The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-06
A Domestic Tragedy---A Woman
Shoots Her Husband.

"a OOmVSblC AAuSOuy " Oihdu
Shoots Her Husband.
The Fremont House in this city was
the scene of domestic tragedy yesier-
day morning. a shoemaker employed at
A. G. Carnnahan s, Co.'s, known as John
Alexander, but whose real name, as de-
veloped in the tragedy, proves TO be John
Alexander Davidson, has, in company
with his wife, been boarding at the hotel
for several days, and occupied room on
the second floor, at the head Of the first
flight Of stairs. Yesterday morning they
breakfasted together as usual, but in a
few moments afterward the boarders were
startled by the report of pistol, and
rushing into the hall found Mr.. Davidson
on the stairway clasping his left side in
agony, and his wife at the head of the
stairs with the smoking pistol in her hand.
"What have you done, Ellen ?" asked
the wounded husband. "I've killed
you" was the response, accompanied by
a shocking oath, and the desperate wo-
man defiantly brandished the deadly
weapon, exulting in the deed, and seemed
only apprehensive that she had not made
fatal shot Mr.. Davidson walked TO an
adjoining room. An examination of his
wound disclosed the fact that the ball
| had passed under the skin of his left
side, intlicting trilling flesh wound.
The wretehed woman was furiopsly en-
ragged when she found that the shot had
not proven fatal, and, with her door ajar
and pistol in hand, she sat for hours
watching the stairway and the door Of
the room he had entered. to get another
shot at him. Sheriff Bryan was sent for,
and, arresting her without any trouble,
took her TO jail.
An investigation of the circumstances
developes state Of facts stranger than
fiction. The Inflated couple were mar
ried in the city of New York in 1912, and
removed TO Vincennes in 1850. Mr.
Davidson embarked in business, but
failed in November, 1860, for about S10,-
000 and assigned for the benefit of hi:
creditors Up to this time there had beer
nothing as he AYERS, to mar his domestic
happiness. Failing TO make a satisfac.
tory arrangement with his creditors, he
turned over all his property, real and
personal, and, with scarcely enough
money TO buy kit of tools, determined
TO resume his trade. Leaving bis wife a
Vincennes, he camo to Decatur, Illinois
where he obtained employment. He cor.
responded regularly with his wife, anC
! had saved enough money to go to house
keeping again, when an anonymous not,
from Vincennes brought him the startling
J intelligence that prominent citizen
wealthy bachelor-of that city had Sc
| duced his wife. He took the first trail
} for Vincennes, and, arriving late at night
; found his wife and her guilty paramou
: under circumstances that left no doubt a.
1 to their criminality. There was an in
! terview between the dishonOred wife ant
/ the injured husband--a parting in sor
!, row rather than in anger--and Mr.. Da
. wilson started for Decatur Imagine al
E surprise to find his wife on board In
; same train, resolved to 60 with him
0 She was deeply penitent and unalterabl,
' resolved to follow her husband 10 th
Q ends of the earth. lie relented and con
{ sented TO take her again TO his heart an,
home. They lived in Decatur for tw
e weeks when Mr.. Davidson seems 10 hay
!, repented Of his hasty forgiveness, anc
I going out in the evening under the pre-
q tense of going TO the Lodge, q. o. o. f.,
: he took the first night train for the cas-
4 and without a word of parting, left he
I to her fate.
= lie stopped at Lafayette, and chang
e ing his name, obtained work at A. {
. Carnahan & Co.'S He has been indus
Y trious, working early and late, an
d though at times seemiinly depresse
/, with a great sorrow, has led quiet an
d exemplary life. lie had filed his app
Il cation for divorce in the Circuit COu
o and the necessary publication seems
e have fallen under his wife's observaiio
1t and in the early part Of the week she a
- rived in Lafayette in "pursuit Of hu
J. band under difficulties" Ca ling al Il
IS boot and shoe establishment of earn
" han a. Co., she inquired for Mr.. Dayidso
t. aud was informed that no one Of "a
ID name was employed there but up'
le the exhibition Of his daguereotyI
IN which she had with her, the unmistak
il bic lineaments Of Alexander were reco
nized. During the conversation Dayi
b. son entered the store The meeting