The New York herald., 1876-07-02
A CHASTITY TRAGEDY.
House, the Divorce Lawyer, Killed
by His Wife.
A SAD DOMESTIC LESSON
Tragic End OF a Questionable
Career.

nerly No IS Nassau street. and recently OF No.
l94 Broadway shot and killed by his wife. Irene, at
their home Lawrence Station on the Pennsylvania
Railroad about seven O'Clock Friday night The
story OF Mr. Houses murder is brief one 1t was the
termination long looked for to one of the many
quarrels between this strange couple Their history
was Q peculiar one Mr.. Houses as q divorce
lawyer notorious in the community. HIS mur
deress at time his client. She calls hersef
Irene Anderson Van Zandt House She is about
ihirty-two years old She is a dashing blonde,
moderately tall, and of good figure Her father is
sgar maker Trenton When about sixteen she mar
red a named Charles Anderson, who Is now an
Dfhcal in the Jail in which she is confined a Trenton
they had son, who still lives with his mother She
auarrelled with her husband after living with him for
some time, and through the efforts of Mr. House, OBJ
tained divorce from him At this time House had
wifo children OF his This
has died. her death, 1t is said,
having been hastencd by worriment at Houses
loose behavior especially toward his later partner
The children have died also. Prior to the former
wie's death House cohabted with Irene, who very
Ioon seemed to exercise mastery over him. Whether
he formally married to her or not is not well
established fact Since his former wiis's death, how
over, they have lived together and wife both
here and in New Jersey but man and wife in name
merely They are said to have fought perpetually
md have mutually threatened to XIII the other
settlement OF the differences The sequel shows
that of the two kept her word. Until
quite recently they lived in this city About
the beginning of the present year House bought
farm OF 2lO acres for $40, 900 cash, Law
renee station, and was actively engaged IN improve
upon it when his cut short by Mrs
Houses pistol A new dwelling being erected
trees were planted and efforts being made in
various directions to make pleasant and attractive
n,,tN ttd elish fhnua
ngs, as they betohened more prolonged stay the
quiet country home than she desired She quarreiled
with House about her country liie about money
and the thousand other things that might
her displeasure from dav to day. She threatened
his lite and he hers, Each carried pistol Their last
quarrel Immediately after Houses return from
New York 10y the train which reaches Lawrence at six
,'cock Friday evening His house is situated about
hreequar.crs of mile from the station on the road
cading TO Trenton Junction On arriving he found his
Eife in quarresome mood AT the supper table she
evived an old difference about the payment of tho
arpenters at work on the new house she wanted
aim pay them, and he having turned
30 her-as Is supposed-a!l his property wanted
her TO pay After supper they went out on u
little piazza the OF the house, and the difference
soanued her son being another canse OF its procnga-
hon The talk and trouble caused Houses father, VINO
Was at the tine staying with him. and who is blind,
good deal of distress House became violent in conse-
auencc his wies quarrelsome disposition aud the
annoyance to his father. To right matters he deter
mined TO cnastise his wife. Witnesses differ as 10
The extent to which he carried this deter
minaton, but 1t is generally admitted that
he struck her, Willie Anderson, her son
intcrlcred when they in the room, and House
subsequently seized him in his after, stated
knocking down and dragging his vile along the piazza
When she was releases and while her being at
lacked she went up stairs for pistol, and, coming
where he stood, shot House through the right
temple the ban passing to the other side OF his head
aud killing him in about five minutes. When the deed
done Mr.. House acted in wildly demonstrativc
way for some time. time she shouted to her
doctor, wrung her hands, clutched her throat
and bcmoancd her dear husband dead, whom
ha cDn. hgha attlt 4
doctor Word sent TO Trenton, the
station beyond Lawrence, and before O'Clock
yesterday morning the sorrowing wife was on her way
10 the Mercer County Jail to be held tor murder on
the way she continued her waing for the loss she had
caused with her own little pistol She cried out,
.Yes, take to Jail | have killed my dear hus-
band. want 10 die 0ng me at once"
In this STRAIN she continued all the way. On his
rival at the housc sheriff Mounts officer found her
Ter Or. Robbins, who his arrival at the
house forwarded to superintendent Walnc the follow
ing despatch
IAwRxycE y. j. July l. 1876
o A. House has sso-is dead. Please take charge
y cce until further orders oGee No 1874 Broadway. New
FORK. DIR. ROBBINS.
Inspector Dilks notified Captain Petty, who placed
officers Coyle and o'Malley IN charge of the Office
Mrs Houses raving Tor her loss was not wei sus-
tanned, IL would seem; for after being while
in custody, she give expression to her
Tears that the reporters would End
10 her husbands papers and disclose To the world
through press OF the dark therein con-
.aued. She was kind enough subsequently TO express
should be buried Trenton, and she expressed a
esre to attend the funeral In corroooration OF tho
Act that there had been fight before she fired the
fatal shot II Is stated by those who conveyed her to the
Ia that her lace and neck were marked with bruises.
Since the purchase of the New Jersey farm by
House Irene has gathered about her quite circle OF
ncr own family connections. Her brother n-iaw,
Ter cousin are among the number some of
HOUSES family also IN the habit OF visiting there
sut they got only indlerently with the mistress of
.he house. She did not want them about the place
And wonder; for she is reported 10 have indulced
the grosscsi imprnrriees with servant in her hus
bands employ This conduct reached Hou-e's ears
aud he.beoame very jealous, while She hearing eviI
reports ci HIM the time, SAID
10 have been equally inccnsed az his conduct with
other women Their pecullar'tis were The subject of
sommou talk among the neghtors. who attributed to
.he murdered man many redeeming social qualities,
,eemingly Inconsistent with ms contemplate practices
divorce lawyer, qualiue which arc said TO have
,een wholly absent from the character OF bis murder
Her first husband, It said also obtained divorce
from her and her conduct after their separation is SAID
" have been notoriously bad.
POINTS IN HOUSES LIFE
The HERALD reporter iourd, at the residence OF
House yesterday, his brother, Garrett T. House. who
impaired freely some interesting Information regarding
the murdered man Oroan Alonzo Moore House was
born In Virgil Cortland, county iortythrec years ago
He read law IN Cortlandtvlc with X. q. Reynolds and
Hiram Crandall, both prominent lawyers, aud was adj
mtteG 10 the bar IN Cooperstown In 1868. Hecams
scw York the same year and started business
with Timothy p Burger, under the firm name OF Bur
Ter 4 House he took to the divorce business from
ne urst advertising quite extensively. 1t was
sit is still a disreputabie trade, aud House resored
10 the expcdcnt OF using the names of q. A. House
and NJ House so rs to deceive respectable clients
During his career he rs said TO have obtained 5000
divorces. including many notable ones. ani 10 baye
nnassed something Ike 500 900 at the trade For di-
vorc.ng Josie Aansnc'd Jim Fisk gave him between
81 0oo and ST. 100 and box at the Grand opera House
PIOPKEry
Besides his farm In New Jersey. House had farm in
cortlandt county between leo and 200 In Ohio
and house anu Mot OF fourteen White Pains
fs had aiso large quantity of jeweiry, accepted
many in lieu OF fees, aud large bank account
d<tri ed ancrent banks All OF this u said
have been turned over TO hts wife, who has repaid
him with bullet She diamond necklace
estimated to be worth So coo and his shirt front
nudded with splendid diamonds at the time of HIS
icaih. There twelve good horses aud aboli a
ioxcn head OF cattle on his Jersey farm.
A few years ago House was indicted IN Connecticut
subornatIon OF perjury. His osil WAS liked at
$4,000 Knowing of the weaknesses OF some officials
be asked how much u would cost to settle the matter