The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-17
GRIND.
Horrible Tragedy In the seventh
Ward-Two women Slain with q
Hatehst-The Murderer Under Ar

ward-Two women Slain with q
Hatehst-The Murderer Under Ar
rest.
The people Of the Island portion Of the
city were horrined yesterday morning at the
rumor, which speedily resolved itself to Ger
tainty, that terrible tragedy had occurred
In their midst, and that two colored women
had been deliberately murdered In their
dwelling by fend, who was the husband
Of one Of the victims. An Inquiry revealed
the following facts. Albert Nicholas, q COL
ored man aged about 81 years, with his wife
Lucinda and her mother, Ellen Smith, re-
sided together In the upper rooms OF res
taurant, No. AZ Maine avenue, between
Third and Four-and -a-half streets, (near the
site OF the old gas house.) On Wednesday
evening Nicholas came home drunk, and a
quarrel ensued between the women and him
self. High words passed and the neighbors
heard Nicholas threaten TO kill the women.
The noise OF the quarrel soon subsidized, only
TO be renewed between O and O'Clock yes
terday morning.
A white woman residing next door to the
dwelling at once ran to the house OF Officer
Owens near by and then to tho First pre-
cinct station. Officers Hill and Owens
reached the house within few moments OF
each other, when the noise had ceased. On
entering the house they found Nicholas
with his clothing bloody, In the act Of
coming from a bed In the lower front room,
the side Of which was besmeared with blood
and gore. Under this bed was found a
Ratchet covered with blood. OfBcer Hill at
once arrested Nicholas and carried him to
tho station house, corner Four-and-a-hali
and @ streets south. Nicholas at first
showed disposition to resist the officer, but
was overawed at the sight OF q loaded re-
volyer.
Officer Owens proceeded up stairs, where
he beheld horrible sight. Amid pool OF
blood aud matter lay the bodies Of the two
women, a portion Of the wife's person lying
on the side Of bed. She was the FIRST ap.
preached, and 1t being found that she was
not yet dead, medical assistance was at once
summoned. The poor woman had eleven
Jagged wounds on her head, her skull being
horribly cut and battered, with the brains
oozlng from the gashes. Her mother was
found lying on the floor with blood flowing
from seven wounds on the head. Five
wounds were on the front Of the head, one in
the left cheek and one on the right cheek,
breaking the bone. The wound directly
over the eyes was apparently made with the
blade Of a Ratchet. She was SPECIFICS
when found and continued so until her
death, which occurred at fifteen minutes
past eleven o'clock. her daughter having
died about two hours before.
Drs. J. r. Riley and Brockheimcr were
soon present, but they were totally unable
to aid the poor creatures. The bodies were
placed on one side Of the room after death,
and the coroner, DR.. Potter, summoned
Subsequently, In company with Drs. Todd,
Riley and Hartigsn, he made post niOrtsD,
examination.
The following Jury OF inquest was sworn:
DR.. James Ricord, (foreman,) VIM. r. Hen
lein, John Corrigan, Joseph Mahrer, J. A.
McDermott, Simon Joseph, Chas. II. Parker,
Humphrey II. Lemon, VIM. Webster, Nlcho-
las White, j. P. Herman and Geo. Z. Noyes.
AMER they had been sworn, DR.. Potter dis
missed them until II O'Clock this morning In
order to allow time for an autopsy Of the
bodies to be made.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
At fret Nicholas denied having committed
the deed, but subsequently, admitted that he
had done 1t during fight. lie also stated
that his weapons were Ratchet, a knife
and brick. On being further questioned
he said that he had done the deed because
Wednesday night the mother had advised
her daughter not to sleep with him because
he was drunk; that he went to the room
this morning, and the mother ordered hin
out, at the same time picking up Ratchet
that he seized the Ratchet, wrested II from
her, and knocked his wife down and then
his mother.in-law, and beat her with the
Ratchet until he broke the handle, and then
used brick; and that he did not use the
knife at all. He appears to be very cool
about the matter, and eonyerses very freely.
INCIDENTS.
From statements made by the neighbors,
1t appears that Wednesday night Nicholas
threatened to kill his wife; that she was
about to jump out Of the window, and that
II was in consequence Of these threats that
the two women refused to allow him to stay
In the same room with them. The afiail
created intense excitement In the neighbor
hood where it occurred, especially among
the colored people, and, as the news spread,
very large number gathered about Tho
house, all anxious to see the victims and tc
learn the particulars, and among these were
several relatives of the deceased. Nicholas
and his victims were originally from NORTH
Carolina, and have been living In this city
several years. The two women have bornI
| excellent characters since they have beer
here, and before, as far as Ia known. The,
were brought up as house servants, and wer
well educated. Nicholas Is very larg
man, and has been regarded as quiet, In
offensive person until now. For several year
States hotel, and since thcn has been In the
employ OF Mr.. @. W. King, bricklayer, as a
hod-carrier.
A wife Tries TO XIII Her Husband
with an Axe.
The people OF the Island portion of the
city had hardly recovered from the shock OF
the announcement Of the double murder OF
the early morning, when about one O'Clock
yesterday afternoon they were terrified to
hear that woman, residing in another 10
cality of the ward, had attempted to kill hei
husband, by splitting his head with an axe
The facts OF the case have been ascer
tanned to be as followsi On G street south
between Thirteen. and half and Fourteenth
streets, resides couple named Fitzgerald
who are the proprletors OF small grocery.
These parties are aged probably about A
years.
1t further appears that the couple have Q
boarder, a man named William Poulton, o.
whom the head OF the family has become
terribly jealous, and from appearances II
would seem not without reason, for the
female Fitzgerald seems to have looked upon
Pouton with tender eye, as Is evinccd
from the fact that he was given the seat OF
honor at the table, and very frequently the
uchu Vi tuc lhlllly was COtnpelleu 10 wall
until his better half and her Lothario had
concluded their meal.
yesterday the old gentleman dared to pro
test against such treatment, which so in
censed his wife that she seized an axe ant
struck him on the head, inaicting u sever
and dangerous wound. Fitzgerald ran on
Of the house, and the madam, after collect
ing her yaluables, left the premises, and n
to late hour last night had not been hear
of. Poulton still remains at the house, an
passed the night on the premises. Fitzger
aid suffered greatly during the night will
his wound, which for a long time he rcfuseC
to have dressed.
CRIMES AND CAsUALTIEs.-Gustaye Hence
pianist at Metropolitan Hall, was garroted
aud robbed of % IN money and gold watch
while passing the corner Of Tenth and {
streets south. The villains who assaulted
him got off safely.
Officer Dyson yesterday arrested Levi,
Simms on the charge Of resisting him In thu
discharge of his duty, while attempting Il
arrest one John Patsey on the charge Of as
sault and battery with intent to kill. Jus.
tlcc Wall committed slmms 10 jail for court
colored man, name unknown, was sue
cessful in passing Of about 500 worth Of
spurious coin (splel marks) on a German
named Rieffer, living on Capitol Hill.
A lady named Mary Curran was badly
Injured on Wednesday evening by falling
from n wagon Mt FOur-a nd n half street and