Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-08
SUICIDES WIDOW FIGHTS
TO LIVE FOR DABY's SAKE
Mrs. llammcrslcy, Although Scri-
ously Wounded, May RECOVER,
Physicians Declare.
woMAN's BRAIN uNINJrKED
husbands Letter 10 Parents IN
plains Motive for Shooting His
Young Wifc-Says She Had For
sakcn Him for Dancing.


Lying in the IIygcia hospital on
the border line between life and
death. Mrs. l.. Floyd Hammerscly
whose husband shot her three times
through the head and later took his
own lif. sunday morning. is making
"a desperate struggle for life for the
| sake OF her 2ycar-oid baby girl.
Seriously wounded and aware of the
fact that her husband has committed
suicide, the little ycar-old wife
says that she has no desire to live
| except for her baby. My only hope
that my lie may be spared for my
.hy's sake" she said
NJ II" time uas sac lost conscious
ness. PHYSICIANS last nigh; stated
that she was resting comfortably. and
orc * being entertained for her re-
sovcry. None OF the shots entered
her brain, physicians declare.
Mrs. Hammcrslcy is devoted ~ her
infant daughter. y; the time of the
traGcdr she constantly tried to keep
the infant ont OF harms way Know
ing she WAS being pursued by her
husband. and assured n. was de-
tcrm!ned TO shoot her. she stopped 20
'''N' ~ ''iali away rom Impending
danger.
Wrote Note Hcfnrc Tragedy.
letter was yesterday found on
the person OF Mr. liammcrsicI. "a fire.
man on the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad. explaining why he shot his
young wife. and later turned the
weapon on himself and committed
suicide. The note, which was written
IN hurried scraw,. hardly lesihle.
tells a pathetic tale OF love for his
VIII" ANA a deep devotion for his baby
daughter. 1t was written while h.
was upstairs in his room at 3n5 North
rhirtic;h street.
Mrs. llammcrslcy had eon. upstairs
To build 81 fire. lay which To dress her
ltt!r daughter prior 10 taking her
out Tor a sh"r; time. Her husband
htd Followed her upstairs and had
asked her some questions il is said
Nti"r Il short talk The husband poiut-
rd pistol at her. The Wife. nick
inS ur the child. fled from The room
ana ran downstairs into the Kitchen.
where her mother and other sister
were sitting. The husband. after
"a: hins OF the note followed her
" - 80 80 - i'ul SAlllS tntD The
Kitchen. h. made u threat TO take ,hc
''N"s ct the entire family. Terrified.
'ne mother and sister OF the woman.
carrying the child With them. ran out
oil the house. Before tile WIFE conf
escape he had placed the pistol he
h!nd her ear ana fired. She fell to
me ilooc aud he then fired two more
Sh"iS ~ her. Thinking She was
dead he took his own life.
wanted Mother Ia Have nnby.
the letter. which was made public,
yesterday, is as follows:
Dear Mother ana Fathcr.-Mv life
mas been wrecked and my heart has
been stolen by the one ! love. can
never live without her and cannot.
1--we with her: so | am going TO end
htr III" and mine, So. dear ones. |
nope tina; my little baby Will be wei
taken care of and brough, up in a
christian life. want my mother to
have the baby. SO go"d-by Cod bless
YOU ali. The cause Is that my wife
has forsakcn me Tor dancing.
llammersicy's body Will he taken
10 Norwood for burial. II VIII he ac-
compaEied there by 4 committee of
tn" brotherhood OF Locomotives Fire
men and EnSinemen. of which liam.
merslcy was a member for more than
ten years The committee consists
Of J. T. Terrell. chairman OF the
Richmond chapter Of the order: w. H.
Henning, {. T.. Scruggs. II -. Walls
and Y. c. Parrish
Brother workmcn OF ilamm.rslcy
say that he was on" Of the most mop
u!ar men on the road. tina, every
on" liked him and they did not know
that he had an. enemy lie lief, work
FOR MS home sunday morning ap-
par"n'ly in the best OF spirits Whom
The word OF the tragedy reached his
friends they were amazed.
The body viii leave ON til" ch,sa-
p"ake and Ohio Railroad train No g
this morning AT 10 o'clock. Tn fu
neral Viii take place from the
mothers home az o'clock today.
and burial viii he in tho family GENE
terry.