Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-14
MRS. RUTH LANGDoN THREAT
EMS TO END LIFE in RIVER
SIDE CEMETERY.
HUSBAND AND SHERIFF
BALk WoMAN'S PLANS
Lansdon Asked to Meet Wife, From
Whom He Was Estransed, at Riv-
e,side-Mrs. Langdon Taken Into
Custody to Appear Today Before
Commissioners on Insanity Charge.

After sending q note OF warning to
her husband, Norman u. Langdon,
a city mail carrier, So7 South Center
street, from whom she was esriauseu,
that she would commit suicide on the
grave of her infant child, Mrs. Ruth
Langdon went to Riverside cemetery
Tuesday evening, where the husband
and Sheriff Charles Henry were In
waiting and prevented her from car
rying out her threat. She was taken
into custody and spent the night in
the jail annex, the husband having
sworn to complaint charging insan-
ity. An ounce vial, half full Of chlor-
oform, was found in tho hand bag
Mrs. Langdon carried.S was to be
arraigned before the commissioners,
Of insanity, probably this afternoon.
The husband and sheriff drove to
Riverside to await the coming of
Mrs. Langdon. The wait at the grave
Of the Langdon child was long and
the watchers were about to leave
when Mrs. Langdon put In an ap-
peal'ance.
Woman Keeps Appointment.
The lights OF the automobile re-
YEA ed Mrs. M.anEdon walking along
one Of the main drives as the sheriff
and the husband started to drive
aws.y. Fearing she might suspect an
effort was being made to thwart her
plan. the driver Of the car was in
stru cted to pass the woman. turn into
a asids 4 drive, extingutsh the lights of
Tho car and return to the grove by a
more circuitous route.
The car was again at the grave be-
fore Mrs. Langdon arrived. In her
letter to Langdon. the woman had
ask ed him to meet her at the grave
and to bring the shoes of the dead
child. Langdon went to his wife and
talked to her briefly. The sheriff then
and asked what she was
doing in the cemetery at night. She
replied that she had como, to her
child's grave. She then was asked
what she had in her hand bag Ind
she told the officer she had bottle
Of chloroform which she was using
for toothache.
II 10 Taken Into Custody.
Langdon and the sheriff had been
una dvised as to the method chosen
by Mrs. Langdon to end her life and
1t was feared she might have carried
a revolver and that the invitation to
Langdon to be present might have
been arranged to end two lives. Sher-
If Henry secured the hand bag in
which he found the chloroform Mrs.
Langdon made no protest when adj
vised she must accompany the off,
Ger.
Her appearance at the cemetery
waf something Of a surprise to the
sheriff who had been o. the opinion
tha,: the letter to the husband was
sent as ruse to force q conference
in the hope Of effecting a settlement
OF litigation pending.
Suit and Counter Suit.
Mrs. Langdon's act was the culmi-
nation Of domestic troubles dating
back to the first Of the year. On APP
ril rs Mrs. Langdon filed suit for d.
vors.e against her husband, asking
the custody Of her minor children,
aged ~ years, and Char
lS1- yaAftIkAy aged 2. An. answer and
croas petition was filed July 7 by
the defendant, who also asked the
stody Of the children.
Mr.. and MES. Langdon were mar
ried at Toledo, Aug. 20, 1914. Since
their separation Mrs. Iangdon has
besll; employed at the Great Western
lunch room. She is said to be about
Is or 20 years OF age. Langdon has
made his home at GOT South Center
street and has been In the city mall
service for several years.