This headline from the September 9th, 1922 Washington Post caught my eye. It read, “Minnie Wiseman Carries Secret Behind Deed to Grave — Love Affair Suspected,” and I had to dig into the story behind it.
Minnie Wiseman was a young and beautiful 18-year-old domestic from the quiet neighborhood of Williamsville, Virginia. She had taken a job at the home of John J. Sligh, at 1709 Q Street Northwest.
Miss Wiseman was found writhing in agony from carbolic acid poisoning. She was rushed to Emergency Hospital, but she died within an hour of getting there.
The authorities were puzzled, because Minnie Wiseman refused to say why she did it. There was talk of a broken love affair, but that was only speculation, and the man supposedly involved was never identified.
Below is the article from the Washington Post.
Writhing in agony, pretty Minnie Wiseman, 18 years old, of Williamsville, Va., a domestic employed at the home of John J. Sligh, 1709 Q street northwest, was found lying across the bed in her room yesterday suffering from carbolic acid poisoning. Miss Wiseman, was taken to Emergency hospital, where she died an hour after arriving at the institution.
Lieut. Plemmons, night chief of detectives was notified of the girl’s death, and sent word to her relatives at Williamsville. Coroner Nevitt ordered the body removed to the District morgue.
Miss Wiseman refused to say why she had swallowed the poison. It was reported last night, however, that the girl had been disappointed in a love affair. The authorities are endeavoring to establish the identity of a man from whom Miss Wiseman is alleged to have received attentions. Mr. Sligh, could advance no reason to the authorities as to why the girl should want to take her life.
Now that is a sad, creepy and ghostly story. To read a happier story about this same address, check out this one that mentions the daughter of Congressman William A. Jones.
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