Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-05
kept SECRET WELL
Former Wife of Guiteau Care
fully Concealed Identity.
DIED RECENTLY AT OMAHA
Spent Last Few Years of Life at
Home Of Daughter.
RARELY SEEN IN THE STREET
Testimony Had Much to Do With
Convincing Jury Assassin of
Garfield Was Sane.
JED RECENTLY At OMAHA
RARELY SEEN IN THE STREET
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star. 81
OMAHA, Neb., November 5-The wife
of Charles J. Guiteau has just died at her
home in Omaha, where she had lived In
close retirement for a number OF years.
In this city she had been known an Mrs.
Anna B. Allen, and the fact that she
was the wife Of the assassin OF Pres
ident James A. Garfield had been kept
SO secret that comparatively few people
knew that the quiet Mrs. Allen had
figured in one of the great tragedies OF
American history.
All during her Omaha residence Mrs.
Allen had persistently refused to talk of
the nightmare period of her life, and it
was only from word now and then
dropped by her that the full story is
known.
usual quiet way in which she PARTED
any attempt on the part Of the inQuisi-
tive to question her concerning Giilteau.
For number OF years she made her
ter, Mr.. and Mrs. A. d. Williams, of
1857 Henderson street, where she died
last week. The fact that she was once
the wife of the murderer of President
has been kept as much of secret since
her death as 1t was during her lifetime
and the name "Guiteau'' does not appear
on the grve monument.
Met Guiteau in 1877. =
Mrs. Guiteau's maiden name was
Dunn, and 1t was while living at Free
port, Ill, that she met the man who was
to murder President and die on the gal
lows. This was in 1877, and even in those
days Guiteau leaned toward anarchy, and
had peculiar idease Of government.
Concerning her courtsnip and marriage
Mrs Allen was always extremely reti-
cent, and even with her daughter, Mrs.
Williams. she never discussed those Gays.
That they were unhappy ones, however,
Is known. But they uid not last long.
In less than two years from the we'd
ding day Mrs. Guiteau applied for and
was granted a divorce on the plea OF
cruelty. Guiteau was subject to vioient
and terrible fits Of temper, and when In
one Of these was little more than a brute
After her divorce from Guiteau Mrs.
Gufteau went to Boulder, Col, where she
Dunmire. While the dummies were re-
siding in Boulder there was one day
mashed over the telegraph wires the mes
sage that President Garfield had been
shot and that his assassin was Charles J.
Guiteau."
II can easily believe that is my former
husband" Mrs. Dunmire is reported to
have said on that occasion. HE is thor
ougnIy capable or the deed.
Testified at Trial.
Then came the long trial, during which
prominent alienists for weeks and weeks
struggled to prove that the murderer was
sane or insane. II sane the death penalty
would be inflicted; II insane Guiteau
would be sent to an asylum, perhaps for
few months. perhaps few years.
Slowly and surely the idea that Guiteau
was insane was gaining ground as the
altenists for the defense gave their testi-
mony. Guiteau's lawyers had begun to
look upon that point as firmly established.
Then the government played its big
trump. Mrs. Dunmire was called to the
had lived with the murderer; told OF his
violent temper and british ways: told
OF his ideas of government or lack of
government, and SO impressed the jury
that verdict of guilty" was returned
While Guiteau, in his cell, awaited the
date of the execution. his former wife
busted herself with the welfare of his
SOUL. She brought him a Bible and did
what she could to bring about his re-
pentance.
But before the day Of death arrived
Mrs. Dunmire left Washington and re-
turned to Colorado. where she took up
her residence at Leadville. She was a
resident OF that city when the news Of
the execution of Guiteau reached her.
Divorces Mr.. Dunmire.
Four years after this--in 18S6-Mrs.
Dunmire and her husband agreed to dis
agree" and separated. Mrs. Dunmire took
the two children to Chicagos where she
secured a divorce. Later in that city
she married Enoch Allen.
But again there was a separation and
Mrs. Allen moved to Omaha. Five years
ago she secured divorce from Mr.. AL
len, and since that time had made her
home with her daughter. Mrs. A. D.
Williams
The last few years of her life Mrs
Allen spent in the company of her little
grandson, who was very much attached
to her. She was very quiet and reticent.
rarely going shopping and never attend
ing theaters or places of amusement. The
shadow of the gallows lay dark across
the pathway Of her life and the memory
of the crime perpetrated by her first
husband was with her every moment.