The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-30

ANOTHER HORRIBLE TRAGEDY-MURDER
AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN ST. PAUL
STREEr-A WIFE SLAIN By HER HusBAND--
CoRoNER's INouEST, &o.-LaSt night mt 9
o'clock one of the most shocking domestic
tragedies that las ever occurred in this city
took place at No. s. st. Paul street, west
side, near Saratoga street. A husband de-
liberately murdered his wife and cut his own
throat with the same razor with which he
had taken her life, the unfortunate victim
being Mrs. Eugene Showalter. who kept n
clearinghouse at the point located. The
husband, DR.. Joseph Clarence Showaltcr,
although a physician by profession, had never
practiced in this city, and, it is alleged, de.
pended upon his wife to support him, and
spending money obtained from her in drink.
For several days past it appears he had
been drinking very hard, and Mrs. Showal-
ter had been obliged to tell him that if he
would get drunk he really must not como
home so. During yesterday he was about
the house as usual, going out several times.
Shortly before the hour for tea, when the
boarders were assembled in the parIor, he
came into the house and passed through into
the Kitchen, where he commenced upbraiding
the cook. Mrs. Showalter, hearing the dis
turbance, went down into the kitchen and
succeeded, after considerable difficulty, in
getting him into their bedroom, which
is on the same floor as the kitchen, be-
ing the first room on the right
hand side on entering the house. After
reaching their bedroom some words
passed between them which could not be
distinctly heard. until he smacked her and
threatened to kill her, when she declared
that she would go after an officer and have
him arrested. He was beard to say, Have
me arrested if you choose, for damn me il
| wouldn't as soon be hung like HollobaD
and Nicholson as to be going to hell this sort
of way" She then left the room and went
up stairs to take tea. Some time elapsed and
be called to her in very kind and persuasive
manner to come down stairs. This she re-
fused TO do for some time, but finally did 60
down into the room where he was.
In few minutes piercing scream re-
sounded through the house, followed by the
sounds of scutfiing below. Mrs. Showall er's
son by her first marriage (Frederick Bls.
zley), eighteen years Of age, ran down stairs,
followed by several of the bOarders, and
rushed into his mothers room, from whence
the screams had come. The scene that pre-
scented itself entirely OvcrCimC him. There
on the floor. near the foot of the bed, lay his
mother with her throat terribly and fatally
gashed, whilst her husband and murderer
stood grimacing over the dead body, with
bis own throat also badly cut, and the blood
flowing down over his bosom, while the ra'
zor with which the fearful deeds had been
committed lay on the floor. Thrusting aside
the murderer and would-be suicide, the son
threw himself upon the now lifeless body Of
his mother, but was removed by those who
had followed him down stairs, and the body
of the unfortunate woman was raised and
placed upon the bed.
For moment after being pushed aside by
the son the murderer stood glaring upon
those around him, and then turned and
| walked deliberately out OF the door anu
down St. Paul street to the corner Of Sara
toga, where he sat down upon the curb
stone. The news of the horrible tragedy
spread like wildfre, and in few minutes an
excited crowd bad gathered around him
Officers Sanders. Price, and Chesgreen find.
ing him there, took him in their arms and
| carried him to the Washington University
Hospital, where the wound in his neck, ex'
tending from ear to car, was dressed and
sewed by the physicians, the murderer
during the operation occasionally opening
bis eyes and saying, "Pease raise me up, ,
and once or twice asked Tor water Bdln
more Sun, 29th
[See kilograms for further particulars.]