The Washington times., 1905-11-23

Z
CHICAGO. H.. Nov. 2s.-Marshan
FieId. Jr.. who shot and wounded him
SELF. probably fatally. with an auto
matte revolver that he was handling in
his home. 1919 Prairie Avenue, recov-
cred consciousness early today at Mercy
Hospital. but contrary to the hopes OF
his relatives, was to make a statement
to clear the mystery that the police are
investigating.
Mrs Marshall Field. jr.. the stricken
mans wife: his son. DR.. G. ". Post.
ard several other persons and intimate
friends of the family spent all last night
at the hospital.
Henry Dibble. uncle Of the young
man, telephoned to his own house early
today that Mr. Field had passed a
comfortable night and was resting as
well as the physicians could hope for"
Condition Critical.
Nurses and doctors alike at Mercy
Hospital refused to talk about his con-
dition, and under instructions refrained
from discussing X at all
AT a later hour the doctors in at
tendance said that Field would live
through the day. and Tiers was re-
mote chance for recovery. A perfora-
tion of the liver is considered one OF
the most serious OF all gunshot wounds.
making Fields condition decidedly
critical
Deciding Upon Trip
Field had been hesitating several
days whether to go on a hunting trip
in Wisconsin or accompany his wife
and his aiIing eldest son TO Lakewood
\. J. he was TO have made q decision
last night It IS believed that while
examining one Of the weapons he would
use should his decision send him to
Wisconsin
He had dressed for dinner and was
awaiting the return OF his wife and
son, when his servants were startled by
the explosion. Just as his unconscious
form was being placed in the ambulance
Mrs. Field drove up. She entered the
ambulance and accompanied her hus-
band to the hospital.
Mr.. and Mrs. Marshall Field. ST., were
at the Holland House IN New York
when notified by telephone from Chi
cago OF the accident.
BY 10 o'clock a special train had been
secured on the New York Central road
It IS expected TO arrive here early this
afternoon. Fields interest IN i'm
proved firearms had LED him to pur-
chase an automatic revolver This he
had bought three days before. but had
not found opportunity to examine =
carefully.
Just what occurred in the room is
left largely 10 the speculation OF his
friends.
Only Servants There.
Aside from Field. no one but the
servants was IN the house. It is said.
Should Field recover he will become
the heir to the greatest fortune in Chi
oago. Should the wound prove fatal.
the three children Of Marshall Field.
Jr.. will be the hairs of the multi-mil-
lionaire.
At o'clock the statement was made
that Field was resting easy and that
the prospects were favorable that the
patient VIII pull through the day.
The manner of the shooting is most
mysterious. Mr. Fields family say
that he was cleaning gun and it was
accidentally discharged.
The Field family. plainly much agi-
tated, would not add a word TO this
neager explanation. and are maintain
ing the utmost secrecy
Rumor of a Quarrel.
Al manner OF reports were set afioat
regarding the shooting. One is that
Mr.. Field, who is hot-tsmpered and ac-
eustomed to having his own way, got
into an encounter and was shot by his
adversary But the family have not
notified the police that he was wounded.
Another and the most persistent
rumor was that the man who viii be
heir TO al least one-third OF his faith
er sioo.0oo.ooo committed suicide. ~.
has never cared for business, and has
never been associated with his father
IN the great Field mercantile enter
prises.
He has greatly enjoyed life end has
told his cornwall companions that his
future being certain, ne might Ak well
enjoy the present.
When a few months ago. Marshal II
Field, sr., was married in london 10
Mrs Della Spencer Catnn the lsadsr
OF society here. the younger Field was
at his Lake Forest country home.
Left Home Suddenly.
Early in September he left there sud-
denly and his friends here said he went
70 Massachusetts. He is thIrty-seven
years old. His father was vastly pleased
when he married Miss Louise Huclt