Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-13
MRS. SAM SYCLE SHOOTS
HERSELF THREE TIMES
Commits Suicide Within Two Months
Of Attempt Made by
Husband
PASSES AWAY AT HOSPITAL
Physicians Make Vain Effort to Save
Life OF Wounded Woman-Was
Alone When Fatal Shots Were
Fired.

Within two months after her hus-
band had attempted to end his life
because Of financial difficulties, Mrs
Sam Sycle, of 5000 West Grace Street,
shot herself twice while lying In he'd
yesterday afternoon. and died in Grace
Hospital this morning at 12:40 o'clock.
Mrs. Sycle was alone in the house at
the time OF the shooting. Mr.. Sycle.
who had recently accepted position
with the Du Pont Powder Works. had
gone to City Point to take up his new
duties, and was unaware OF the
tragedy until informed by special mes
senger last night. He returned i'm
mediately to the city and went to his
wifes bedside
WOUNDED WOMAN IS
DISCOVERED NJ SERVANT
II was by the merest chance that Mrs
Syclc was discovered. a maidservant
who had gone out on an errand, missed
her mistress when she returned at
$3.50 o'clock. and was alarmed that
Mrs. Sycle was not awaiting her. The
girl went through the house. and finally
knocked on Mrs. Sycle's door. Receiv-
Ing no response. she entered
Mrs. Sycle was lying in bed. dressed
for the night. In her right hand was
clutched a heavy revolver. and blood
dripping from the bed told the negro
girl the story. Horrifed at the sight,
the servant ran screaming from the
house and rushed across the street to
the home OF n niece OF Mrs. Sycle. She
sobbed out her difficult words, and the
niece. before going to the home OF her
aunt, telephoned to DR.. Charles A.
Labenberg
DR.. Labenberg hurried to the Sycle
home and rushed upstairs to the bed
room. Mrs. Sycle was still lying in
bed. unconscious Blood was running
from two wounds Just under her heart.
and the bedclothes were scarlet with
the stain.
PHYSICIANS MOVE MRS. sYCLE
TO GRACE HOSPITAL
Efforts TO render first aid on tho
spot were futile, and Dr. Labenberp
summoned an ambulance and carried
the dying woman to Grace HOSPITAL
DR.. Robert G. Bryan was called in. and.
together. the two physicians worked
over Mrs. Sycle for several hours. prob
Ing for the bullets and stanchinr the
flow OF blood. 1t was found that obe
bullet. entering just below the heart,
The second bullet passed through rho
left lung. and was found lodged under
the skin In the back. A third shot
which the stricken woman had fred
had not taken effect, and was found
Afterwards in the bedclothes. Mrs.
Sycle did not regain consciousness and
from the first her condition was most
critical
Every effort was made to keep the
tragedy from being made public and
Detective Sergeant Krengel, who was
dispatched to tho hospital to learn the
details Tor the mortality record of tho
Police Department. received only the
barest information. He gathered, how
ever. that Mrs. Sycle had been In bad
health FOR some time. and that she had
been despondent over the financial dIf
fculties In which her husband had
lately been involved.
NO ONE HEARD
SOUND OF SHOOTING
AT exactly what hour she shot her
solf no one could learn. But It was
evident that she had been In bed for
some time. She had disrobed and
clothed herself In her nightgown. owl
IDENTIFY with tho idea OF occasloning as
little trouble rs possible after her
death No one heard the sound of the
three shots. and, had 1t not been for
the chance return Of the maidservant
II might have been no 1cs before she
was found.
1t lis peculiar circumstance that
Mr.. Sycle himself attempted suicide
carly on the morning OF February is
by shooting himself in the nbdon IN.
and, according to tho hospital report. a
dark line around his throat Iod tho
Continual ON Sacnnd PaeaN