Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-24
Is Prepared to Turn
on Gas When
Arrested
Intended KillDaughter
When She Took Her
Own Life
Man She Loved and for Whom She
Had Forsaken Her Husband
Told Her He Was
Married

With brain wrecked by constant
thoughts of the loss of her sweetheart,
Mrs. Alice Wardell, beautiful, dark
eyed matron 81 years of age, was
taken from her home, 1884 South Los
Angeles street, last night while she
was said to be preparing to end the
lives of herself and little daughter.
trail police station by Patrolmen
Walsh and Murphy and was placed in
the matron's department Today she
will be taken to the County hospital,
where physicians will examine her to
ascertain If her mind is a total wreck.
Mrs. Wardell's story is a sad one.
The woman is said to have been mar
ried six years ago to man with whom
she had been in love for several years.
According to her friends Wardell had
been her devoted admirer since her
school days and had many times
pleaded with her to marry him.
In 1901 they were married and moved
into the little dwelling on South Los
Angeles street, where the woman has
since made her home.
Rumors of Divorce
About three years ago their daughter
was born and was worshiped by the
couple. Together the three lived hap
PLY until one day a tempter appeared
on the family horizon. This tempter
came in the form of man who had
business relations with the family. At
first his visits were far apart but
gradually he came to the little home
oftener and oftener, and instead of
visiting at nights, when the husband
was home, began to time his calls
so as to reach the place when Mr..
Wardell was absent.
Soon 1t was whispered about the
neighborhood that it would not be long
before another divorce was recorded in
Los Angeles, and the neighbors whis-
pered of love scenes in which the caller
played a prominent part and which
took place within the walls of the lit
tie cottage.
About two months ago word of these
things is said to have reached Mr..
Wardelrs ears, and when he accused
his wife of loving another than he the
woman is said to have admitted the
truth.
Enraged at her reply Mr.. Wardell
packed his belongings and left the
city Confident that her lover would
receive her with open arms and well
come her to his home, the young
woman eagerly dispatched a messen-
ger to him, telling her husbands de-
parture. With beating heart she
awaited his reply, but when she re-
ceived 1t fell in a faint md since that
time has been of unsound mind.
Married for Year
'I have been married for more than
L..
municate with me-" read the message
the woman had received and which
drove her out of her mind.
Several days ago SIZE began making
preparations to end her life, as well
as the life of her little daughter. The
house in which she lived was care
fully cleaned and put in order and then
two letters were written. One Of these
was addressed to her mother who
lives in San Francisco. The second
was to a married sister, who lives in
Kansas City.
II am going to die and take Stella
to the other world with me-" read the
letter to hor mother when the sun
sinks Tuesday night it will not rise
for us again. I have decided to turn
on the gas in our bedroom and with
Stella will lie down to our last long
slumber.
love me and has told me so. When
last l saw him. two months a5o he
loved me, but today he hates me and
/ do not wish 10 live"
Neighbors who nad witnessed the
womans many strange actions during
the last few weeks became suspicious
she was contemplating some such ac-
tion and last night motif d the police
When Officers Mi Jhy and Walsh vis-
tied the house they found everything
prepared by the woman to end her
life. The two letters in whicl. she
bade her mother and sister farewell
were picked up from the bureau in the
room where she had intended to COM
nit the act and were taken by the olii-
GERS to the police station.
When placed in care of the matron
Mrs. Wardell pleaded to be allowed to
end her life. "He does not, love me-"
she moaned. LET lae die"