The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-02
Woman s Father Gives
His Blood in Effort
to Save Her.
MENTAL TROUBLE
LEADSTO TRAGEDY
Mrs. Webb Fires Bullet Into
Webb's Neck as He Was
Dressing for Sunday School,
Using Same Weapon on
Herself While
Alone.

Alone.
While suffering from temporary
alteration of the mind, Mrs. Idora
Webb yesterday shot her husband, Al
fred S. Webb, OF 2.26 BainbrfdEe
street, as he was dressing for Sunday
school, and then, after he had fled to
save his life, turned the revolver on
abdomen, from which she died in the
Memorial Hospital last night at ossV
o'clock.
Mr.. Webb Is machinist by trade.
He was in the dining room tying his
necktie before a mirror on the mantel
when she entered the room. She mad
appeared depressed at breakfast and
all the morning. and had exhibited
marked signs of extreme nervousness
the night before. She complained 10
her husband that she was feeling very
badly, and said that she had been
dreadfully lonesome. Mr.. Webb asked
her why she didn't dress up and go
out, and said to her earnestly that he
would take her anywhere she wanted
to go or do anything he could to please
her.
Fired Without WnrnlnE.
But she made no reply. and present.
l ly left the ROOM Webb was still
/ dressing in front of the mirror when
| she re-entered about $3.50 o'clock. He
saw her draw something from behind
| her back, and then, without further
| warning the report rang out. and he
| felt the burning bullet enter his neck
With cry of pain he dashed from
the room, ran through the hall and
N-.th ~
sight except a buggy, driving towards
him He hailed the driver, d Mr.. FL
lington, OF Chesterfield county, and
asked the latter to drive him as rapid
ly as possible to DIR. Loving's Office, as
he had been shot and believed that
he would die. Running his horse at
nreakneck speed. MIR. Ellington took
| the injured man to DR.. Lovinss. the
| wound was found not to be fatal. and
mir. Webb was hurried to Memorial
| HOSPITAL DR.. Loving taking him over
/! In his buggy.
i Neighbors Heard Screams.
i! No one knows what Mrs. Webb did
4 for the next few minutes. but 1t was
1 not long before another revolver shot
| was heard by neighbors, and Mrs. >.
/ n. WaIlen, who lives next door. the
\ two houses being separated by a
vacant lot saw Mrs. Webb sitting on
her porch, leaning against pillar.
/ do something for me. for Gods
sake" she cried feebly, and Miss Mary
! Carroll, who lives on the other side
4 OF the Webb home. heard the call
| for nelp. Mrs. Wallen went on with
her household duties. but as she en-
tered her back yard and looked over
the fence she saw Mrs. Webb pros
trate on the porch floor. and heard
her call again.
do something for me. please" she
kept repeating. and both neighbors
van to her assistance
Whats the matter?" they both
/ asked, but the suffering woman only
| to let them examine her, or even to
| touch her. Finally they placed a
/ pillow under her head. Mrs. Webb
! refusing to be placed on her bed.
Rushed to Hospital.
\ 1t was not until DR. E. G. Hill came
Il in that the woman would let herself
be examined The physician imme-
diately discovered the wound IN tne
abdomen, and, recognizing the serious
. nature, telephoned for the city ambu-
:, lance. Mrs. Webb was finally placed
Il on her bed. The wound was bleeding
internally, and none showed on her
clothes. She still kept up her cries
for chloroform, and appeared to be
suffering agony. She would say notn-s
ing about the SnOOtlAS.
DR.. Womack and DR.. Davis arrived
with the ambulance. and the machine
was put at full speed to hurry Mrs.
Webb to the Memorial. The gong was
sounded at every step, and Chaufteuf,
Drake. knowing that life was az
, stake, drove the ambulance for every
) ounce OF speed 1t contained
The two patients were placed IN
wards not far removed from each
! | "
talk, and an operation was performed
Immediately. The bullet was located
, and extracted. and then. as she hao
. lost so much blood through her silence.
lit was found necessary to transfuse
/, blood into her almost exhausted veins.
Father Gave His Blood.
William F.. Starke. the father was
ready, The physicians turned to him
, and he barred his arm. Placing them
!, close together, so that their arms
I touched an artery in his arm was
: sewed to vein in her arm, and while
/ the devoted parent sat white and stitl
!, | his heart steadily pumped new blood
into the veins of his dying daughter.
II The TRANSMISSION of blood was a SLOW
: and painful process. IL haa 70 pe re-
| peated, being made before and AFTER
!. the operation to extract the bullet and
to mend the Intestinal wounds. Then
Mr.. Starke, having done all he could,
returned to his home GO comfort the
others of the family
AS Mr.. Webbs wound was regarded
not to be serious, operation was az.
layed until this morning He express ed
a desire to see his wife. but OWING 10
oer precarious condition and the pos
) slbility of an Immediately fatal shock
2 at seeing the man she had attempted
to kill. the request was denied him,
!, He inquired for her many times, APP
parently harboring no resentment to-
: wards her He was able to talk. and
5 said that he was glad the ehiidren--
2 Wilue nine years old, and Leona. five
!, years ola-had preceded him, to sum
n dav school. as the mother would nc
doubt have attempted 10 Kill them
:, too.
J, They we're dressed and ready before