Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-19
IFrcm the Cleveland Herald of Mon1ay II
APPALLING TRAGEDY

Cuss unhS OWn IhrOat-Ah NC Al.
fair ShrOuded i'm NIystery-Let.
ter Written by the Murderer
Shocking Details of ihe Crime
The COroner's Verdict.
The most terrible tragedy that has ever
taken place in this city was brought to-
light on Saturday morning, although the
precise time of its occurrence will proba-
bly, never be known. James H. Gregory.
proprietor of the Photographic rooms over
No. g. Public Square, and young woman
named Isabella Roy, who was in his en-
ploy, were both found dead in the rooms
above mentioned, the latter having been
shot, and the former with his throat cut in
the most frightful manner.
'ar THE DISCOVERY.
The person who first discovered the
shocking crime which had been perpe-
trated was the wife of Mr.. Gregory. In
order that the affair may be more fully un-
derstood, we will briefly state the previous
circumstances which have a bearing upon
the terrible elimination.
MIR. Gregory was formerly employed as
an assistant in the Photographic rooms of
Mr.. j. Ryder. on Superior street. Nearly
year ago, however. he decided to set up
in business for himself, and bought the es-
tablishment known as Parker's Rooms, sit
uated in the third story of DeWitt's store,
had a family, consisting of wife and
one daughter eight or ten years or age. He
had buried one boy, to whom reference is
made as willie" in the letter found upon
his person after his death, which we pub
li-h below. The family live at No. 2 Miami
str ct. The relations existing between
Gregory and his wife had not for some
time been of the most friendly character.
He was passionate man, and it was fire.
Quently charged by his wife that he was
cruel in his treatment of her. At her in
stance, he was arrested and fined, before
the Police Court, about year ago, for
abuse md threats. ''' '
Gregory had in his employ, at the rooms,
young woman named Isabella Roy, VINO
lived with her parents upon the West Side.
She had been engaged with him some six
months, during the former portion OF
which time she boarded at home. Under
the plea that the distance caused her late
appearance in the morning, Gregory in
duced her to board at his house, and they
accompanied each other to and from his
place of business. An intimacy Sprang up
between them, which at length grew to be
of questionable character. To the wife
this seemed to bode no good and she re-
monstrated with him upon the subject, but
without avail. ,EIri-l #Hti
On Friday morning Mr.. Gregory and
Miss Roy left home as usual, taking with
them basket containing their dinner. In
the evening they did not return, and Mrs.
Gregory spent night of the most painful
anxiety and alarm. On Saturday morning
she could bear it no longer, and determined
to visit the rooms and ascertain the cause
of their absence. 1t may be stated here
that Gregory had two keys to his photo
graphic rooms, and before leaving home on
Friday morning, he had placed one of them
in cupboard, and told his wife where it
was. She regarded this as something unu-
,,o1 h,,f .ttIa se =,
1t is probable that he had already made up
his mind for the terrible deed of blood
which should end his own life, and that of
the girl who had been, to some extent, the
unfortunate cause of his trouble.
Between eight and nine o'clock on Sat-
urday morning, Mrs. Gregory, accompa-
MED by her daughter Ida, passed up the
stairway, unlocked the door, and entered
the apartment. In the reception parlor
nothing unusual was observed, but upon
passing into an adjoining room specta-
Gle met their eyes which might appal the
stoutest heart. Upon the floor lay the ghast-
ly corpse of the husband and father, his
throat cut, and large pools OF blood at diff
ferent places in the room. For moment
they were froz,n with an agony of grief
and terror, and then rushed out screaming
almost in state of delirium. The Occu-
pants in the adjoining rooms and person.
upon the street, were alarmed and in few
moments the rooms were thronged with
horror stricken spectators. A messenger
was Immediately dispatched to inform the
police authorities, and Captain Frazee,
with several policemen, at once repaired
to the spot. Through their efforts the
crowd was kept at bay; one was stationed
at the street, to prevent the obstruction of
the walk, and another at the door, with in
who had right to enter. The coroner was
sent for. and nothing in any of the rooms
was allowed to be removed or displaced,
until his arrival. r-.f .r-.
DISCOVERY OF THE MURDERED GIRL.
At first only the corpse of Gregory was
seen. and no one supposed that there was
another yet darker chapter to the brutal
crime-that defenceless woman had been
brutally murdered before the commission
of the suicidal act. Before proceeding
further, we will state the position of the
suite of rooms connected with the estab-
lishment. There is an operating room on
the south, a small chemical room opening
out of it on the southeast; large and
handsome sitting room on the north. with
an arched entrance to the operating room !;
and a lumber room opening out of the sit
ting room, on the northeast, with a rude
stairway or ladder leading to a trap door
containing a skylight. by which access was
had to the roof, where Mr.. Gregory was
in the habit of printing photographs
from negatives. Natural curiosity led to
an examination of all these apartments
The waste room spoken of above was but
dimly lighted, and a candle was necessary
in order to discover what it contained
Several persons entered, and were thrilled
with terror as they beheld, lying at the
foot of the stairway, the body of a woman,
who was afterwards found to be Isa-
bella Roy. This frightful revelation in
creased tentold the intense feeling of those
present, and it seemed impossible to find
expression in words-Only look of blank
amaZement at the deed which had been
committed. A large revolver lying upon
the floor, two or three feet from the corpse,
readily suggested the means of her death.
The nature of the injuries which caused it,
however, could not be at that time ascer-
tained. as the body was partly covered with
a shawl and the head concealed from view,
being turned under the body. The appear
ance of the corpse indicated that she had
been shot upon the stairway, and had fall
en- to the floor and was lett in that position
Z by her murderer. She was fully dressed,
but her clothing was much disarranged,
and the lower limbs exposed from the knees
downward. The clothing, even to the
stockings, were soiled with blood. Before
leaving her, the murderer had doubtless
thrown the shawl-the one which she daily
MOREOVER her, as If to hide from his own
eyes the horrid work of his hands. Stains
OF blood were also f0und upon the stairs,
and upon sort of bunk under them, which
was covered with single quilt.
HOW THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED.
The precise manner in which the crime
was accomplished can never be known.
Near the top of the stairway, in the WALL
were four or five holes, evidently made by
bullets. The circumstances indicated that
when the helpless girl became aware of the
intention of Gregory, that she was alone
with a man maddened by rage, jealousy,
and all the haser passions, who was intent
upon taking her lite, she endeavored to
avail herself of the only nc ssihle ayenne of