The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-12
SHOOTS HUSBAND
KILLS HERSELF
Tried by Infusion to Save Life Of
His Daughter-The Husband
Operated on and May Re-
cover-Wife' s Death
Unknown to Him.
Fathers Attempt to Iafuss Bleed in
Mrs. Wehk's Veins Proves Futile.

RI H OND, VA. - Special. -
Mentally unbalanced Sunday morn
ing, Mrs Idora Webb, of the South
side. fatally shot herself and serious
~ wounded her husband with a 32-
calibre revolver at her home, 1925
to the Memorial Hospital, where the
woman died last night at $50 o'clock.
despite all efforts to save her and
where her husband now lies in a pre-
carious condition.
The terrible tragedy was the result
OF nervous depression. Early in the
morning Mrs. Webb was extremely
nervous and complained of feeling i'll
and lonesome. Her husband offered
to take her out and told her TO get
ready. She left the room in a few
minutes, ostensibly to do as he ad-
vised her.
Mr.. Webb was standing in front OF
the mirror on the mantel adjusting
his tie when she re-entered the room
He saw her suddenly move her hand
from behind her back, he saw the
Sleam of cold steel and then he heard
the report of the revolver and stimuli
taneously felt the sharp. hot pain of
the bullet coursing through his neck
In agony. he rushed into the street
and hailed the driver OF a buggy
which was approaching and begged
Mr. Ellington, of Chesterfield county
the driver. to drive him to DIR. Low
ing's office, saying that he had been
shot and was dying. Mr.. Ellington
saw the mans condition and drove
his horse at full speed to DR.. Loving
who found that the wound was not
necessarily fatal and took him over to
the Memorial Hospital
In the meantime neighbors heard
another revolver shot at the Webb
home and a few minutes later Mrs. j.
II. Wallen, who lives next door, saw
h.
against a pillow.
Mrs. Webb cried to Mrs. Mary Car
roll, who lives on the other side. to
| help her. Both OF the neighbors went
over, but did not know what was the
matter Mrs. Webb had fallen pros
trate on the porch floor and continu-
ually asked to be chloroformed.
The two did what they could for
her until DR.. r. G. Hill, who had been
summoned, arrived and discovered the
wound in the abdomen, which Mrs..
Webb had inflicted on herself shortly
after shooting her husband. Dr. XII
at once summoned the ambulance and
the woman was rushed at full speed to
the Memorial Hospital.
AS the wound was found to be seri-
Gus an operation was at once per-
| formed. and the bullet extracted. II
was found, however, that she had lost
so much blood that 1t would be neces-
sary to infuse additional blood into
her body.
Her father. William r. Starke, Of
| fered his blood. An artery In his
arm was sutured to a vein in her arm
and for many moments the loving
father sat calm and white while his
life blood poured into the veins of his
sinking daughter. The blood ne gave
revitalized her for sometime, but she
finally expired at $3.50 o'clock at night.
The operation on Mr.. Webb's wound
was made this morning, and, while
serious, his condition is regarded as
hopeful, If no complications develop.
He requested several times to be
allowed to see and speak with his
wife, but the ordeal was considered
too exciting for either by the physi-
clans.
At the time OF the tragedy the two
children-Willie, nine years old, and
Leona, five yearS old--were at Sunday
school. They were taken to the home
OF their aunt, Mrs. Alma Avis.
Gave His LIES Blood.
william q. starke, the father who
gave kis life blood so heroically to
save s daughter. Mrs. Idora webb.