha, nor for her delay there.
The Chambers, both from promi-
nent families, had been married
about four years and we're living
happily together until Mrs. Chand-
Ter succumbed to the influences of
Capt. Kirkman which is alleged to
have taken place while Lieut..
Chandler was at Fit. Riley, during
which time his wife remained at
Fl. Niobrara where she became
associated with kirkmAn Lieut..
Chandler went down to Omaha
Monday to accompany the deceased
back to her people at Baltimore,
Nd, and will also take the little
boy Reese who meanwhile was
cared for by Lieut. Allen of Fit.
Crook after his mothers death I'M
til the arrival of Lieut.. Chandler.
The World Herald gives the fol-
lowing account of the coroner's
inquest:
Striking testimony was intro
duced at the inquest held Saturday
afternoon over the remains of
Mrs. Bessie Chandler, who killed
herself at the Paxton hotel Friday
night, and the verdict of the cor
oner's jury was to the effect that
she had come to her death by
gunshot wound inflicted by her
hand. She shot herself in the
breast and the bullet lodged near
her heart.
The most important evidence
came from Miss Lucille Phillips,
an attractive young woman work
ing at the hotel and whom Mrs.
Chandler took into her confidence.
The witnessed announced that she
saw the revolver used by Mrs.
Chandler as it lay under her pill
low.
" At 4 clock Friday afternoon
| was in the room to tidy it up and
| noticed that Mrs. Chandler was
extremely nervous. She walked
the floor and told me she was
afraid. When | asked her what
she was afraid of she did not re-
ply. and | assumed that she was
afraid of dying suddenly and
leaving her little boy without any
one to care for him supposed
she kept the revolver ready thru
a timidness which some women
have while remaining alone at
hotel.
" | knew that Mrs. Chandler
was in deep distress about some
thing. for she told me as much. In
fact, she told me all about her
trouble. She said that her life had |
been ruined by an officer at the
fort. a Captain Kirkland. She |
said her husband would not take |
her back again and that she had
nothing to live for except her lit
tie boy.
=" In her great desire to talk
with someone, perhaps as a relief
from her intense mental suffering,
she detailed all the facts in con-
nection with her recent life. /
retained only vague impression
of what she said.
PITY FOR THE WOMAN.