New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-05
Mother Who Left Family
for Chauffeur Kills Him
and Herself.
WAS DRIVEN BY FEAR
HE WOULD LEAVE HER
Daughter of Prominent Brook
lyn Resident Had Been Lost to
Friends for Two Years.

Police who broke into a dingy hall
bedroom in a boarding house at 1873
st. Marks Place last night uncovered
the last dreary act of the tragedy that
was the life of Mrs. Katie Walsh, once
the wife OF James Walsh, of Ridge
wood, L. l., and mother Of his two
children, but for the last two years
the possession of William A. Beggs,
a chauffeur. with whom she had eloped
from Atlantic City.
Stark in the bed lay the body OF the
man, with bullet holes in the right
and left breast. At his feet lay the
woman OF whom he had tired, and from
whom he had turned TO brighter and
fresher light Of love. a revolver was
gripped in her hand. The mate to the
bullets which killed Beggs was lodged
in her heart Her face was stamped
with a little, impersonal smile. Her
fate was settled, and the mabel" 20
whom her man was turning would
never get him now. Both had been
dead for nearly twenty-four hours.
81 love him, but he is turning from
me-" she told Mrs. Joseph Ward. OF 583
Carlton Avenue, on New Years Eve.
81 am afraid he is going 20 leave me.
The woman's name Is Nabel. mat Is
all know about her. love MIN.
That is the story Of the tragedy told
by Mrs Beggs, IA she was known IN
the shabby neighhorhood, 10 her only
friend and confdante. This IS the
story which she left behind her IN an
envelope, marked, open when found.
To follow these two confessions Of her
unhappiness is only the tale the dodgers
tell. OF Weakening in the middle of Mon
dav night TO the noise Of, "a they
thought. an automobile back-fring on
the street, and what the police found
in the little room.
Here is the woman's letter:
IL am getting tired Of living this lie.
| am through with II all. | am gong
10 kill the man who has ruined my lue.
Then will kill myself
There was no signatures only those
words in a firm hand and the two still
figures on the bed.
According 70 Mrs. Gerda Olsen, who
keeps the boarding house. the man and
woman came 70 her establishment three
weeks ago. They were quiet folk ana
kept much 20 themselves. All yester-
dav neither Of them was seen, and
when il came 10 be near bedtime Mrs.
Olsen sent her nephew 20 their room 20
see If they were there The door was
locked. She summoned the police from
the Bergen Street station.
Coroner Ernest {. Wagner was
called. II was he who opened the mis-
sive containing the woman's last mes
sage. With it were found letters ad-
dressed to Mrs. William c. McReady,
Glendale. Long Island, and Paul Wen
dels. a lawyer, Of 43 Cedar Street.
Later in the evening the police got
into communication with Mr.. Wendels,
who said that the dead woman was the
daughter of william G.. Opry, promi-
nent in German circles Of Brooklyn,
and for a time the lessee of Arlon
Hall. He died several years ago and
left his daughter sole heir to an estate
Of 100000 This has not yet been
settled.
The woman left her husband and
children two years ago. Since then
none of them had heard from her.
Beggs had worked while at the st.
Marks Place house as chauffeur for
Sweeney's garage at 81. Marks Place
and Underhill Avenue.