Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-06
SUICIDE AT OMAHA.
Victim Claims Life Was Ruined by
Husbands Brother Officer.

A dispatch from Omaha, Neb, says: Be-
o.usa Ijeut l.. B. Chandler, her husband,
of the United States army, had hied suit
for divorce from her, Mrs. Bessie Chandler
niece of the present governor of Maryland
committed suicide in an Oma ha hotel FIJI
day night by shooting herselr.
According to testimony at the inquest,
Mrs Chandler said her life had been ruined
by Capt G. w. Kirkman OF the Zolh IN
fantry. and that her husband refused 70
take her back again. Lieut.; Cnahu ,., i a.
we'll as Kirkman. is stationed at Fort MO,
brara Neb.. where the latter is being trleo
before a court-martial on several charges.
Mrs Chandler had been at Fort Nloprara
to testify before tins court, anu vas is ~
ing to her parents at Baltimore when she
stopped here and killed herself.
Mrs Chandler visited hardware store
Friday afternoon and purchased revolver,
asking the salesman TO explain no" ~ U.s.
the weapon This was shown her, and she
returned to the hotel with the weapon. Late
in the evening she clipped a curl from her
little bows head and after placing IL IN an
envelope which she addressed 10 Ier nus
hand she sent the boy out of the room
ON a pretext. few minutes later she nreo
the shot which ended her life.
Some time ago Lieut.. Chandler brought
divorce proceedings against his WE ailes-
ing misconduct with Kirkman Both are
army officers of the 25th Infantry.
Before committing suicide Mrs. Chandler
wrote a verse from the ''Rubalyat" of Omar
Khayyam, which she addressed 70 he' NUS
band. A.
A dispatch from Fort Niobrara. Neb-,
saws: Capt. G.. w. Kirkman, who Is IN
yolved In the suicide of Mrs. Chandler al
Omaha. made two unsuccessful at, attempts Pts; a.
suicide Friday night, cutting the arteries
in his arm with pocket scissors.
A dispatch from Baltimore says: capt.
Kirkman was under arrest in baltimore
about six months ago OH the charge OF
passing a worthless check at the Hotel
STAFFORD and was once dismissed from the
army for alleged misconduct, but was rein
stated by special act of Congress. He was
arrested September Is last on complaint OF
Manager Downs of the Stafford. who said
the officer had passed a worthless check
for $50 drawn on Wells. Fargo & Co. OF
San Francisco on him. When arrested the
prisoner said his name was kirwan, but
later he admitted his identity. Justice Lit
fig sitting at the central police station,
committed Capt Kirkman to jail for court,
but the case was afterward settled.
While serving in the Philippines in March,
1900, Captain Kirkman was court martialed
on charges of conduct unbecoming an OFF,
Ger and was dismissed from the service.
Senator Hawley became interested In the
case and introduced joint resolution au-
thorizing President Mckinley to restore
Captain Kirkman to his rank and COM
mand The resolution was adopted and the
officer reinStated.
Kirkman is thirty-eight years old and en-
tered the United States Military Academy
at West Point in 1884 from Indiana. Five
years later he was appointed lieutenant in
the Sth Infantry. He was promoted to a
captaincy and assigned to the 23d Infantry
in 1885, and was transferred to the 18th In
fantry and later to the 18th. For gallant
conduct at Ell Caney he was brevetted
major and assigned to the 49th Volunteer
Infantry. After the war with Spain he
returned to his place in the 25th
About month after Captain Kirkmans
arrest in Baltimore, Brig. Gen. Frederick
D. Grant preferred charges against him.
alleging that the captain had been absent
from his command without leave since Sep
TENDER %. At the time 1t was stated In the
dispatch from Washington that bills for
hundreds of dollars for furniture. said to
have been destroyed by Captain Kirkman
In New York hotel. had been received at
army headquarters.