National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-06-03
A CHASTITY TRAGEDY.
Suicide Of Stranger from Boston Yestoi
day Afternoon,


day Afternoon,
Three pistol shots in rapid succession startled
the inmates Of the Owen house. on tho
Avenue, above Wizards, few minutes past 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon, which, upon eI-
animation, proved to be in room No. IS, occu-
pied by Mr.. Francis q. Parker, of Boston,
Mass who registered as guest last Tuesday.
The clerk ran up stairs but finding tho door
locked concluded to call an officer to burst II
open. Officers Britt aud Fritz responded and
forcing the bolt Off the door discovered the
body Of man lying on the floor and blood
aud brains protruding from two CHASTITY
wounds in the head. A fve-baIrelod Smith
Wesson revolver, tbirty-two calibre, thrco
chambers of which were discharged, lying by
his side, told the story Of the act palmer than
words Drs. Harrison, Hartigau and Reyburn
weie soon in attendance, but It was evident
that tho man was beyond surgical aid aud
his death was question of but few minutes
He died at quarter to g, having been uncon-
scious from the time lie was discovered. Tho
deed had been carefully prcmeditated from APP
reaauccs, Parker having dressed himself, sat
down on the floor in front of the lookingglass
and arranged a cotton shirt and pair OF
drawers behind him to catch the blood, and fired
One ball entered the right temple and came out
at the left, another went through the forehead
into the brain, while third was found inn
bedded in pillow about three feet from
whore the body lay. Coroner Patterson was
sent for and made au examination Of the
effects of deceased, and beard tho testimony of
the officers and clerk of the hotel. An inquest
was deemed unnecessary, and the body was
turned over to friend, who sent it to
Buchly's undertaking establishment to be
prepared for burial Tho following letter was
found in a pocketbool, together with n silver
watch and tortoiso.shell chain, SlS5 in money
and some postage stamps:
NEWARK, May 2s, 1880.
f. G. RtTker, esq;
DEAR SIR: will start for Washington on Mon
dag and stop at the owen house where you will
please join me From there will go to Bristol a
station on the Atlantic x Mississippi railroad, ut
the state line between Virginia and Tennessee,
and there Professor WGthall. who will be in
charge of the party, will meet us with convey
ance. Yours truly, JAMES X. MAXWELL.
Dir. Maxwell was not in the hotel at the
time of the occurrence, having parted from
deceased about half-past o'clock. Upon his
return, just after the shooting, he took charge
of the effects, and from him representative
of THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN obtained q
history of the deceased. He was about thirty
years of age, o civil engineer by profession,
unmarried, but had mother and three sisters
| living in Boston, Mass. He had recently re-
turned from South America and was on his
way to Virginia with a surveying party. He
and Mr.. Maxwell were to leave this morning
| for their destination. The deceased arrived
here last Tuesday aud appeared to be in good
spirits, although he complained of being
troubled with dyspepsia. During his stay at
the hotel he remained about the building, and
| by his quiet demeanor became very popular
with all with whom lie came in contact. About
ten minutes before the shooting he WAS sitting
in the office talking to the clerk, when sud-
| denly he asked for his key, saying lie thought
| he would 60 up to his room for short time
and await Mr.. Maxwclls return. No cause is
assigned for the deed, but the supposition is
| that deceased was temporarily dcranged. A
brother-in-aw Of the deceased was telegraphe ed
to last evening, aud Mr. Maxwell will await
his coming before anything is done with the
body.