Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-18
MurdcrOuS Assault.

About three o'clock this morning a tragedy
occurred which may, perhaps, result 10 the
death of young and interesting daughter OF
Mrs. Whelau, widow lady residing at the
northeast corner Of Bolton auL BIddc streets,
al the hauds of boodth;rsty negro named
Brown, who Drained her with an axe.
Mrs. Whelan's cook has been for some time
past receiving attentions from colorcd mao
named John Brown, whose visits were so fire.
uuent as 10 become very obnoxious to the faml-
iy, and Mrr. w hc&r and Miss Emma VIII clau,
her daughter, the abb ect Of this tragedy, had
on several occasions spoken to Brown ABOUT H..
Brown, it is thought, bccame enragcd at be-
Ing forbidden to come TO the house 50 ire
uuently and determined to have revenge. 1t IS
learned that on yesterday he was noticed sew
cral times proving in the vicinity of Mrs.
WhcIau' house, aud doubtlessly making ar.
rangemcnts now be should pcrpGtrate his
mu,derous deed, and make his escape after it
had been accomplished.
The surmise is, that some time during the
uight, the desperate made his usual call upon
the cook. He went into the cellar and got the
axc-one of the ordinary size, hu' quite blunt
He placed the weapon where 1t would be con
| yenient to take, when in the prosecution OF his
hellish work, but it is not known whether he
remained secrcted in the house up to the hour
Of a. No., or whether he WAS admitted by
some one.
The villain after removing his shoes steal
thily proceeded up the stairway leading tothe
young Ialy's room. The gas was found burn.
ing this morning, and it is supposed that he
first made the light so as to make sure OF the
object oil his malice and hatred, and be certain
IL. ~ j Il l.,
approached the bed upon which the young lady
was rcposing, raised the axe aud struck her a
fearful blow. The weapon, judging from ap
pearances, must have struck sid, Ways, ior as ii
descended it Clipped off about Que inch aud a
given directly upon the frontal bone, iGflctug
terrible cash OF about three and half iuchcs
u length but on account Of the rusty condition.
of the axe did not penetrate the brain. The
screams OF the young lady aroused Mr.
Frank y Ward, attorney at law, re.
siding pext door to Mrs. Whelan's resi-.
dnncc, and also Two brothers Of the young
lady, occupying sleeping rooms in the third
story of the house. Mr.. Ward immediately
sprang from his bed to the front window, and
Just in time to see a negro with shoes upon his
feet rush from the front door aud ruu down
Bolton street. MIR. Ward says that hal hr
had a revolver he could have shot him. 1t is
learned that the brothers of Miss WheIan came
from their bedrooms in such haste as to see the
william making his way down the stairs from
their sisters room, but before they could in
tercept him he dashed through the hallway
into the street.
Doctors S. K. Merrick aud William Green,
who reside 10 the ncighburhoud, were sum-
moned as speedily as possible to attend the
young lady. Upon the physicians entering the
room they found the young lady injured Us
above stated, aud an axe covered with gore
lying upon the bed
The victim was but barely able to articulae
her statement, who is as follows: Upon
coming to consciousness after the blows, she
says that she saw 10y the light Of the gas which
was burpng) colored man standing in the
doorway OF her chamber. The theory is tina.
the wretch was celebrating whether to return
and iuhict other wounds upon Miss Whelan,
thinking, perhaps, that he had not fully &C
couplishcd the murder which he had intended.
The screams Of the young lady startled the
negro, and be concluded to beat hasy re-
treat. Revenge, aud revenge alone seemed to
be his object, as considerable quantity OF
jeweIry which the young lady wore was found
untouched 10 her room. The affair naturally
caused considerable excitement 10 the nelghbor-
hood where it occurred, and during the mora
ing groups Of persons were observed taking OF
it Drs Merrick and Green had u consultation
with Dr. Alan p. Smith, the visiting physician.
The family in which the terrible deed occurred
resided 10 an arstocratic portion of the city, |
and are of the highest responsibility.
John Brown, the alleged pcrpetrator OF the
deed, was captured about 10 o'clock this morn
ing. The cook has also been a. ested.-BoIh.
more NetcS Of yes erddy afternoon. /