Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-12-20


crS.
Immediately after the battered and
bruised body of the lad had been
given up by the sea formal charge
Of murder was preferred against the
mother and she was removed from
her home at Nentnor to the
Atlantic City hospital prisoner.
Without the slightest race OF cmot--
ion she received the news that her
10y was dead and manifested no sur
prise when Chief of Police William
w. Spraguc read the warrant accus--
ing her of the murder.
MEANS SHE WANTS TO DIE.
The only feeling she displayed at
first was one of bitterness toward
Sprague for accusing her OF Killing
her boy. But OF Il sudden she turned
from the group surrounding her III
the hospital ward and moancd that
she wanted to die-that she had noth
ing to live for and only welcomed the
moment when she could join her Bud
die" in death. Burying her face In
The pillow, she cried that she couldn't
stand the terrible trouble she was FAC
ing and begged that she be lett alone
TO face her sorrows.
piccing together the shrcds in the
shattered romance of the VeautlIul
woman and her husband II philadcl-
phia broker the police came to the
conclusion today that it was her over
towering love for him and her ardent
desire to win him back that .impelled
her to send their hoy to his death.
1t was Il battle Of mother love against
the wifcly love for husband-a
love that instead of dimming with
four years Of separation only increas
cd rs time rolled on.
TRIES TO REItINDLE FLAME.
Time and again she had sought to
rckindlc the flame that had flickcrcd
autl zone ont Vat to no avail. Blako
had lost all the love he ever held for
her so he told Chief Sprague and
spurncd her every effort to effect a
reconciliation He never denied her
thu privilege Of seeing tho Two chill
dren, "Buddic" and tho tcnyear OLD
Esther--a privilege granted her I'M
der court order which separated
husband and wife in Baltimore four
years ago. He too often saw her,
Int was ever frank In declaring that
She never again could be wife to
him.
While Chief Spraguc commended to
day that the woman's mental condi.
t.on was aggravated by the constant
IstO
ing love for her husband which act
uatLu ner to Stay her son. She had
too Sprague that "Buddic" stood he
tween her and her husband. She
knew that Blake had always cared
.nore for the lad than for her, even
Eelore the trouble arose which culmi
IA cd in a legal separation.
THROWN FROM OCEAN PIER.
In throwing the youngster to his
death from the pier at the foot Of
South Cambridge Avenue on Friday
evening, according to the chief, she
was not shcnt on avenging herself on
tho husband and father for the love
he denied her, but to arouse in him
sympathy for her which could not
be denied and which might eventuate
in their getting together once more.
That the murder was premeditated
Chief Sprague declares he has no
doubt. He insisted today that he has
every reason to believe that she has
for years been addicted to drugs and
tina this was at the bottom of the
marital difference Of the couple. 1t
was the husband who was granted the
scraration and custody Of the two
children leaving Baltimore immedi-
atcly thereafter for Philadelphia.
where he made his home with his
wifc's mother Mrs. Clara Miller and
his sister--in law, Miss Maud Miller
FOLLOWED FROM PLACE
TO PLACE.
Whatever has been the underlying
cause OF their trouble Blake has been
charitable and gallant in refraining
from making any attacks on his wife's
conduct. RE told Chief Sprague that
sbo had followed him from place to
"'""" ever since their separation al
w"gs ticking n room on the block or
i" The vicinity so as to he nearby
That ne pointed out was perfectly
''"tnrni as he mother love she held
for her children could not dim de-
spite :he serious rupture between
husband and wife.
II was not until when "Buddie's"
hodv came ashore that Sprague re-
vea'ed the motive which he claims i'm
peeled the woman % Stay her child.
All night long coast guards and po--
li"emcn had been patrollng the beach
in quest OF the body but Il was dis.
covered by Samuel Blair Of Al Essex
Avenue. Margate City as he was walk
ing along the board walk.
The little figure clad in he gray
WOODEN sweater suit in which he had