The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-24
OFFICE IS
VICTIM OF
POISON
Lieutenant Lewis Discovered
on Highway Bridge in
Serious Condition.

Within few hours before he
was to lead pretty Rosie Bayliss;
recent Washington divorcee, to the
altar. Lieut.. Frank Lewis, on duty
in the bureau Of supplies and ac-
counts at the Navy Department,
was discovered in q dying condi-
ton on the Highway Bridge. said
70 be suffering from bichloride Of
mercury poisoning. 8;
Mystery I'm Case.
Battling circumstances surround
the act Of Lieutenant Lewis, Whoge]
wife flung herself from the window
OF New Hampshire apartment
house February II. last. and It Wa
said at the Naval Hospital today
that he only has slender chance
OF recovery. He IL fifty-one years
old.
Investigation revealed today
that Lieutenant Lewis had OBJ
tanned a weeks leave of absence
last Monday and had confided to
his intimates In the Navy Depart
ment that he intended marrying
Mrs. Bayliss. who only q short
time ago was divorced from q
Marine.
Matter Kept Quiet. !.
Elaborate plans, It was revealed to-
day, had been laid by friends OF
Lieutenant Lewis and the Navy De-
partment to keep the matter quiet
and many acquaintance today did
not even know the army officer is
I'm the hospital. :.
Mrs. Bayliss, who, II is said. had
only known the army officer a couple
Of months. at her apartment In the
Cairo today waxed indignant when
she was questioned about details of
her marriage.
"I want to say simply that Lieut..
Lewis il in a desperate condition
In the Naval Hospital and that II
you don't believe 1t, call them up
and find out.
NobOdy's Business, She Says.
"I want to say that my proposed
marriage to Lieut.. Lewis Is none
OF your business and is nobody's
business in Washington but mine"
It was learned today that Mrs.
Bayliss' mother works in the
Southern Railway offices and that
the trio were to move to the Pres.
idential apartment Immediately
Records at the District Supreme
Court revealed today that q marriage
license was issued to Lieut.. Frank
Lewis and Rosie Bayliss on August
10 and that the officiating Clergy.
man was to be the Rev. Carroll o.
Wright. q naval chaplain.
DIR. Wright said today that he was
asked to officiate should DR.. Earle
Whitley be out Of town. but that DIR.
Whitley Is here and knows all
about it."
Was Despondent.
Belief that Lieutenant Lewis was
seized by a fit of dependency
through reflection over his former
wifee's tragic death only five months
ago IL believed to have caused him
TO determine to sacrifice his hap
piness with Mrs. Bayliss and lend
It all"
Some of Lieutenant Lewis friends
said today that the army officer IL
in the hospital ION account of his
mad speculation over his coming
happiness with Mrs. Bayliss
Intimates Of Lieut.. Lewis, with
whom he worked at the Navy De
partment, said today that he was
that he had made no secret of the
fact that his wife had left him
$4,000.
Lieut.. Lewis came here q shor-
time ago from San Francisco.
At the time Mrs. Lewis, the lieu
tenants first wife, committed sui
eide, she sent her husband down
stairs with hire pet poodle to TAX,
him out for an airing.
While the lieutenant was ava,
from the apartment, Mrs. Lewis
Jumped from the fifth floor. TIL,
husband returned and found tn,
apartment vacant. Seeing the win
dow open he peered below and saw
the tfeless. body of his wife, ella.
only In paJamas and housedress. ~
ing In q puddle Of water.