The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02
SHOT DEAD BY HIS WIFE.
-ur KILLING or ORsON a. HOUSE,
THE DIYORCE LAWYER.


rbe Cheeksred Career Of Beth rsrs
the Tragedy - How Irene van Ssnt D's
eosrd Of Two Husbands and Msreeree
= tbe Third-Testimony at the insuest'
Orson A. House. q wsll-known divorce
v.ryer. whose once Is at le4 Broadway, was shot
and instantly killed by his wife nj their resi-
asnce, eight miles from Trenton on FRIDAY
.,snine. House was extensively known by the
I.sai fraternity from the frequent dimculNes IN
-hloh he had involved his clients aud bimself'
and b, the general public from his advertise
,.pt extensively published, promising to Sc
aura divorces without publicity He was porn
IN central New York, taught school for Time
read law q short period, and then tnrew ms
shingie to the breeze In the metropolis Nus
practice was confined to the divorce courts, and
from the very nrst he enjoyed large ana lu-
cratiye business, but not without many misnaps
having been frequently In trouble ana arrestoo
for irregularities and unprofessionh conduct.
At the time Of his death he wAs q years OF age
Bfset 8 inches tall, high forehead, and heavy
viry moustache.
The m alden name OF the murdsress was Irene
A. Van SAINT Her father is a well-to-do lumber
DEALER whose place OF business 10 at Morrlsville,
opposite Trenton. when hfteen years old she
married Charles Anderson, photographer, who
isyet living In tho West, and by whom son was
born. Thoir happiness was OF short duration.
and thoy separated, Irene says legally; but this
Is denied by others. She then married a young
man named Denver, employed In the ordnance
works In Trenton ; but there being no congeni-
Atty in the union she went to New York In
Quest Of a divorce. aud there met House. The
separation with Denver was obtained, and from
that time Irene and House lived together. No
evidence OF their marriage was produced at the
inquest yesterday other tn an heavy gold ring.
upon the inside OF which Ia incribed, "Orson to
Irene, May lst, 1870"
Her sister testified that she had seen . mar
siAge certificate, but others declare that there
never was q marriage. Up to January last the
couple lived In rooms adjoining Houses once
In Broadway.
UNHAPPIrEss.
He was extremely Jealous. and would permit
her to make no acquaintan ces. Thus closely
confined, she took up the study OF tho law, also
OF medicine, prepared most Of his legal docu-
ments ana did ali the copying. At length she
became better lawyer than House, and fire.
Queptly gave advice on law points. and attended
years ago House was arrested for Illegally pro-
curing divorce In this city. When brought up
aged bis defsncs that be was released.
While being Of q very anoctionAte disposition,
rose suIEy. and brutal. oasrrsis were Of fre-
quent occurrence. and at times he oeat ber.
1bs trouble was mostly over @ ,ne % son; & she de,
othcss. He was there for time, and there was
scarcely day without a quarrel. In the au-
her diamonds and other v iasblss ana departed.
snsd him with srr.st and proceedings for oi-
yorce, and she obtained the services of John A.
isconciiistion, and she returned to her none.
A large fortune had sccumuistsd. and 10 jan
uary the old DYE farm OF two hundred acres, In
Waat inha anr INT n
chased for $4,000, the deeds being recorded 10
Lene's name. The couple. with Irsns's sister
The farm house was . wrstchsd old sRair In .
,S1Sgn fsso .a IN Nv 'ec :o'.s.'
suit Irene became greatly dissatisnsd ana low
nsuts, expanding thousands Of dollsrs upon
the farm. and At tho time OF the tragedy hand
some tnree-story residences was nearly com;
often,
THE TRAGEDY.
HOn Friday evening she drove to the depot n,
60 the farm. AlightrH from the phaeton they
eat down upon lumber pile in the yard, and
soon atterward were quarreilins; she arose and
started for the house, saying, Z" will endure
live"
He replied, IAN right; you can 60 wherever
you please, whenever YOU please. Rather than
I've as we old In New York for eight years I'd
nor. about1t Let me % so, my @ supper. and III
70 to the barn and sleep. / should think yol
would be ashamed of.yourssif for quarrellins
over my poor old fathers head"
The father, aged 10. sat near them, and was q
Affected that he burst into tears.
House walked to the front Of the building
Irene following, and the two returned to tbs
fesr hall door, where the quarrel was rene we'd
khe Instantly arose. ran into the bedroom, pro
fured pistol, and, as she stepped into the hall
h. The ball entered at the left temple. and Hous.
fell corpse. She dropped into seat, exciHtua.
Ing. MY Godl I've Killed my husband" aud
Her sister, brother in-iaw, a sister Of House
and tue aged father, were horrihsd spectators.
Word was NJ once sent TO Coroner Bodine, whc
viewed the body, committed Irene to Jail, anc
~ 10 o'clock yesterday heid al inquest.
THE INQUEST.
Lucetta House, sister of the deceased man
Eho lives at Virgil. Cortland county, N. Y.
Srene's sister, Mary Hammell, and her husband
Williams Henry Schuster, farm employee
and william Anderson. Irsns's son, were ex
Lucretia House testified that she Is a sister oi
ths dses;ssd % man, and y hsr residence Is Virgil
ths time. my brother came 70 iSs house i heard hin
" awe Going @s'se ~ Tsff ;i' t: :Hs
S SSt ~ c1S o I'VE si ss ANY ANY a M
@ Sss @ syPs
Of ~ oS. S.sr sw hum RS,s her .s dDr1 The .sI
hSa:s Violence = Ii VIE Pii SsiSIe rs. s,s
% sf .sd fS'1.;i:s e. Ssa. Ds
Sew YORK think that IeaiOu.y both sdes an
ether cause % never saw eim violent. before He ha
PISTOL with bin. she saiu 10 1huTsoay that an
would shoothm. do not Know where they ere mar
together for eight years.
THE SISTERS VERSION.
Mary Hammell sister to Mrs. House, tesu
eed
Iw,s present when the difnculty occurred .Hous
came ONE and Irene went 10 meet him, and
them sitting = plank by the barn. The girls calle
me In the Etehen. cAns out IN half q minute, an
they hau down By the gate. Irene said
10 hin. out do not Know what II was. He replied
God damn it you can 20 where you please y knoy
Vt" went up stairs and came right down. He
HeehinR bench sad she was standing OF the doo
when came down. She asked him 10 come IN AID
her make up the roll a. she wanted TO go to Nes
Elotk ou Saturday, He refused, because ho wante
20 tGk father. Irene turned sway an
gent Into hor room ana began writing
moment later saw Willy at the door telling her L
come out. He said that fAiher House was crline
when Irene came out she SAID, "Why, f4iher. what
Che matter1" and the old gentleman told her TO 3
esJ hr House tdect asedl had gone around TO tn
mont OF the house aud sitting on pile OF lumbei
tAiking to Mr. Matthews Irene called her husband {
net him see there Was NO trouble between them. "a
ther House got up AID went outside the gate, gn
stood there when they came up 10 the gate. lren
nranu IA Il fsfh Lon 4