, 1872-11-30

a DiFoTced Wife Shot and Seriously
Injured by Her Former
Husband.
The Wound Not Likely to Prove Fatal-.'Arrest
of the Woui1-be Assassin.

On Monday evening William Allen committed
suicide with poison because his divorced wife
refused to listen to his proposals Of reconciia-
tion, and drove him from her door; yesterday
morning, George Driver, for similar reasons,
shot and dangerously wounded the woman who
bears the Same relation to him. This is the
tragic record Of what divorce has accomplished
in Chicago during the present week. The Inst
mentioned crime Nas committed at half-past s
o'clock yesterday morning, and was, to all ap-
pearances, an unprovoked and desperate attempt
to murder woman whose only offence
was that she refused to tolerate any
longer m Incorporate, ehiftless, and cruel
man. The crime is made all the more horrible
from tho fact that it was perpetrated in the
presence Of fye helpless and terror-stricken
children, the family Of the contending parties.
The causes which led to the shooting are briefly
as follows: In July last Mrs. Driver succeeded
in obtaining divorce from the husband on the
grounds OF intemperance and neglect. For a
short time thereafter they lived entirely apart +;
but, by solemn promises Of future good be-
bayior, Driver influenced the woman to allow
him to board with her, ut her house, No. 43 De-
puyster street. After u brief career OF sobriety
md general good behavior he suddenly re-
lapsed into his old way Of living. He was
intoxicated almost a1l the time, and frequently
raised disturbances in tho house which attracted
the attention Of the entire neighborhood.
Though an excellent carpenter, aud capable Of
earning good wages at his trade, he utterly
neglected his work, and consequently could not
pay his board or furnish anything for the sup
port OF the family. Mrs. Driver hesitated to
take extreme measures with the worthless fellow
on account OF the children, and would doubtless
have been satisfied to support him in idleness if
he would only refrain from intoxication and
l. L -
while in the house. Finally, he became such
positive nuisance that the woman was COM
PEELED to have him arrested. He was
Severely punished for his conduct, and advised
by the Justice to cease annoying his former
wife, and find another boarding place. Tllia it
appears, lie refused to do, for as soon Us ho
escaped from custody he mover failed to return
to her house and upbTaid her for ha7ing insti-
gated his arrest On Friday evening, he visited
the house while intoxicated, and succeeded in
woman to prevent him. AS soon as he found
himself on the inside of the domicile, he favored
the inmates with arepetition Of the old scenes.
He layished his abuse upon them with great
impartiality, and added not little
such tho loose { s{oes Of thf'Tng fa'u1s 1s''aa a
came within his reach. After spending an hour
OR go in t1is pleasant and sociable manner, lie
decided, to the infinite relief of ell present, to
go to bed, and was soon in the full enjoyment Of
u uIuuhdIA bluulDcI. 1uGn lug SQIelJ -tIleu
woman resolved TINT he should not rest beneath
her roof another night: and torrify her children:
by his brutal exhibitions Of bad temper. She
vowed that nothing should sgain induce her to
harbor him, and that his promises of future good
behavior, which had been so frequently broken
in the past, should not influence her in his favor
again. When he arose yesterday morning Mrs.
Driver ordered him to leave tho houEe, He re-
fused to 70, and abused her for having Ere
sumed to dictate to him. Cri1ninntions and
recriminations followed until at last Driver be-
came SO exasperated that lie drew a revolver and
fred at the woman. It was evidently his inten-
lad, as she was lying insensible OF tile hoor
yhen he fed from the house. He succeeded in
eluding the authorities until late III the after
loon, when Officer Beebe found him and took
lin into custody. a1rs. Drivers wound is in tho
eft side, and, though extremely painful, is not
likely to prove fatnl.