The Washington times., 1911-08-19
CHILD FREED FROM
A DEATH CHAMBER
AFTER THREE DAYS
Tot Found Unconscious in
Flat Where Mother
Killed Herself.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

in a handbag. Another note was
found addressed to George Spranzy.
Near the handbag, the woman had
laid out some insurance policies,
showing that she had an interest in
two or three companies, and 1t was
upon these policies that the different
names appeared.
The letter was substantially as fol-
lows:
Dear Captain Boardman and Mr..
Spranzy:
Having been my friend in life, 1
now ask you two to do one more favor
for me, when l ask you to look after
my affairs.
My life has been a helpless struggle,
and 1t would have continued so, for
have fought against a hopeless task
and have endured the annoyance in
suit. and humiliation of every human
being.
Says She Died a Martyr.
TT has kept me from obtaining en-
ployment. My hand will commit this
deed. 1 die a martyr to the Govern
ment my poor old father fought to
serve. Do not feel that am doing
wrong Look back over the last ten
years of my life and you will agree
that death is the only relief. You will
be able to collect my life insurance for
me. Have the bodies OF both the baby
and me cremated. Give all my belong
ings to Mrs. Florence A. Dodge, vile
of Herbert A. Dodge, of Congress
Heights. Look after all my affairs for
me.
IF by any chance my baby should
not die. do what you think best with
her. Try to get her with a good Ma
sonic family where there are not chill
dren already.
What my husband did not do toward
wrecking my life the detectives have
done"
The woman asked that If the baby
should not die she did not want her
to fall into the hands Of several per-
sons, whom she named in the letter.
In closing, she wrote:
Thanking you both for your kind
ness TO me in the past
Very truly yours,
SARAH z. PETERSEN"
Sergeant Evans found that the door
leading from Mrs. Petersen's rooms to
the public hallway had been secured
at the top and side by means Of screws.
A screwdriver lay in the door near by.
A door connecting the two rooms Of the
apartment was securely locked.
Inspector Boardman said that al
oush the woman was slightly de-
mented he did not think her conditio-
warranted her being taken in CUSTODY
for treatment. He believed that II she
sion would then leave her, for he be-
lieved 1t was merely caused by worry,
Often when she visited his office she
brought her little girl with her; The
spector said. and appeared refined
About two weeks ago was the last time
she visited Police Headquarters.
,trnst Dr. MaprtGe 6aptbe,1 E. Miller Of i6lS
veria apartments. said today that
knew very little about Mrs Peter
son. He said he knew the woman
had been out of employment for
behind with her rent, but. believing her
to be honest, DR.. Miller had directed
that she be allowed to retain possession
of the apartment, as he felt she would
pay up as soon as she had the money.
Mrs. Petersen called to see DR.. Mil
Ter Wednesday morning and suggested
that she thought it might be best Tor
her to give up the apartment and seek
sured her she was welcome to stay If
she wished. Mrs. Petersen seemed to
be in the best of spirits at the time
and there was nothing about her man.
ner to indicate that she was in the
least despondent.
Verdict of Suicides
After making an Investigation Cor
oner Nevitt was of the opinion that
the death of Mrs. Petersen was purely
result of suicide. He found nothing
about the apartment to indicate that
there had been any foul play. The body
Of the woman was removed to the
morgue, but no inquest will be held.
The Coroner issued a certificate of death
by suicide without holding a hearing
Inspector Boardman says that the
woman told him she had had two hus-
bands. She was first married to a man
named Koctz, she said, but a divorce
separated them. She went out West,
and while in Colorado met Mr.. Peter
sen. They were married and a child
was born to the couple. Mrs. Petersen
told CAPTAIN Boardman that her hus-
band left her shortly before the child
was born. Some time later she re-
turned to this city and for a time OBJ
tained employment as q clerk in the
Typographical Temple.