Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-10
BURGLAR MURDERS
WIFE OF OFFICER
With Pistol She Fired at Him
Twice.
WEAPON HELD AT BREAST
Mrs. Frank Rorschach Victim at
WEAPON HELD AT BREAST
Mrs. Frank Rorschach Victim at
Portsmouth, Va.
MOTHER PROTECTING CHILDREN
Husband, Lieutenant Aboard Tennes-
see, at Boston, Notified of Trag
edy-No Trace of Murderer.

edy-No Trace of Murderer.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NORFOLK, Va, September 10.-Shot
through the heart with her own pistol
which had been wrenched from her after
she had fired II twice at the intruder, Mrs.
Mary I.awless RorsChach thirty-six years
Of age, wife of Lieut.. Frank Rorschach
L. s n. was murdered at 3:15 o'clock this
morning by an unknown burglar, pre-
sumably negro, at her house, S32 Park
avenue, Park View, Portsmouth.
Mrs. Rorschach was awakened by a noise
made by some one entering her house
early this morning. There was no one
else living in the house except her two
children, Frank. seven years of age, and
lad two years younger Without arousing
them the mother took her revolver in one
hand and a lamp in the other and de-
scended the stairs
Burglar SeiZes Her Weapon.
Reaching the dining room, from which
the kitchen opened. she must have heard
the burglar moving about in the latter
room, for she fired two shots in that di-
rection, the bullets being found later i'm
bedded in the kitchen wall
After the two shots had been DISCHARGED
the burglar must have made a dash at the
piucky woman and torn the pistol from
her grasp for another shot was heard and
then wild cry reached her eldest son up-
stairs, who now lay wide awake in terror:
Frank. Somebody has taken my pistol
and shot me! Go quickly for help.'
Murderer Makes Escape.
In the meantime the burglar had fled
from the house, issuing from the woodshed
door, in the rear of the kitchen, where he
had probably entered. He dropped the pis-
tol as he left the house.
In response to his mothers cry Frank
rushed downstairs and found his parent still
breathing, though deep stain. fast grow
ing broad and red upon her night clothes
over her left breast, showed that she was
mortally wounded. The burglar had held
the pistol close to his victims heart
that the cloth of her garment was scorched.
The boy rushed TO the nearest house and
summoned neighbors who had been
aroused by the shots They hastened back
with him, but when they arrived they found
Mrs. Horseback dead.
The youngest son, Lawless, slept through
the whole tragedy
Soon after the alarm was sounded blood
hounds were brought from Portsmouth jail
and put upon the fugitve's trail but the
scent was soon lost, and has not yet been
found again.
Newsboy Sees Negro Running.
A newsboy, who lives near. says that at
800 this morning, when he was starting
out 10 get his papers, he saw a negro run
n.ng rapidly by his house, in the direction
of foot bridge.
Mrs. Rorschach was a remarkably beau
t!ful woman. and one of the most talented
amateur musicians in Virginia.
Money which Mrs. Rorschach had about
her neck and her rings were not touched
by the burglar, who must have fled at the
instant his victim fell.
The glass lamp which Mrs. Rorschach
carried was unbToken, bat the chimney was
shattered by the fall.
Suspect Arrested.
Thomas Archer, mulatto. claiming to
bc in the employment of the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company, has
been arrested in Portsmouth, suspected of
the murder OF Mrs. Rorschach. lie denies
any knowledge OF the crime.
Policeman Elliott at O'Clock II morn
ing. turjy-tvc minutes after the murder,
saw a HrEro enter the house of Archer at
los Glasgow street, Portsmouth. Archer,
"h'h arrested WAS IN pSu' Ills nat pole
spots tha, looked like bloodstaIns. and his
sLo-s were Wet. IN condition such as
would have been caused 10y walking in wet
grass IN me rear OF the ROrsChach resi-
O"I,r
Archer says he got wet in the severe
r.l'. last night
Governor Offers Reward
Gov Swanson this afternoon offered a re-
ward OF :. for the capture Of the muir
dvrrr Of Mrs Horseback. Col. I.awless
brother If ;hc victim, is a member of Gov.
Swausuu.s staff.
T.