National Republican., 1877-03-02
1BLooDLEss SENSATION.

A M,ebirnp Farmer, widowsr and Disap-
pointed Lover, Attempts to shoot Widow
in the Treasury Department and 10 Poison
Bimself-He wished TO Have His Body sent
TO n College For Examination.
1t has been long time since there has been
anything like a sensation among the clerks in a
Government Department, so the attempted
shooting of lady clerk, by her granger lover, In
the Treasury Department yesterday, was talked
about by a thousand willing tongues. 1t occurred
about noon, when most Of the Treasury employees
were laying down their pens and poking into
their pockets for little packages containing
lunch, Mrs. Mary E. storer,
WIDOW,
is employed in the redemption bureau in the
basement Of the treasury building. A man en-
tered the building by tho northwestern entrance
on Fifteenth street, about tho time mentioned,
and ascending the stairs to the second floor, near
the Treasurers ONCE, sent . card bearing the
nameof
JOHN piITs.r
Mrs, Storer. II is customary for the en-
ployees OF the Redemption Bureau to sec their
friends, or any person calling upon them, on the
second floor. Mrs. Storer assembled tho stairway,
where she was met by Dilts. Only q few words
passed between them, and he seized her. She
struggled and screamed, and finally broke from
his grasp, and ran towards the northern end Of
the corridor. Dilts followed her up, and produc.
ing pistol fred.
THR SHOT
had no effect, except to startle an army Of clerks
While in the act Of firing the second shot Di1ts
was seized by Mr.. W. W. Wilson, Chief OF the
Loan Division. The ball sunk In the casing Of
tho door Of the Treasurer's once. Treasurer
wyman, who was attracted to the spot by the
report OF the pistol, was standing In the door
way, and tho ball struck the casing directly over
his head. Mrs. Storer, the lady whom Dilts was
trying TO kill. hurried back to her place In the
basement, stated to lady clerk that the man
who had called to see her had tried to shoot
somebody, got leave Of absence, and left for her
home.
The firing attracted very large crowd Of ex.
cited spectators to the spot, and the corridor In
the vicinity Of the Treasurer's ONCE, was soon
thronged, and the widest stories wero set aHoat
done. A watehman and messenger attempted to
secure Dilts but he
STRUGGLED DESPERATELY,
and II was with great diiiculty that he was held
fast. Mr.. Cobaugh, the captain OF the watch,
turned him over to Ohicsr O'Hare Of the
Metropolitan police, and Dilts was taken to the
Filth Precinct station. Hore he gave q name
which was understood to be John Little. He
would say nothing about tho shooting, and ap-
peared to be insane. He talked to himsslfa great
deal, and In an incoherent way.
POISONED.
About an hour after he was taken to the sta
tion he became sick, and showed . disposition to
vomit. There was glare In his eyes which made
the officers in charge believe that he was under
the influence Of some drug or poison. Dr. WAL
ter was called 10, and rendered what medical at
tention he could, but Dilts resisted any attempt
to force IN emetic into his mouth. Occasionally
he would talk In an irrational way. Whsu the
Doctor informed him that the lady was not hit he
exclaimed, "ls IL possible"
an "a n q No
A card was found in his pocket, on one side Of
which was tho name, "John Dllts;n on tho other
was written, "John Dilts, Ovid, Michigan. Send
corps to Michigan University for examination" {"
This was convincing evidence that ho had at
tempted to destroy his own life by some narcotic
poison. His condition improved, however, and he
went to sleep. when visited In his cell last even.
lug all he said or would say, was, "God is Just"
which he repeated over to himself several times.
MRS. sToRER
is 9 lady between thirty-nvs and forty years Of
age, and Of very attractive appear anco. She has
two daughters, ono OF whom is married, and re.
sides on Maryland avenue, between Tenth and
Eleventh streets.
u exactly what he looks like, well-to.d do farmer,
and has quite an extensive tract Of land In Miohl.
s L sSSTs 1r q ng 1s
beard, sandy hair, and dresses very plainly.
Several months ago he
MKT the CLAIMING MRS. sToRER,
and imme mediately succumblng to her attractions
fell violently in love with her She repulsed hi.
suit, but this only made him the more ardent He
must have become crazed In his passion for the
widow, until he resolved upon ending both her life
and his own. The pistol which was taken from
him was handsome nve-barreled Smith 4 Yves.
son revolver. from which two shots had been
fired. Mrs. Storer, after going to her home, was
confined to her bed by nervous prostration. She
was unable to see any one last night, or to give
any account OF the affair.