Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-08-02
Husband, a Retired General,
Steals Wife From Ley.
rosy Hospital
Flies to Mexico Where They
Can Live and Die
Together

Los Angeles, Cal, Aug. know
ing that his wife was suffering from
leprosy, Brigadier General David K.
Wardwell, retired hero of two
wars, secretly in the night stole the
woman from the contagious ward In
the county hospital, and has secluded
her in Mexico, where he will make
his home with her. "
An attempt is being made to locate
them by the authorities only In or
der to account to the government.
Both, according to the officials of
the county hospital, threatened to
commit suicide il they we're not al
lowed to spend the remainder of
their years in each others company,
even if it. were in isolation. ?,
Three nights ago Mrs. Wardwell,
at one time a beautiful woman, was
removed from the contagious ward
in the county hospital The next
morning an open window and note
thrown carelessly upon the window
sill told the story of the woman's
fight. ~ -@.. VI
Eve will not be molested in Mex
ico-it was there where we were
married, and we will be allowed to
| die there-together." Is. .-,s.-
A cursory investigation shows that
the couple got aboard late train
| for Mexico. When the supervisors
and county health officers were told
of the circumstances they made no
comment, found no fault. O..
sit is the best thing that could
have happened said one official,
"and 1 am glad the general secured
his wife" * N. s..e
She was the mans wife. He mar
ried her with the knowledge that
she would have leprosy; he wishes to
die with her" ,49%5s :5s .. 5t
Down at Sawtelle, in the neighbor-
hood Of the soldiers home, the love
story of the couple is well known.
The tender devotion Of the aged
warrior to his wife when she daily
showed signs of the dread disease
slowly creeping over her, endeared
the man to those in the neighborhood
where the couple resided.
Although Mrs. Wardwell often ask
ed that she be allowed to give her
self up to the authorities and asked
to be taken to Mexico by her hus-
band. the sturdy little general re-
fused to allow It. &e.s zzS*sE
Four weeks ago, however, Mrs.
Wardwell resolved to give herself
into the custody of the health Of
! f1cials. Leaving the vine-covered cot
tage in Sawtelle, the woman came.
to Los Angeles. The great mental
strain she underwent caused her to
faint when within a block Of the
police station. With tears in his
eyes the aged general pleaded with
the health officers to be allowed the
privilege Of taking the woman to
Mexico, but they were 8obdurate.
4 Wardwell stated that he was suffer-
ing from leprosy, but an examina-
ton showed that he was not.
Eighteen years ago General Ward
well, then a lieutenant colonel, re-
sided in Cananea, Mex. He had prev
iously served in the civil war, had
proved a hero in the battle of Gaines
Mills, being rewared publicly by Gov.
William Clafifn, for his meritorious
service, and he was commended by
the president Of the United States
to the Mexican authorities.
II was in Cananea, after he had
served in the Mexican army against
1 Macmillan, that the general met
Mrs. Wardwell. then Miss Isabel
Cole. The weman was dark and
beautiful. her relatives were among
/ the best people In the country, her
education was. faultless. i.
For two years she nursed broth
er. sfrlicted with leprosy, in futile
attempt to save his life.
| The general married her with the
knowledge that she might some day
have the dreaded disease. and a
lshort time later they. came to Call.
arnia. Here they spent the. last
| eight years, and It was here the arst
/ symptoms Of the disease were mo-
/ ticed.