James E. and Mamie (Dickson) Lindsey, Denver
May 31, 1893 Denver " A most mysterious attempt at self-destruction took place at 233 Fifteenth sireet
last evening about 5 o'clock. Miss Mamie Dickson, a pretty young woman about 21 years of age,
swallowed half an ounce of laudanum and laid down on a bed ready to die. The people in the house
refused to give information, even to the police. In 230 15th street, a small one-story brick house,
lives Mrs. J. E. Lindsey, her son James Lindsey, and the young woman who yesterday seemed so
anxious to die. Mrs. Lindsey and her son are crockery painters and menders.
Miss Dickson's occupation is unknown. Yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock,
Mamie Dickson left the house telling Mrs. Lindsey that she was going shopping. Mrs. Lindsey
remarked that the stores would all be closed and Mamie Dickson replied: 'I can get what I want at
any time.' She went directly from the house to a pharmacy near by, where she nurehased half
an ounce of laudanum. Holding the precious vial in her hand, she returned to the
house and retired to her own room. Then she poured tbe opium solution into a glass and swallowed it
at a single gulp. For about fifteen minutes she remained alone, probably contemplating the
pleasures of a trip across tbe endless river of death. At last she cried for help,
and Mrs. Lindsey notified the police and Police Surgeon Johnson attended tbe young woman and
saved her life after several hours' labor. Miss Dickson strongly objected to being brought
back to life. The laudanum had a much more pleasing effect. The bold attempt of the young
woman on her own life had a most remarkable effect on James Lindsey. He became ill when he
received the intelligence and refused to see anyone. Mrs. Lindsey stated that Miss Dickson
was a servant in the house and that she knew nothing of her past or future.
She came to the Lindsey's about two months ago."
June 1, 1893 "Mamie Dickson, the young woman who attempted t» commit suicide at 230 Fifteenth street,
has entirely recovered. It is now said that her right name is Mrs. James Lindsey.
In February last, James Lindsey and Mamie Dickson were both members of the Salvation army.
Under the radiant blue flag they were married, and soon after left the army and went to live with
Mrs. Lindsey, Sr. As to the cause of Mrs. Lindsey, jr.'s attempt at self-extermination, various stories are alioat."
March 21, 1894 "Mrs. E. Lindsey, the mother-in-law, and J. E. Lindsey,
the husband of Mrs. Mamie Lindsey, yesterday afternoon abducted the 2-months-old girl baby of
the last named from the home at 230 Fifteenth street. To judge from the story of the mother,
the first named seems to have been the typical mother-in-law of the penny-a-liner in an entirely
new role. Two years ago the Salvation army captured a new recruit for its poke-bonnet brigade in
the person of Miss Mamie Dixon of Coal Creek, Colo. Being the possessor of a beautiful face
and considerable personal magnetism, she soon became a valuable member of the gallant band
which patrols the highway in search of penitents. In the course of time she was ordered to
report for duty at Canon City. While an officer of that branch of the army she met and loved
Cadet Jim Lindsey. As army restrictions prevent a very ardent courtship,
but little progress was made, and the gallant efforts of Cupid in bringing this particular affair
to a legitimate conclusion proved unavailing. But love in this case laughed at the by-laws
preventing the casting of longing glances, et cetera, and in November, 1892,
Cadet Dixon left for Denver with the apparent intention of giving Satan a fight for the
souls of his cohorts, but with the real intention of solving the matrimonial puzzle.
Lindsey followed, and in March, 1893, married the winsome wearer of the bonnet.
It was an army wedding, and the shower of good wishes was filled with sunshine by the joyful
hallelujahs of the enthusiastic brethren. Mr. Lindsey carried on a profitable business at
230 Fifteenth street, where he repairs damaged bric-a-brac and shattered china,
and where he has a broken heart on his order book today. For a time
after the army wedding, perfect harmony prevailed in the house of Lindsey,
and the wife says this delightful condition of affairs would have been still in
existence had there been no such thing as a mother-in-law to enter into and disrupt
their domestic relations.
Enter the Mother-In-Law. But the mother-in-law did come and she made her abiding place
with her son, much to the discomfort of the latter's wife, so the latter avers.
The house was small and the mother-in-law complained and when the wife proposed moving
to more commodious quarters she was scolded for entertaining such extravagant ideas.
This went on for months and the husband and wife drifted apart like ships on the Bosphorous.
With the birth of the present year came a little pocket edition of the Lindseys and more
trouble. The child was sickly and required the mother's constant care.
The mother-in-law thought she knew more about babies than did the mother,
and almost before they knew it, the two were quarreling over the diet,
which both believed necessary to the health of the infant.
Unlike the brook, this state of
affairs could not go on for ever. Thursday of last week Mother-in-Law Lindsey
played a trump card and consulted Lawyer Deweese as to who should have the custody
of the child. She told the attorney that her daughter-in-law was not a fit and proper
person to care for the nursing babe.
When the latter heard of it she tackled the destroyer of her domestic happiness
in much the same way as she formerly tackled his satanlo majesty. She unloaded hot shot on the
enemy, and the enemy quailed before it. The husband interfered, blows were struck,
and Mrs. Lindsey, jr., rushed from the house to a neighbor's, Mrs. Peterson's.
When she returned five minutes later the mother-in-law, husband and child were gone.
The mother was left lamenting and alone. They had blanketed the sleeping infant and
hurried away with her, no one knew where. A vigorous search was kept up until dark.
Then a warrant was sworn out for the arrest of Mr. Lindsey and his mother.
About 9 o'clock Detective Finch found the liege lord at his home alone, but he refused to say
anything as to the whereabouts of the child. For one night, at least,
the mother-in-law
had her way and oould feed the babe what she liked, or even not feed it at all."
March 1894 Denver "The nursing babe stolen from Mrs. James E. Lindsey of 230 Fifteenth street,
was returned early yesterday morning by the father, who, under pressure, relented and restored it to
its mother. The father says that his wife had purchased laudanum, threatening to give it to the baby
and then take it herself, and this caused the trouble. Mrs. Lindsey attempted suicide on May 30,
1893, a few months after she was married, but Police Surgeon Johnson arrived in time to save her life.
The mother-in-law was the cause of that attempt. The Lindseys intended going to California
but delayed because the mother and mother-in-law had arrived at the conclusion that they could not
go on the same train or live in the same state together."
In 1900 Denver,
James E. Lindsay is 30, born in Canada,
Mamie Lindsay
26 Wife,
Eva Lindsay
6 Daughter, and
Elizabeth Lindsay
49 Mother, born in Ireland.
James E. Lindsay
BIRTH
17 Jan 1870
DEATH
19 Nov 1923
BURIAL
Fairmount Cemetery
Denver, Colorado,
PLOT
Blk 55
MEMORIAL ID
32429262
Mamie Lindsay
BIRTH
1873
DEATH
30 Nov 1950
BURIAL
Fairmount Cemetery
Denver, Colorado,
PLOT
Block 55. Lot 147. W 1/2 of NW 1/4 ~ unmarked
MEMORIAL ID
123598090.
This family was never in Logan County, but it should not be confused with Samantha Elizabeth Lindsey.
July 1894 Denver
Pueblo, Colorado " Thursday, August 9, 1894, Mrs. S. E. Lindsey, aged 48 years.
The remains were shipped by Mcßlahon & Collier to Denver last night for interment. "
BIRTH
3 May 1845
DEATH
5 Aug 1894
BURIAL
Fairmount Cemetery
Denver, Denver County, Colorado,
PLOT
Blk 14
MEMORIAL ID
1346731.
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