New-York tribune., 1921-01-20
Woman Shoots
Herself to Win
Adnlirer Back
Holds Revolver Against Her
Breast and Pulls Trigger
When He Threatens to
Return to His Wife
Her Recovery Predicted
Man in the Case Is Held by
the Police on Charge of
Violating the Sullivan Law

Mrs. Kathryn Nortman. twenty five
years old, is in the Bushwick Hospital
Brooklyn, with a self-inflicted bullet
wound in her breast, and Robert Mach
man, forty-one years old, with whom
Mrs. Nortman had been living as his
wife for several months in a rooming
house conducted by Mrs. Ida Zimmer-
man, at 377 Bainbridgc Street, Brook
lyn, is being held by the police of the
Ralph Avenue station on technical
charge of having a revolver in his pos
session with out permit.
According to the story stold to the po-
lice by Nachman, the woman, who said
she was the daughter of former Mayor
Of Pittston, Pa, shot herself last night
when he told her that he was going to
leave her and return to his wife and
two children, who live at 1851 Pitkin
Avenue, Brooklyn, and from whom he
has been separated for the last year
The woman took the revolver from a
herself and pulled the trigger. He
rushed to her and took the weapon
away from her before she could fire a
second time, and then notified the po-
lice, he said.
When Detective Albert harrington
arrived in answer to the call he found
the revolver in the dresser drawer.
and arrested Nachman on technical
charge Of violating the Sullivan law.
Nachman said he had a permit last
year to carry revolver, but had failed
to renew it.
At the hospital last night it was said
bullet and that she probably would re-
cover. She was unconscious when first
brought to the hospital, but revived
later, and admitted, according to the
police, that she had tried to kill her
self.
Mrs. Nortman left her husband and
child in Pittston about a year ago,
Nachman is said to have told the po-
lice, and he left his wife and two chill
dren at about the same time. Soon
afterward, he said, they began living
together as man and wife, and about
nine months ago went to the roomne
house conducted by Mrs. Zimmerman,
where they have since represented
themselves as married.
Mrs. Zimmerman told the police she
heard Mrs. Norman and Nachman
quarreling in their room and later
heard a shot. She ran upstairs, she
said, and found Mrs. Nortman lying
across the bed with the revolver in
her hand. Nachman was standing over
her, Mrs. Zimmerman said. saying
"Why did you do it, Kathryn 2"
Mrs. Zimmerman and Nachman then
called Patrolman Walter Scott. of the
Ralph Avenue station. who was a
short distance from the house. Scott
sent in a call for an ambulance and
DR.. Drummer, of the Bushwick Hospital
responded. After she had recovered
consciousness Mrs. Nortnan told De
tective harrington, he says, that she
had shot herself when Nachman told
her he was going to leave her and
return to his family
when he started to pack up his
Clothes" she said, according to De-
tective harrington, ~ could no longer
stand the thought of parting and
wanted to end it all. Please don't arrest
Robert"-she was crying by this time
the detective said-"he had nothing to
do with it. l love him, love him!"
Mrs. Nortman then asked for a priest
and Detective harrington sent for the
Rev. James MCGOWAN, of the Church
of Our Lady of Good Counsel. who ad-
ministered the last rites of the Church
Nachman will be arraigned in the
Gates Avenue court to-day.
A dispatch to The Tribune from Pitts
ton last night quoted two daughters OF
Thomas Maloney, former Mayor Of
Pittston, as denying that the woman
who shot herself in Brooklyn was thei,
sister or member of their family
which is prominent in Pittston. The,
have sister, Kathryn, they said, bu1
she is unmarried and lives with 4,
sister at Scranton, Pa.