Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-04-06
Death In q Hotel.
A SNOWMAN SHOOTS HIS wIFE-ACCI-
DENTALLY, AS HE CLAIMS-wILL-
FULLY, AS THE Law AssEBTs.

We copy the following from the Cip..
cinnati Gazette OF Saturday:
At about half past eleven o'clock
yesterday morning considerable ex-
citement was occasioned in the Metro
politan Hotel, on Main street, near
the levee, by the persistent ringing OF
the bell connecting room No. 81 with
the Office. The first comers, upon en-
tering the room from whence the lond
summons came, witnessed ghastly
sight. Seated upon the bed was the
male occupant of the room, James q.
Davis, as he had registered himself,
and In his arms lay the limp and al
most lifeless form of his wife. Blood
was issuing from her mouth, and on
her right lower jaw, just under the
bone, it had evidently flowed pretty
freely. 4 Colts navy revolver lay
upon the floor. A little Mexican dog
had sought to hide himself in one cor
ner of the room, but aside from this
there was nothing in the appeaIanc
of the room calculated tc excite won
derment or even more than passing
notice.
The husband, penetrating the mean
INF of the suspicious scowls bestowed
upon him, at once explained matters.
He said that he had been sitting in
the room in conversation with his wife,
and holding the dog In his arms. His
wife had requested him to take the
revolver, which was lying, fully cock
ed, upon the mantel piece, and shut
down the hammer, as the chamber
maid, in cleaning up the room that
morning, had been afraid to touch it,
and had mentioned the subject to her
(Mrs. Davis). THIS performance he at
tempted to execute, but had very
foolishIy kept the dog in his arms while
doing so, having no thought OF the
pistol going off. 1t had done 80, how
ever, and the ball had struck Mrs.
Davis, who was sitting in chair near
him, under the right jaw. She utter
ed shrek, then staggered to her
feet, and asked him to catch her aud
give her some water, as she was dying.
As she sank into bis arms, he knew
too well by the pallOr which rapidly
stole into her face, and the fixed posi-
ton her eyes assumed, that no care OF
his could avert the fearful cOnsequen-
ces of his carelessness, and in a few
a very few moments the shadow OF
death had come down over the sun
shine OF lite in the dear form he 20
tenderly clasped in his arms.
Officers Colby and Taylor were sent
for upon the discovery of the affair,
and they, upon reaching the room, ar
rested Davis on the charge of murder
An investigation of the apartment re.
suited in she discovery OF three dead.
ly weapons, the fatal revolver and two
small derringers, the latter being found
in pair of old boots; and with these
weapons in their possession, the OFF,
GERS, with their prisoner, proceeded to
to the Hammond street statiOnhOuse.
Davis was locked up in the solitude of
the cell room, there being no other
prisoners in custody at the time, and
his meditatiOns were evidently Of the
most painful nature, for subsequently,
when visited by reporters, he was
found crying, silently, but necessarily,
He appeared sincere in his lamenta-
tons, and ell questions put to him were
answered simply and plainly. He is
about twenty six years of age, and .
resident of New York city. He has
spent the greatest part of his career
with circus companies, being general.
~ engaged in the business management
Until within week or two ago he
has, in company with his wife, been
playing with Backinsson's Cosmopoli
tan Circus and Menagerie in the South
ern country. His occupation has been
that of ringmaster, and his wife (wbo,
until the deaf OF their marriage, about
three months ago, has appeared as
Mile. La Rosa) performed on the
trapeze under his name.
They left the show at Vicksburg,
Mississippi, intending to visit this city
for the purpose of perfecting arrange
ments for the coming spring cam
paign. They arrived here in company
With james Howell and wife ldog eS'