The Washington herald., 1908-03-21

All the countryside IN the vicinity Of the
modest home of Thomas Sumner. on Sill
yer Hin road, nine miles northwest OF Up
per Marlboro. Md, was thrown into more
or less excitement yesterday. when il be-
came known that a mystery had de-
veloped In the death Of Mrs. Emma Sum
ner
Following the death of the woman. an
Inquest was held by Columbus Pumphrey.
deputy coroner Of Prince George Coun-
". Md
According to the stories told at the in
quest, the husband went several miles
from the house Wednesday afternoon to
buy some fodder, and when he returned
about o'clock found the windows and
doors closed
He thought little OF the matter at the
time, believing his wife was taking an az
ternoon nap and had closed the house. He
returned later. and finding tie place still
locked. forced an entrance through an up
per window.
Bullet in Head.
In an upstairs room he found the re-
mains Of his wffe with a bullet wound m
her head just above the nose. He ran to
the homo Of Warren Dorsey. who lives
near. and sounded an alarm. Mr.. Dorsey.
together with a farmland. went 10 the
house and found Mrs. Sumner lying on
the floor with -SS-caIiber revolver lying
upon the bed near her.
picked up the revolver and tossed il TO
one side The county officials We're noti-
fed and an Investigation ordered The
jury deliberated for some time it is said.
as 10 whether Mrs. Sumner killed herself
or was murdered. and afterward agreed
she committed suicide. as stated.
Mrs. Sumner. it is said. was seen short
cabbage leaves, 10 feed the goats upon
her place. According TO Miss Della Tul-
lidge. who resides opposite the Sumner
residence, two shots were fred between
and O'Clock Wednesday afternoon. and,
according 10 those who examined the
revolver after the shooting, II was said,
two chambers were empty.
No Evident Cause.
When the juTy reported that Mrs. sum
ner was a suicide, many doubted the YER
dict They saw no reason why the beau
tiful ishwoman-educated. refined.
and apparently a person OF means-shoUld
wish 10 take her life.
Apparently In the best OF health. it was
not logical. many asserted. that Mrs.
Sumner would take her life. which had
seemed 10 them one round OF happiness.
Her home. we'll kept well furnished. and
looked after by a devoted husband. gave
her opportunity 70 enjoy all her whims.
Some one entered the house while she
was alone and killed her" the neighbors
said They did not advance a motive, and
ominous rumors began TO be heard. Sus-
plcion was pointed. unjustly. il is said al
one person
Insanity Before Her.
But the real story has been learned as
a result of a quiet investigation Mrs
Sumner died from self-infiicted wounds
The smile she wore. the pleasant words
she gave her neighbors when she visited
them. the contented look. and the ap-
parent enjoyment were but masks.
For years. it is said. the woman had
feared a maniac's cell Thoughts OF the
day that was coming when her mind
would be blank. preyed on her none too
strong mind
But none knew her secret but her hus-
band. In February. Mrs. Sumner went 20
Boston, Mass. with her husband. There
noted physician was consulted. He
looked grave after the examination. and
called hpr husband aciSn
''As you value your wife's life never
leave her alone the physician is said to
have remarked 10 Sumner.
Took Advantage OF Opportunity.
Back TO Silver Hin came the wife ard
husband who for a period Of several
weeks did not permit her TO be alone.
Then, apparently, she recovered from her
Her husband grew opti-
mistic. and on Wednesday last. when
urgent need called him from the house. he
believed he was safe in leaving Mrs.
Sumner alone.
Too late he learned his mistake. When
he returned she was dead The fear OF
insanity. il is believed had overpowered
her and caused her 10 end her life.
Yesterday the body was buried IN Rock
creek Cemetery.
Dr. John Z. Sansburv, OF ForrestvilIe.
Md, said last night II was evidently a
case Of self-deStruction.
Mrs. Summer should never have been
left slone.' he said. IF the warning of
the Boston specialist had been needed.
she would have been alive to-day. It was
plainly case of self-destruction. and
my opinion is shared by the best people
OF Prince George County.
Charles Cieper. the foreman of the cor
oher's jury told me to-day there was not
the slightest reason to believe 1t a case
or toui play. He believes. as DO ]. that
Mrs Sumner was unbalanced when she
did the act II she had not been alone.
she would be alive to-day"
solution OF Mystery.
Others share the opinion of DR.. sans
bury. and the mystery surrounding the
woman's death has apparently been
solved.
George s Dove. who lives at Forrest
vile, a short distance from the Sumner
home. said 10 reporter for The Wash
ington Herald last night that il WAS
simply case of suicide; that Mrs. Sum-
ner had recently returned from a visit 10
relatives in Massachusetts. and that she
had acted strangely
After the shooting. q brother Of the
woman went to the house and extraetad
the cartridge bali from the BODY ami the,