The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-18
DESPONDENT WIFE
COMMITS SUICIDE
Mrs. Alice Lee Fires Bullet
Into Brain and Dies
Instantly.
PATHETIC NOTES LEFT
Declares Husbands Conduct
Caused Torture That She
Could Not Bear.

Dlsheartened over continued failure TO
secure her husbands promise to abstain
from strong drink, Mrs. Alce Lee
wife of 6 ID. Lee Of 925 West First
South street. ended her life yesterday
afternoon by shooting herself in the
right temple. a bullet from the re-
volver, as caliber Harrington &
Richa rdS, penetrated the brain and death
was instantaneous. No powder burns are
apparent on the woman S face. Lee, III
a crazed condition. was locked up in the
city Jail pending thorough investiga-
Leaves Farewell Notes,
That the womans act Was premeditate6
is shown by two notes written by her
shortly before the fatal deed. The first
one signed Alice" had been written
earlier in the day and the second one.
which was unsigned, was penned mo-
ment before the shooting They writ
ten in firm. large hand as follows:
IS. D. Lee: I have bad enough of Your
Hell Devils work and ii cant live away
from you, why l can die. Ii do, renlcm
ber II is I'll your fault for l have tried
10 help you and have suffered torture
ever since ! first saw you. ALICE"
The second note is shorter, hui despite
the stress under which the woman was
laboring. the hand which held 1hc pen did
not tremble. II Is addressed TO Bobby
as she usually called her husband, and
reads as follows:
Bobby; You and you alone are the
cause of this. Don't try 10 take il out on
someone else
Quarrels With Husband.
The woman's death followed series
Lee had been drinking heavily for some
time ana his wife was endeavoring 10 get
him 10 mend his ways. The final quarrel
took place on the porch Of the residence
Lee repeated her threat made several
times before that she would end her life
If her husband did not reform.
After bitter words had passed between
into the house Entering the dining
room. she penned the final brief mes
sage and cooly made preparations to end
her life. Securing the revolver. she took
her motheTs photograph from lis place
on the mantel and with it held in her left
hand. she fired the fatal shot into her
right temple.
Alarmed by tho report. Mrs Page and
Mrs. Kelley, who live in the adjoining
terrace. rushed into the room. The life
less BODY or the woman was stretched on
the floor while her husband was lying
prone across The body fond!ng and al
dressing the corpse by endearing terms.
His hands were bathed in the blood
which poured from the fatal wound and
actions, had lavcd his face and hair in the
life fluid.
Husband Is Frenzied
Mrs Page ran To the telephone 10 sum-
mon aid, but Lee would not permit her
TO use the instrument and made wild
threats against both women. Others
came into tho room and another neighbor
for officers.
Policemen Dan Grundrig and Tom Gil
lespic answered the call Lee was In n
crazed condition. pacing the floor With
his face and hair marked with blood
from the fatal wound. The womars
body lay where it had fallen. the revolver
on the floor under her right hand and
Securing the revolver. the officers placed
Lee under arrest. He was In ravinS
condition. both from the effects OF drink
and the shock, and offered resistance
both at the house and later at the police
station. The man was apparently de-
mcnted tearing his hair and muttering
insanely, Here's some d fool things
She has written" ne told the officers, in
dicating the notes she had left but
sought 10 keep the policemen from read
Ing them Altogether. his actions were
those OF a crazy man
Mo Children to Mourn.
The woman's body was taken TO o'Don-
house Locked and sealed by tho representa-
lives of the law. 4 close investigation
into all the details OF the affair will be
made today, Officers Dan Grundvig and
Henry Porter made an examination of the
premises.
Lee and his wife were English although
the man is said 10 have lived In Aus
iralla Tor "a nufnpSf pi years i hS COUPE
we're married In Liverpool. England. five
Years ago and came TO this country short
Is afterwards. Lee is u man Of about 40
years OF age while his wife was 25 years
old They had children
Lee owns considerable property in Salt
Lake City and is said 10 be quite wealthy.
He was at one time "A deputy game war
den Mrs Lees maiden name was Alice
Thompson. Her mother resides In Liver
pool and as far as known. she has no
relatives in this country. few hours
before her death she wrote and mailed a
long letter To her mother.
NeiRhbors say the couple has lived un
happily although the woman did every
thing possible Ia make success Of mar
ried life Ice treated her unkindly ac
cording to the statements az those living
in the vicinity. recently attacking her and
forcing her to flee from the house In her
night clothes and take refuge with 9l
ncigllbor.