The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-11
@ r I M E.

teenth street, near Broadway, were thrown into
fearful state Of excitement last even ing by the
discovery OF a terrible tragedy which had oc-
CURED in their midst aud which, until it was
accidentally discovered, was not In the least
suspected by those who were in the immediate
vicinity OF the scene. The victims OF this
tragedy are Alfred NJ. King, native of Massa-
chusetts. aged "a, and his wife, Matte r. King
who is said to be native of Virginia, of about
the same age as her husband.
These parties have been living at the board
iDg-house of Mrs. Blanchard for over year.
Mrs. King had full board in the house, but
King only slept there, but took his meals out
OF the house. They appeared very atfectionate
together, aud lived happily. King had been in
the gas-fttng business in Grand street, but for
several months past had been out OF business
and considerably strattened in circumstances,
so much SO that he was considerably in arrears
to Mrs. Blanchard for board, to the amount,
perhaps, of S50 This fact appeared to make
King somewhat moody, but Did not alter his
manner TOWARDS bis wife, whom he treated with
invaTiable tondness.
On Sunday Mrs. King was at home all day,
and so Was her husband, until it was ascertained
that there was no coffee In the house; where
upon King volunteered to go out and obtain
some. This he did, and in q short time he
returned, bringing with him can full of coffee
He went out soon after and remained out nearly
all the afternoon, returning between and 6
o'clock, while his wife was at dinner. The couple
went into the parlor, and in the meantime Mr.. W.
@. Brandon, a friend OF Kings who resides at the
Revere House, called on them. They remained
chatting together forsome minutes, and then all
three went to Kings room. Mr.. Branson re-
mained until about 81 O'Clock that night, and as he
was about to leave Klng gave him sealed letter
addressed to &c. H. Macy, ESQ, Sherman House,
No. 4l3 Broome street. city," which he re-
Quested HIM to send through the post office to
his cousin, Mr. Macy. THIS was the last seen
either of King or of his wife alive. After Bran
don had departed, King returned to his room
and was not again seen alive: This is all that
is known of what occurred in that small rear bed
room on the fourth floor OF the boarding house,
which constituted the temporary tomb of Mr..
King and his wife. IL was remarked yesterday
morning that Mrs. King did not come do Wn to
breakfast as usual. Mrs. Blanchard supposed
that she was probably indisposed, and
would lie down during the day. In
the multifaIious duties deyolving upon Mrs.
Blanchard the absence of Mrs. King from the
breakfast table passed from her mind, and
nothing more was thought about the Kings until
3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the usual dinner
hour, when Sarah Taylor, servantgirI, employed
in the house. was sent up to the room occupied
by the Kings to summon Mrs. King to the repast.
The girl found the door locked. She knocked
repeatedly and could not obtain any response.
This somewhat alarmed the domestic, who
stopped down and looked through the key
hole. The key was in the lock on the inside
OF the door. The girl, by means Of
the pass-key which she had left in her pos
session, forced out the key on the inside of the
door, and then unlocked it. AS she partially
opened the door, sight met her atrighted
gaze which must have almost have frozen the
blood in her veins, and the almost distracted
girl ran shTieking down stairs and out into the
street. Mrs. Blanchard and the inmates of the
house. alarmed by the cries OF the affrghted
servant girl, rushed up stairs to the room, but
paused on the threshold, almost petrited with
horror at the sad spectacle. None had the courage
to enter the chamber of horror, until officer
Gerardus p. Beekman, of the Twenty-ninth
Precinct, who had been summoned by the girl,
and who came up stairs and entered the room
with the usual nonchaance of a blue-coated
and shielded guardian of the peace; but
the stOut heart Of the nOlinamqO harden cd
by contact with many scenes OF suffering
and woe, quailed with alright at the fearful
spectacle which presented itself to his view.
On the bed, in as natural position as though
asleep, Mrs. King was lying. A pistol-shot
wound in the left temple at once displayed the
mode of her death. Her beautiful raven hair
was matted with her blood, which had stained
the snowy pillow on which she reposed in the
arms of death. She must have been fast asleep
when shot, and died without struggle. She
was in her robe de nuit and lying on her side,
with her face to the wall, and was proba-
bly, IN sweet sumber when visited by the
dread Angel OF Death. Lying partially across
the bed. his head resting on the pillow, beside
that of his wife, KING was found, plstol-shot
wound in his right temple, denotlng the manner
of his death. In his right hand was grasped a
small four-barreled Sharp's repeater, with
which he had terminated the existence of his
wife and then destroyed himself His death
must have been instantaneous, and almost
wisbout q struggle, as from his position it
would appear that he had not moved from the
position in which he had first fallen. He was
also undressed, and seemed as though he
had been on the point of going to bed
when the insane idea TO destroy both
his wife and himself seized possession
of HIM. 1t is not believed that his wife was
aware of the intention of her husband, as the
| clothing which she had diVested herself of was
all placed in remarkable order on chair near
the bed. while on the dressing table were placed
! in order several articles OF clean under cloth
| ing, which she doubtless intended to put on
| yesterday morning. When the officer entered
| the room he noticed a strong odor of chloro-
| form, and, on making partial examination OF
| Mrs. Kings corpse, bunch OF cotton, which
| had evidently been saturated with chloroform,
was found pressed close uuder her nostrils and
| over her mouth. 1t Is therefore presumed that
| Mr.. King placed the chloroform to his wife's
| mouth while she slept, and shot her while she
| was stepped in unconsciousness. In strange
| canary-biTd, suspended in cage in the room,
| sang merIlly as soon as the room door was
| opened, and sent forth its glorious melody while
| the examination was being made.
Officer Beekman as soon as he had learned
| sufficient of the case, reported to Captain
speight, of the Twenty.ninth precinct, who pro-
| cteded to the house and placed his officers in
charge. During the evening, Mr.. Macy, alluded
| to above as the cousin OF King, called at the
house and stated that he had just received a
| letter which had led him to conjecture the
worst, aud he was horror struck on learning
the truth. The folio wing is copy of the letter
written by King TO Macy
| NEW YORK. June g.
j bought another one Brandon knows where il was
stole it, Give my love to father and mother aud God
sny you us both oseSsr It Is the las.
| quest make Of YOU DO, please. A. NJ. KING
This letter was nostmarked New York, June
| 10, and had evidently been posted by Mr.. Bran
don yesterday morning. The document was