Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-08-24
HUSBAND REGRETS
DENYING HOME AS
WIFE TAKES ACID
Young Jitney Driver Says He
Will Provide for Woman on
Eve of Motherhood.

That the saying. "Alrs well that
ends well,' Is no mere platitude is
proven today in the case of Mrs. Lulu
Betz, who, as soon as she is dis
charged from the City Hospital, where
she was taken last night after an at
tempt to commit suicide, will go to
housekeeping with her youthful hus-
band, John Betz, jr. She is reported
at the hospital today as greatly i'm
proved.
Mrs Betz is on the eve of mother
hood, and her attempt at suicide at
the home of her mother, Mrs. Lena
Wormsley, IS Vanderpool street, when
she swallowed a weak solution of car
bolic acid, was due to the refusal of
her husband, from whom she had
been estranged for four weeks, to
provide a home for her.
Although both young people are still
under twenty-one years of age, they
have been married two years. Mrs.
Betz had been making her home with
her mother since the recent estrange-
ment and Betz had been living at the
nome of his parents, 20 Hunter street.
several months ago the parents of
Betz bought him an automobile which
he used for jitney purposes.
Betz called upon his wife last night
and she showed him an account book,
in which she had made some entries
of articles to be purchased when they
should go to housekeeping. This she
showed to the young man and said
John, | have just prepared list
of the little things we will need when
we go to housekeeping. Look it over
and see if you can suggest anything
else"
There is no need doing that" it
Is declared the young man said, "for
we cannot go to housekeeping. / in
tend to. remain with my parents,
where | will be we'll paid and my
board will cost me nothing. You can
remain with your folks
Following his statement the young
woman burst into tears and said, "All
right. I'll end it ALL" Then she seized
the bottle containing the carbolic acid
solution, which had been used as a
linament, and ran from the kitchen to
the dining-room. She was followed by
her mother, who Knocked the bottle
from her hand, and in doing so was
herself slightly burned.
DR. James A. Blair, of 157 Eliza
beth avenue, was summoned and
gave the young woman first aid.
Then he advised her removal to the
city Hospital and the ambulance
from that institution was summoned.
The husband went to the institution
with his wife and remained, even
when assured that his wife would
recover.
At the Vanderpoo street address
today Mrs Wormsley said that the
frat 1a l. IaAA dot ~ ~
Young Betz had been caused by in
reference by the young husbands
mother. She declared that the young
neople had been estranged and that
her daughter had hoped to have
home when she should become a
mother. Mrs. Wormsley also said
she would move from Vanderpool
street because of the notoriety at
taching to the case.
Husband Tells of Intentions.
While she was talking Betz came
IN. and when he was asked whether
he intended to make a home for his
wife, said:
~ certainly shall am willing
enough to provide a home for my
wife, but did not feel that l had
money enough at the present time.
My mother was opposed to my mar
rage, DuL we got nldTT1e0 dHyHOW.
and there is where the trouble was.
I'm going to stick to my wife, how"
ever, and provide a home for her as
soon as she comes out of the hos
pital."
Have you told her so?"
mot yet" was the reply. "She was
rather dopey when I saw her at the
hospital last night. will see her to-
day
Physicians at the City Hospital said
this morning that Mrs. Betz had not
swallowed more than teaspoonful
of the acid, and had not even burned
her mouth.
In discussing the cause of her at
tempted suicide, Mrs. Betz said:
MY husband and / were married
two years ago. His mother objected
to our marriage from the first. We
had been living together at the home
of my mother until about month
ago. Then he took his brother and
other relatives out in the automo-
bile and did not come home until 3
o clock in the morning. I remon-
strated with him and told him he
could go and sleep with his brother,
which he did.
II wrote to my husband and he
promised to go to housekeeping but
last Friday he refused. He may
think I took the carbolic acid to
frighten him but | didn't. l just
want a home, that is all. The trouble
with my husband is that he is auto