Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-25
AFFINITY TRAITOR,
SAYS ERRING WIFE
Mrs. Florence RoparS Declares
Man for Whom She Left
Spouse Informed Police
IS TOO ILL TO RETURN HOME
Woman Accused of Robbinu Hus-
band in Critical Condition.
Threatens Suicide
is TOO ILL TO RETURN HOME

Deserted by the man for whom she
left her husband and eloped from Eola,
ILL.,, nearly year ago, and stricken
with remorse because of her folly,
Mrs. Florence McQuillan Ropars, ac-
cused of stealing $9175 from her hus-
band and under indictment for con-
spiracy to defraud is in a serious con-
dition in the EstelIe apartments, 312B
West First street, where she is be-
ing guarded by Sheriff Charles B. Cor
man Of Du Page county, I'll.
The officer had arranged to leave
with his prisoner for the east Sunday,
but If the condition of the accused is
not improved 1t is probable the trip
will be deferred for a week or ten
days.
Mrs. Ropats is the wife of Louis J.
Ropars, a wealthy merchant and stock
man Of Eola. She left her older son,
years old, with her husband when
she left her home with Wilbur r. Ru-
pert, business associate of Ropars.
Rupert is a married man and deserted
wife and son years old. The cou-
pie left the Illinois town September 1,
1909, taking with them the 4-year- old
son of Mrs. Ropars.
The pair are alleged to have gone
to Aurora, ILL.,. where they are accused
National bank amounts aggregating
s9175 on certificates to which the name
of Ropars was signed.
The forgery was discovered and the
chase for the fugitives began. They
were traced to Canada, back into the
United States and into Mexico, thence
back into this country to California,
where the woman was placed under
arrest. On many occasions the couple
1Aff %rrrr &oxr a., 1,v1
of the officers.
Rupert left Los Angeles a short time
ago and went to Bismarck, N. D.,
where his mother is critically i'll. He
was arrested just as he alighted from
the train. The officers at that time,
it is believed, were ignorant of the ex-
act location of the woman and 1t is
thought her arrest was the result of
information furnished by RupeM.
DESERTED WHILE ILL
Mrs. Ropars and Rupert lived to-
gether in a bungalow at Forty-fifth
street and Central avenue and were
known as "Mr. and Mrs. Ross" The
woman was i'll at the time of her ar
rest, the officers having entered the
house Just two hours after she had
given birth to a baby boy She was
alone in the house and was without
medical attention. AS a result of i'm
proper attention the child died three
davs later.
The woman, it seems. was taken into
custody by Detectives Murray and
McCann two weeks ago, but the mat
ter was kept secret. Arrangements
were made to keep her under sur
veillance and later she was moved to
the rooming house near the central
police station, where she is under
guard.
The Illinois authorities were notified
and Sheriff German arrived here on
Thursday morning and took charge of
the prisoner
Mrs. Ropars is still in a serious con-
dition and Is on the verge of nervous
prostration. She believes that Rupert
has deserted her and will testify
against her when their case is brought
to trial.
She constantly begs the officer not to
take herr back and declares that she
prefers death to being compelled to
return and face her husband. 1t is
feared she may attempt to end her
life and a close watch Is being kept
to prevent her from harrning herself
Her little son is at her bedside con-
stantly and tells the sheriff he will
be glad when he gets back east so he
can sae his mana.