The Washington herald., 1906-11-24
HER SHOTS KILL TWO
Wife of Reputed Millionaire
Stays Husband and Self.
CAUSE OF TRAGEDY MYSTERY
Two Theories Advanced, but with
Death of Mir. and Mrs. Delaney, No
Wife Sits for Hours with the BODY,
Then Ends Her Own Life.

Chicago, Nov 29-James Hatfield Della
ney. rated as d multi-milIionaire broker.
and president Of the American Shipping
Company, with offices in Chicago and New
York, was shot dead as he slept to-day
with his wife. daughter of Charles Ed
ward Brown. retired millionaire of
Willspoint. Tex. After watching for hours
beside her husbands body, Mrs. Delaney
blew out her own brains.
The bodies were found this afternoon in
the couples bedroom in a fashionable La
Sale avenue clearinghouse. Delaney s
body was cold. but that of his wife was
still warm. showing that she must have
kept vigil beside her dead husband for
hours before she took her own life.
Two theories are advanced TO account
for the double tragedy One is that Della
ney was consumed by jealousy and had
often quarreled with his wife concerning
the attentions she received from other
men, The other is that Delaney. though
supposed TO be worth several millions and
at the head Of "a $i0.0o0,c00 concern. has
really been financially embarrassed for
some time. and that his wife, knowing Of
their impending poverty, preferred death
for both
Parents Are Separated.
Delaney was about thirty-fye years old
and his wife not quite twenty-eight. Be
fore her marriage the latter was Miss
Bessie Brown. Her father, who owns
thousands of acres Of land in the South
west. is separated from his wife, and
Miss Brown has spent most Of her life in
Chicago. Her grandfather was AleXan-
der Sackett, once owner Of the Thousand
Islands. and the pioneer for whom Sack
etts Harbor. Lake Ontario, was named.
After finishing course at the Chicago
Musical College she married. several
years ago, and went on the stage later
under the name of Bessie Mortimer. maxi
ing her debut IN The Silver Shield" She
met with success, but later left the stage.
Mrs. Delaney's mother who is said 10
live in New York. was in Chicago three
DAYS ago 4 letter from her. dated
Wednesday, told her daughter how much
she regretted having 10 leave her dear
Bessie and go % Cincinnati" \ brother
and sister of Mrs Delaney are said "a
live in the Ohio city.
Just how the shooting occurred or the
exact hour at which the shots We're fired
is uncertain Indications are that the
woman left her bed early in the morning
partly dressed. and secured her husband
revolver. Then. approaching Delaney as
ne slept she evidently nred at him. Tn,
first shot went wild and buried itself ir
his pillow. As he ieaped AT the sound. j
second bullet struck him behind the right
ear and passed completely through his
brain
Ends Her own Life.
After the murder tie woman appears q
have sat for hours beside the bed befor,
she could bring herself to the point OF
suicide Finally, she thrust the muzzls
of the revolver into her mouth and pulled
the trigger. The shots were heard in an
other room, but TO attention was paid
to them
The Del1ueys came here some time age
from New York. where they had beer
living az lltth street and Riverside Drive
For a time they lived ia the suburb a
/ Edgewater. where they moved I'M tn,
younger society and took prominent
places among tile members of the Edge
+ Casino. Early this month they secured
apartments nearer the city foT the hus
/ bands convenience
/ Delauey's business associates say p,
I LETT his Office last night ia good spirits
/ Neither the husband nor wife showed
signs OF perturbation at dinner Early
/ in tile evening they retired TO their room!
/ and were never again seen alive.