The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-21
Commission May Be Appointed
in Eaton Case.
Widow of Late Admiral in Jail
at Plymouth.
EXAMINATION ON MARCH %
Woman Dressed in Mourning
When Arrested.
Sends Cheerful Note to Her
Relatives.

Plymouth. Mass, March 21.-Mrs.
Joseph G. Eaton. who was arrested
yesterday charged with the murder by
poisoning of her husband. Rear Ad-
miral Eaton, sent a cheerful message
from her room in the county Jail to
her daughter, Miss Dorothy Ainsworth.
1 want to tell you all not to worry
about me-, she wrote. Don't cry and
take on over it, for it will all come
all right in a few days. Look after
mother and don't allow her to become
excited and be sure to take care of
everything on the place.
The widow herself appeared optinis-
TIC today and accustomed herself to
the routine of Jail life without COM
plant.
She was brought here from bingham.
where she had been arraigned earlier in
the day following her arrest. Through
counsel she pleaded not guilty waived
the reading of the complaint and was
held without bail for examination
March 2s.
1t has not been determined whether
the inquest into the sudden death of
intimated that Mrs Eaton might not
be brought to trial The possible ap-
pointment of a commission to pass up
on her sanity was suggested
District Attorney Barker went to
Boston to confer with Chief Justice
Aiken, of the superior court 1t was
thought his errand might be in con-
nection with the converting of a special
grand jury to consider the case.
When Mrs. Eaton, who is a stout
woman, 40 years of age. entered the Jail
here she was dressed in the black suit
she wore at her husbands funeral. A
mourning veil partially hid her face
She had been weeping. but generally
maintained the composure that has
characterized her bearing from the
first
Both Admiral and Mrs. Eaton had
been married before. The adnirars
first wife was Mary Anne Narnum
whom he married at Dracut. in 1871
when he was a lieutenant in the navy.
His body was buried beside that of his
first wife From his graduation at
Annapolis until his retirement with the
rank of rear admiral in 1905. the life of
the naval officer was filled with honors
and he acquired a fortune.
Soon after his retirement he met Mrs.
Jennie May Ainsworth. the daughter of
George Harrison, of Alexandria, Va
Mrs Ainsworth later divorced her hus-
band, d. H. Ainsworth, an employees
of the senate at Washington. and she
and the admiral were married in 1907.
Their courtship was described by the
admiral in statement which he made
during a brief arrangement from his
wife four years ago. He said;
II met Mrs. Ainsworth in Chicago
and at that time = thought she was
widow. At that time. however. she
was not actually divorced from her
husband 1t was not until just before
my marriage that I learned she had
husband. Then she told me that her
husband was alive and that she had
just obtained a divorce from him on
the grounds of drunkenness and de-
sertion.
Helped Her Financially.
During the time that 1 paid atten-
ton to her. knowing her Strengthened
circumstances and thinking that her
husband was dead 1 helped toward
the support of herself and children,
giving her money, though at the times
1 did not know for what purpose she
was using it. Later, after the mar
riage, I learned inadvertently that 1
had been paying for the divorce pro-
ceedings which she had Instituted
against her husband.
II married her because L had said
1 would, and was too much OF gen
tleman to withdraw my promise. She
has always been good Wife knew
that money was given to A1nsworth,
but never with my consent except
once; then paid his fare to Cleveland
to get rid of him.
After their marriage, the Eatons
came to Brookline. Soon afterward
the admiral met with financial re-
verses and in his last days led an I'M
pretentious life or a poultry farm in
Norwen-
His principal income was from his
allowance as a retired naval officer, /
which amounted to $4,000 a year. It
is understood that his estate is rep
resented largely by a life insurance
policy for $4,000.
disappointed that n child lzRd nut