Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-24
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
Attempted Murder and Suicide.
Illicit Love. Jealousy. and Rum.

5th street. opposite the City Hall, were
startled about Q o'clock last night by hearing
the report OF pistol-shOts, followed by the
screaming of woman. in house ~ 9Th
street occupied by "a widow lady who rents
rooms and Keeps boa riders. 1t was soon as
CeTtained that John Dempsey, until recently
a bartender at GOdfTey's saloon, had shot
young woman named Lottie Warren and
then shot himself. y servant was dispatched
for Dr. MagTUdeI. and one of the bOaTderS
ran To police headquarters to inform the
police. who were soon AT the house, with
mum Der of reporters. ON their arrival they
found that DTs. Magruder and Dexter had ar
rived. and an examination of the wounded
man and woman was being held. II was
learned from the landlady that Dempsey and
the woman had been roOming there for some
time
AS MAN AND WIFE.
and nothing to The contrary was suspected
until yesterday. II was stated that he came
home about one o'clock yesterday afternoon
appearing to be under the influence of liquor,
and had with him a cOlOred man bearing the
bodies of his two favOrite black and tan dogs.
which had been killed by an omnibus running
over them near the BALI more and Ohio rail-
road deIOt. He seemed greatly troubled at the
loss of his pets. LOttie was out at the time
AftCTueEOSi ting the bodies of the dogs in the
room. he laid down on the bed and went TO
sleep. and later LOttie returned to the house,
In company with two gentlemen. and the"
were soon followed by another woman q
friend of hers. While she was entertaining
them in the front parlOr, Dempsey, who was
Sleeping IN the rear ldEIOf, 3WONe, ana the
proprietor Of the house demonstrated with
him about drinking. after which she left him
AMI saw no more Oihim unit! after IN" shots
were fired. After the visitors left. il is thought
that LOttie entered his room and n quarrel
arose between them, mStigated on his part
JEALOUSY.
Tie lady Of the house and some OF the Oc-
CUVants were in the basement dining room
and hearing the shots fired and screaming i'm
the room above started to ascend the stair
way, and were met by LOttie, who ran in
eNclaining,
"I Az SHOT"
This was confirmed 10y the appearance of
blood dripping from her ON the floor. Oae of
the gentlemen repaired to the room above
and found Dempsey with pistol in his hand
and an empty vial which had the label of
''FOISON'
These were Snatchcd from his hands by De-
teCtIve Miller and a cOlored boy name John
Thomas, who accompanied him from police
headquarters. ICttie SwOOned away before
the arrival of the doctors, but restOratives
were applied. and an examination of
THE INJURIES OF THE TWO
at once followed. IL was found that Dpmp-
Sey had shot himself between the NTH and
sixth ribs. on the left side. the ball CHANGING
into the lungs. Finding that he was becOm-
ing Stupefied from the effects of the laudanum
which ne had swallowed, an cmctiC was All
miElSteTed and his stomach relieved of the
poison, after which the physicians prObei for
the uall. hut without finding il. The wound
OF Ilt woman Il q dangerous Tile
bah entered just above the right hip, and
took an ObliqUe and downward course and
il lodged somewhere i'm the body. All at
tCmUtS TO discover its position Were unavail-
ing last night. and fears were expressed by
the physicians that the intcStineS had been
cut in its course. The weapon used was one
Of the old-faShiOned Remington muzzIe-
leader SlN-ShOOtrTS, and when picked up had
only one load i'm il. 1t * clear. however, that
only two shots were fired. The bali carried
is Of quite large size. and makes P terrible
a HsFUr .aatrH
10 have been about half fun. but the label
does not indicate from what druggist il was
purchased. The physicians state that LOttie's
IS the more dangerous wound of the two.
THE FEMALE VICTIM.
LOttie u Of small frame. well formed. with
black hair and eyes, handsome features
pleasing manners. and i about twenty-five
years OF age. IL Is stated that she 5 a native
of Baltimore, and educated in Il at city in
the NOtre Dame convent; that al an early
age she ran away and married an army Of
ECtr, who died not long afterwards. She is
the mother of three children. all of whom are
deceased. Some one suggested that min
lister he sent for, but she remarked that she
did not desire 10 have one sent for unless she
got worse. but expressed a desire To see her
mother, Mrs. Kuhn. and requested that She
be sent for. She said she could be found
either at No. "a 1St street. Georgetown. or
No. 81 West Saratoga street. Baltimore. In
compliance with her request dispatches were
sent as directed.
DEMPSEY
desired 10 see minister. and Father Walter
OF 81. PatriCkS Church, was sent for and an
peared in a short time and administered the
rites Of the Catholic Church to him. Demp-
sey has been out OF employment for several
weeks since he left Mr.. GOdfreyS service
where he had been employed a long time as
barkeeper. He i native of Philadelphia
but came here with one of the regiments from
mat city during the war, and has lived
rather fast life here.
1t Is not believed that either VIII recover
from the wounds inflicted.
This morning lpftip Warrior was ,,1upI,
worse, and, II was thought, would not live
through the day: but Dempsey was better
and his recovery is possible.
ARRIVAL OF MRS. wARREN'S MOTHER
This morning Mrs. Kuhn arrived from
Baltimore. and Immediately proceeded TO the
bedside Of her daughter. who was at the time
under the influence OF OpiateS, and made 80
demonstration Of recognition. Rev. Father
Walter again called this morning and gave
both the unfortunate people what consolation
ne could under the CifcumStauceS-MrS War
rem being unconscious most of the time.
CONDITION OF THE PATIENTS.
The physicians, DrS. q. l.. Magruder and J.
+. Dexter, were at the house several time.
during the day. and fOund that Mr.. Dempsey
was improving, and they are of the opinion
mat with care he may recover. They are not
however. 50 hopeful as 10 Mrs Warren who
during the morning remained i'm a SeTni-cOn-
SclOUS condition; and IL was considered. al
though ~ was important that ncr Ut'e-laOr'c,a
statement should be taken. that no at
tempt should be made 10 obtain IL until she
tuily revived.
TUE THEATER>-The StrakOech Italian
0!era troupe gave another delightful uer-
tormance al the National Theater last even
IEg, being very satisfactory rendition Of
The brilliant opera don Giovanni" To-
night they present Thomas popular ODcra
"MlgnOn' VII Tn the fun strengthen the com
panE, and lovers of music may eyuact
another fine performance.
IL i seldom one can see, outside Of New
DIRK better dramatic company than tho
FIitn avenue combination now PLAYING a
weeks engagement al FOrd'S opera house
The well constructed, and Interesting society
play divorce" was performed last night
with SUch animation and correctness in am
us details as TO delight the very large aDi
la>ul0nable audience who faced q rain storm
10 ENJOY III. and had 10 cause to regret doing
D bOnIiace, rs the hero. and George T,aDer-
ICY. as the heroine. were supported by artists
no whit behind them in faithfuIneSS i'm the
minor roles. and all down to the sjnfanf
prodigy OF the piece acquitted themselves
wei. Tonight they appear in the emotional
PLAY Alike"
1hefe are line performances every evening
ln.S week At the two variety theaterS and
those who wish TO miss nothing good i'm that
Inc OF the show business should visit both fire
heater COmique and the Avenue Theatpr.
1hey are unlike. but both good in their way.
BREAKING Up OF THE Ice BLoCKADF