The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-01
FELL INTO BATH TUB.
Mrs. Edith simmons-WilIetts-E Elliott
smedley- sylvester-s Latest Caper.

After plunging countless others in
boiling water, Mrs. Edith Simmons
WilIetts- Enthusiastically late of Perry,
Kansas. fell into the water herself.
scalding to death before she was
rescued. It was in a bath tub at a
Seattle hotel. This is the latest and
meekest vehicle which the woman with
the hyphenated name has chosen to
startle those who followed her career
from the country village of Perry to
the increasing wide swath cut in west
ern cities.
This is what the latest guide book
on the may steps trod by elusive Edith
has to say:
From the depths of a bath tub filled
with scalding water Mrs. Edith Smed-
ley, wife of a former merchant and so
cie-y woman of Denver, makes her bid
for public notice in a weak, enfeebled,
parboiled voice.
The third act in the drama wherein
Mrs. Snedley, who. in the role Of lead
ing lady. nibbies mems hearts and for
tunes as a high school girl eats fudge.
has been transferred from Lincoln,
Neb., where she left Joseph Wells, a
poorer, sadder, II wiser, man. to the
great northwest
Tt was while playing the races at
Seattle that Mrs. Smedley, in company
with w. ]. Sylvester, her latest angel,
came nigh to suffering complete eradi-
morning tub, which the careless maid
of the hotel at which she was a guest
had filled with steaming water.
1t was over a year ago since Denver
society said "Ohi and ah!* when It read
the story of how Mrs Snedley of the
baby stare and piquant face had sue
ceeded in bamboozling old Joseph
Wells prosperous Nebraska farmer,
out of $4,000 of his hard earned for
tune. The man went into court asking
a.
was brought in the charmer had de-
seended on Lincoln, fastened her orbs
on Wells and the case was dropped,
not, however, until Wells, in his first
fury at again seeing her, had grabbed
her so fiercely by the arms that one of
the tender members was broken. caus-
ing Mrs. Snedley to go about with her
wing done up In q sling for some time.
Robbed of his fortune, deserted by the
woman. Wells sought work as a ranch
hand and Mrs. Smedley started out
new worlds to conquer, going to Cali
fornia.
While there she made the aequaint-
ance OF ". J. Sylvester. a man of the
world" with a we'll filed purse, who
went down like a ninepin before the
Turing wiles of the siren and dug up
large sums" Of the coin of the realm.
Later he laid by d reserve for defense.
In a letter to one L. c. Burr, attor-
ney of Lincoln. Neb., he wrote that he
on the part of the woman. Burr
caused the letter to be published. and
Wells from the field of waving corn in
which he toiled as day Iaborer. exulted
that the lobster market had found an
other recruit It now transpires that
the letter was bogus, for Mr.. Sylvester.
who has already spent over 5000 in
the game, seems to have more.
Deserted by her husband, whom
Wells charged with being an accessory
to his plundering, Mrs Smedley has
for the past half year been playing the
races on the western circuit. Owning
team of racers, the sole souvenirs Of
her $4,000 lift from Wells. she has
secured the Sylvester loans by giving
him bill of sale for the horses.
she is the smoothest article have
ever met" Sylvester Is quoted as saying
of Mrs. SmedIey, and he draws his
comparisons from a life passed in the
large cities Of the world
Since the scalding. however, Mrs
Smedley has led the simple life, as her
convaIescence from the serious in
5uries received have been slow. In a
charming bungalow in Oakland. Cal,
the lady Of the Dido inclinations is be-
ing wooed back to health. her every
want supplied. It IS said, by her friends