Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-19
Wife Murder In Church.

4 dispatch from Philadelphia says: n tfag-
edy without parallel in The history Of this or
any other city's crime was enacted in The LON
bard street Protestant Episcopal Church OF the
Ascension yesterday. The congregation had
assembled and the pastor had begun his sermon,
when m an Of gentecl appearance, bit with
wild uncertain eye, entered thu church and sNt
in one Of the rear peWs.
The interruption which his entrance caused
was but slight, and before the sermon WAS con-
cluded his presence was forgotten. When the
benediction Was about to be given, however, ho
Jumped to his feet and walked TO pow directly
behind the one occupied by Mrs Elizabeth
Sayres. He hegtated for s. moment before on
tering, but finally want in and assumed reVer.
entail air until the blessing was concluded.
No sooner had tho last words OF thn minister
died away than the stranger quickly drew Ee:-
niger piatol from his pocket, and, TAX ing Ielib-
crate aim, shot Mrs. Sayrc5 IN the back. There
were screams Of alarm from tho women In tic
church, and the men as soon as thoy could re-
cover from the paralysis which seemed to DO
upon them, rushed to where the body had fallen.
Tho man who had frod stood still for mo.
ment and looked upon his work. Thon he cool.
~ returned the weapon to his pocket and walked
rapidly out of the building
Only ono gentleman, doscon, Goo. Miller,
had the presence Of mind to follow him. When
the former Quilted the building ho walked rap.
idly towards Eleventh and Lombard sts., whero
he was overtaken and arrested by his pursuer,
who recognized the man IS Alexander b.
Sayres, the wounded womsn's husband.
When Mr.. Miller asked the reason for his ter
riblc conduct he made 70 reply, but began COM
planning Of his head, and walked quietly with
him to the station. Meantime Mrs Sayres was
removed to the basement Of the church Tho
blood from her wound stained the ll0or IS thoy
carried her along, and sho seemed to he dying.
The ball, an unusually large one, had entered
the back over the left lung The doctor probed
for it, but was unable 10 find the lodging place.
Mrs Ssyres rapidly sinking, Was then removed
to the Pennsy lvania Hospital, and WAS not eX-
pectcd to live through the night
Sayres is either temporarily deranged or pre-
tends 10 be. No reason is assigned for his muir
dcrous assault. 1t is said that tho man was
monomaniac on tho subject Of dying in the poor
house. and that he had charged his vito and two
sons with conspiracy to ruin him. Tho event
causes great excitement and indignation.
At sevon oclock in the evening magistrate
took hor deposition at the hospital. She did not
see who shot her, but believed that her husband
had done it, and that he had always treated hc7
badly. She then made her will, Ecqueathing
her property in trust for her step.chlldren, she
being Sayres' second wife, "A few moments NJ
forwards sho became unconscious, in which con-
dition she still lies, the physicians expressing
the opinion that she would die during the night.
The husband declines 10 mako any statement.
Two years ago when Ssyros Yves sent to prison
for long term for breaking her I'm by throw
ing her down stairs she aided IN procuring his
release. but has not since lived with him, and
has refused him sdm!ttancc to hnr house. He
has never threatened nor molested hor zinc his
inn rIconmnnt