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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