The Washington herald., 1912-03-12

an. realized that she had either mistaken
him for some one else. or that she was
suffering from some mental irregularity.
He saw that II was useless to try to
argue with her, and protesting pressing
business asked to be excused.
"Still declaring that Mr.. Bell was pre-
venting her from attending church. the
woman finally left his Office Mr.. Bell
thought no more Of the matter until some
time later when several OF his friends In
formed him that Mrs. Gage had threat
ened TO harm him. They said that Mrs.
Gage had Informed a number OF her ac-
quaintances that Mr.. Bell was persecut-
ing her. and that unless he stopped she
intended to horsewhip and cowhide him
Mrs. Gage, they reported. maintained
that Mr.. Bell was conspiring to keep her
self and her daughter out OF Washington
society.
He rules Washington society and
Washington churches. He will not allow
me to attend a single service. He has
spoilers at the doors TO keep me from
entering the woman is said to have
told Mr.. Bells informants.
AT first Mr.. Bell paid no attention
to Mrs. Cages threats, for he realized
her mind was affected. Even after the
woman had threatened to kill him. Mr..
Bell refused to report the matter to the
police.
Worried Mrs. Bell.
This step probably would never have
been taken had II not been for Mrs.
Bell who became greatly worried as the
results of Mrs. Cages threats. She be-
neved the woman would harm Mr.. Bell
and finally persuaded her husband to
report the matter to the police. Mr..
Bell told the police he believed the
woman to be out OF her mind. and that
she was liable to harm some one. De-
tective Evans was assigned to investi-
gate the case.
Mr.. Bell communicated with a broth
or of theS woman who lives in New
Jersey informing him over the long
distance telephone OF the apparent IN
sanity of his sister, and requested that
he provide a suitable guardian for her.
Mr.. Bell did this several times, and
finally Detective Evans went to New
Jersey to see the brother in person.
Mrs Cages brother positively re-
fused to assist either Mr.. Bell OF De-
tective Evans. He said he did not wish
to make the initial move in the mat
ter. The brother declared that not un-
til the police arrested Mrs. Gage would
he have anything TO do with the case.
Brother Refused Assistance.
Both Mr.. Bell and Detective Evans en-
deavored to impress upon him the serI-
BUSINESS of Mrs. Cages condition. They
said they did not want TO see her ar
rested, and that IL some member of her
family would see that she was taken TO
a sanatorium or similar institution for
treatment they would take no further
action. When asked IL Mrs Gage had
any other relatives to whom they could
appeal. the brother told them that her
mother and sister resided In Vermont.
He positively refused to give their ad-
dress.
This morning talked with Mrs. Gage
and her daughter for more than an hour
in Inspector Boardman's office. am
convinced that the woman is out of her
mind. questioned her. but her answers
were incoherent. On one occasion she
said: He has spoilers at the door of
every church in Washington, and viii
not allow me to attend a single service.
He has tried to ruin the reputation OF
my daughter. He has kept US out of
society. He rules the entire city,
II did my best to discover what might
have caused Mrs. Gage to believe Mr..
Bell was prosecuting her. but was un-
successful. The only answer she would
give was That house. That's the cause.
He wants to get my house, but I will
not let him.
while at Inspector Boardman's ONCE
I asked Miss Gage II she knew Mr.. Bell.
She said she had never seen him. Sew
eral times during the conversation Mrs
Gage, after making a statement, would
turn to her daughter and say That's
right. isn't II Margaret? The daughter
would answer in the Affirmative"
Her "RoyaI Descent"
Some time ago Mrs. Gage wrote a
book entitled The Royal Descent and
Colonial Ancestry OF Mrs. Harley tCal-
win Gage" In this book, which was an
edition de luxe hound in heavy yellum