Daily national Democrat., 1858-12-11
seductiOn-Attemptsd Murder and Sui


streets, 10y the report of pistol, followed by
loud and agonizing screams, apparently from
a woman. Upon examination. it was fopnd
that the sounds emanated from the COTTAGE
house on Fifth street, near the corner of
and that the cause was an unsuccessful at.
tempt at murder and suicide bv the master of
the house, Mr.. d. Wand, who il well known
in this city as a former dealer in dry goods
corner of j and Fifth streets. The following
are the facts of the case, so far as we have
been able to CLEAN them, although it is diff
cult to get at the immediate cause of the af
fair.
Mr.. Wand, his wife and child lived in n
little cottage on Fifth street, near n. He is
jew and she is an American woman-he is
domestic in his habits and fond of staying at
home-she likes to go into gay company,
and to the theater, and don't like to stay at
home-he is not remarkably handsome
man, but she is a very beautiful woman, con-
sequently it may be inferred that they were
not the ost companionable beings in the
world.
For some time past they have had board
ing with them a gentleman who occupies n
prominent and responsible position in the
State Government, whose name it is unneces
ry TO mention, and with whom Mrs Wand
has been quite intimate, visiting the theater
with him frequently, riding out pleasant af-
ternoons, while her husband was at the store
and indulging in other innocent pleasures. all
of which caused the green eyed monster to
trouble the husband with grave suspicious,
etc. Last evening the husband saw other
things that troubled him sorelv. inducing
him to believe that his wife was no longer as
pure as a wife should be.
Being thus satisfied, he became almost q
maniac, and instead of retiring to bed, he
walked the floor in the widest state of ex-
citement all night, until daylight, when he
went out for about an hour, and it is thought.
procured pistol. Shortly after his return,
it being u o'clock, he went to the door of his
kitchen, and saw his wife experimenting the
preparation of breakfast. the cook being in
the room at the stove Wand spoke to his
wife, SO as to attract her attention, and as
she turned her face to him, he discharged at
her a pistol. She screamed terribly, and it
is supposed that he thought she was mortallv
wounded, as he Immediately put the muzzle
of the pistol into his mouth, saving before he
did SO, "good bye" and pulled the trigger
the ball entered the roof of his mouth, and
passing to the back part of the skull, where
it remained at the time we visited him; but
his surgeons, Drs Frey, Morse, and Nixon,
are of the opinion that the wound is not
fatal.
The ball discharged at Mrs. Wand did not
take effect, but passed through her hooped
petticoat, just below the hip, cutting series
of small holes in her skirts, etc. Wand fell
back when shot, and in few moments was
lying in pool of blood, from which he was
raised by friends, who soon filled the house
The report of the shooting spread over town
with great rapidty, and in few minutes, it
was being discussed by everybody-eachp per
son having different version but the above
we believe is true account, so far as the
facts are known.
Since the above was written, Mr.. Wand
has slightly improved and is able to converse
little with one or two of his immediate friends.
and when unable to speak, he writes on a
slip of paper. He expects to die, and at first
intimated to his family physician, DR.. Morse,
his desire to do so but has since expressed
hope of recovery, that he may be able to
provide and care for his little girl one of the
sweetest and most beautiful we ever saw.
Mr.. Wand states that at 81 o'clock last
evening, he came home somewhat unexpec-
tedly, and found Mr. A. r. Meloney in bed
with his wife. He hardly knew what to do,
and after walking the floor all night he con
cluded to put an end to the existence both of
himself and his wife. and from the fact that
his wife dropped when shot, he supposed that
she was killed, otherwise he would not have
shot himself Mr.. Meloney has been board.
ing at Mr.. Wands house for some time, and
for the past month, suspicious have been
aroused of improprieties
Recently, Meloney pretended to be i'll
much of the time, and Mrs Wand would be
up in his room at most unreasonable hours.
to his wants, etc, all of which
convinced Mr.. Wand that she was being cor
rupted, but no positive proof was offered till
last night, when she was caught in the act
Mrs. Wand this morning left the house, and
has taken refuge with her friends
Mr.. A. r. Meloney occupies the position
of State Controller, elected in September
last
The following further particulars are from
the Sac. Union, of yesterday:
Wand latter obtaining five shooter up
town returned to his home and, entering the
kitchen, and finding his wife there, standing
at the table, drew the pistol, and saying Il
am going to kill you" or "going to shoot
you" shot at her. The cook was present at
the time, and states that the wife screamed
Immediately, whereupon Wand retreated to
the outside of the kitchen, saying" Good bye"
and placing the pistol to his mouth dis
charged it, the ball blowing his tongue a
short distance, and lodging, probably. among
the muscles and tissues of the neck, on the
left side He was attended as soon as posi-
bic, by Drs. Morse and Nixon, who endeav
ored to probe the wound, with the view Of
extracting the ball, if practicable, but they
were compelled, necessarily, to desist, to
avoid the chances of irritation. Immediate
ly after the shooting, Meloney was seen at
the doorstep, and it is presumed that Wand
intended to shoot him, but not discovering
him, proceeded into the house, and finding
his wife in the kitchen, in his excitement
concluded to kill her. The wife left the
premises soon afterwards, but returned about
10 A. M; and seemed to be very solicitous
for the recovery of her husband
1t has been reported that the cap merely
snapped when Wand shot at his wife and
again, that the charge exploded, the ball cut
ting her skirts. We made thorough exam.
ination of the kitchen, particularly in the
range which the ball should have taken, but
could find no mark of a shot. On the other
hand, we examined the pistol and found two
charges discharged there being an exploded
cap on one of the nipples but none on the
other, the hammer resting upon the latter
nipple. There was an intermediate cap
(and charged) which was not disturbed, con
tirming the declaration of Mrs. Wand, that
her husband was going to shoot at her the
second time 1t is probable that, so intend
ing, he cooked the pistol, and then, to see the
effect of the first shot, eased down the ham
mer; afterwards, concluding by her screams
that he had shot her, re-cocked the pistol and
shot himself The pistol was dennsiled with |