The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-03-01
|, SUPPER TABLE HORROR.
SAN FRANCISCO HUSBAND SHOOTS HIS
WEE AND RILLS HIMSELF IN
PRESENCE OF THEIR
CHILDREN.

Last evening, at half-past six
o'clock, tragedy was enacted at $40
Powell street, between Bush and Sut-
fer. A man and his wife exchanged
angry words just as they we're about
to sit down to supper, and he ordered
her to leave the house. She refused
10 do so, whereupon he shot her, and
then shot himself ip the head, produ-
zinc q wound which caused his death
half an hour after he had inflicted it.
The man who attempted murder, and
then killed himself, was named Lewis
NJ. Henry, and was by profession an
engineer. Prior to four years ago he
had been employed in the United
States Mint, from which place he was
discharged for some reason which is
not given. Some time after his re-
moyaI from office he preferred char
pes against General La Grange, the
Superintendent, but these have not
been disposed Of After he had made
the charges he sought to regain his
lost position, but proved unsuccess-
full He then became respondent,
and took to drinking to excess, and
often returned home in state of in
toxication. This led to trouble be-
tween husband and wife, and within
q week she refused to occupy the
same room with him, and slept in a
room in the basement with her chill
dren. Last Friday night he did not
return home, and yesterday he did
NOT come home until about six o'clock
in the evening. He went into the
dDing-room, which is in the front
mart of the basement, and sat down
in rocking chair near the fire place
while supper was being prepared
The wife entered the dining room and
asked her husband to have some sup
per. He refused, and said that he
would not eat meal in the house so
long as she refused to occupy the
same room with him.
She told him that she would not
remain with him while he was drunk.
He thereupon said, "Then by the
Eternal, you shall leave this house!'
As he made this remark he drew a
revolver from his hip-pocket; but be-
fore he could use it his eldest son
arose from his seat at the table and
took hold Of his father, saying, 'Fa
tIi"r, you put that up" He did so,
bat instantly drew it second time,
and pointing it at his wite's head,
frpi. Tie bullet missed it's aim and
in~iged in the wall. The wife gave q
Scream anA attempted to run away,
when her husband fired Il second
Z ut This shot took effect and the
Woman Tell TO the foor Tue hus-
land, prola ~ thinking, that he Lad
killed her, turEed the muzz!e Of the
weapon to his own head, fred, and
fell to The floor. The eldest boy, ie-
fore the second shot WAS fired, picked
up an infant which had been going
towards Mrs. Henry, and ran with it
into the kitchen, While The youngest
by, too terrified to speak or act, sat
at the table, 4 witness ofthe tragedy.
A few minutes after the last shot had
been fired, Mr.. Robert Pateman and
wife, who occupy rooms in this, en-
tered, and were soon informed of
what had TRANSFERRED; Mr.. Pateman
summoned Officer Niles, while other
were sent after physi-
clans. When the officer arrived he
ound Mrs. Henry in the dining
DOM holding a wet towel to her head
10 stanch the blood which flowed |,
rom slight scald wound, and dis
covered Henry lying on the floor
where he had fallen. Between his
knees was a silver mounted, ivory
handled revolver of the Smith and
Nesson pattern, three chambers of
which were empty. The officer
picked up the wounded man and
placed him and a lounge, on which
lie remained until he died. The
woman was taken to her
DOM, where a medical man attended
Ter. The wound she received is not
dangerous. The deceased man was
native of Illinois, about 80 years of
!ga He came to California in 1850.
The Coroner was notified, and he took
'harge of the case and will hold an
nqaest.- San Francisco Call.
A LEAP-YEAR TRAGEDY.-They
TODD together in the entry beneath
he hall amn "'Ebnn HanrvD che