National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-02-22
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
THE SAD RESULTS OF A ROBBERY

VIM. semmcs ss.s,s H,,.-clr In n House
of Iil-fs-e 10 Avoid Arrc.t-Thc Fact.
% . Terrts,e Drama-No Hope Of III.
Recovery.
On Monday last Mr.. n. L. Turner appeared at
police besdquarters and reported that he had
been robbed Of t1Io-nftcen 5O-dollar bills and
two tens. He suspected that the theft had been
committed by young man named william
hemmes whom he hal raised, and who was an
Inmate Of his family, The young man referred
to IL about twenty-five years Of age, and was
born aud raised In this city, and for some time
past has been employed In the Treasury Depart
ment as plate printer, a position from which
he was discharged on Saturday last, the DAY on
which the robbery was committed.
The case was assigned to Detective McDeyltt,
and that Or,cer at once proceeded to gather all
the Information possible in regard to the Grim
tnal, aud ascertain his whereabouts. II was INST
reported that he had gone to Philadelphia, but
later In the week Mr. NcDcvit received
information that he was stlll In the town,
aud kept sharp LOOKOUT for him, going
from place 10 place In search Of him, until
yesterday evening, when he hearl positively
that he was 10 town ami hack riding with
some boon companions. about O'Clock In the
evening he came M with the party, AMI soon
followed them to the house Of Mrs. Mary Ecklcy
commonly Known rs the Dutch Corral" on L
street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth. After
SLOWING them 10 get comfortably In the deiec-
tive started In search Of some Oi the police, and
soon fOnnd Oriccrs Iiinckel and DuyAil, Of Lieut..
SkippOn's command, and pressed them into his
service. The trio started for the house, aud the
two odivers took position In front and rear Of
the house, and Mr. McDsvitt rang the bell aud
was admitted.
~.
Annie Florence, u woman with whom II had
been reported that SeInmcs was intimate By
an accident she happened to be down stairs and
responded to the summons, but on being ques.
toned refused TO 60 to her room or give any In.
formation as TO the location OF II, declaring al
the same time that there was no one In II.
Determined that the tibet should he forthcom,
ing the oticer declared his Intention Of searching
the house, and At once started up the stairs
When he had nearly reached the nrst landing h,
vas startled al hearing the report Of pistol ant
hating asked OF several Of the inmates; "whos,
room Is that In which the pistol was nrcd7" point
ing at the same time TO rear room at the head
OF the landing, from which the sound emanated
Before a response came three successive shot,
were nred, aud ere the echo Of the last had died
away Messrs, Hlnckel aud Duvall had gained al
entrance aud were at the side OF tue detec tive
Together they proceeded to the room, and Their,
saw sitting on the side Of bed, with blood pour
ing from several wounds, Scenes, the man the
were In search Of, AMI on the door lay neV
sharps Householder.
They turned at once to the bleeding man, an
placed him On the bel, when he tainted. once
Duval at once started for q physician, an
shortly afterwards returned with DR.. Buckle,
who made an examination, aud ascertaned tina
there were three woundT-ohe In the centre Q
tho forehead ncsh wound: one In the rghl
and one In ID left side Of the neck, maxim
ugly peTfofatiOns, aud from which the bloc
was flowing IN torrents.
The doctor did all In his power TO alleviate IN
sunenngs Of the wounded man. and he soon re
covered consciousness. In a conversation, h
expressed no regret at the rash act but, on tn
contrary, declared that he had fully made up hi
mind when he committed the robbery that h
would not he taken alive, and that II an opporu
nifty had presented he would have kilIe
McDcvltL who, he felt assured, would be ate
him.
For this purpose he had In the morning pur
chased the pistol, but finding that the deteCtiv
was so close upon him, concluded TO take hi
own life. lie states also that no one was
blame but himself and that his only regret wa
that he had not succeeded In killing himself
He begged that neither Of his parents he SET
Tor, as be did not care TO meet them.
Whlle the doctor was attending Mr., McDeyii
took look around the room and found In a Doc
Of blood two nfty dollar notes and some sma
change, and Afterwards received from III
woman, Annie Florence, another bill Of the san
denomination, which be hal handed hor In pal
ment for some wine which he had ordered
After c CONSULTATION, 1t was decided that
would lie best to remove him to Providence no
pital. \ carriage was sent for, and accOmpanlf
ny omcer Mldlgln, who had appeared on Ii
scene, the detective took him there and turns
him over to the good Sisters, who at once fu
nished nne apartment AMI did all In the
power 10 render him comfortable.
When he entered he was strong enough
walk to the room, but soon after being placed
bed his strength failed, aud he complained Of a
wound In the right side Of the neck, and exp
rienced great dlnncnlty In swallowing slim
hnts which were given him. Fearing that n
wounds might prove fatal Mr.. McDcvltt SUI
Rested that minister he called, and soon aft
Rev. Father Rabbla, assistant pastor Of 5
Peters, was Of his side, and after a talk vii
him, at his request, administered the rite ,
baptism.
M2a. nj. tho detective left ofioer MadlgS
remaining. \ remarkable coincidence In co
nectlon with this case Is the fact that in 1854
"iiend' ofthe woman Florence was arrested Al
sent to the penltentlary by Ciarvoe aud VI
Dewitt; about one month ago another was d
rested for theft In Baltimore, by the same Of
GERS, and Is now awaiting sentence; and now
complete the chapter, her last conquest shoe
himself In her room TO avoid an arrest by N
D!Niu.