National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-27
A FATAL LEAP,
Hrs. DoHGherty's Death and the Inquest
That Followed It.


That Followed It.
Mrs H0nOra Dougherty, 4 woman fifty
years Of age living at No. 216 Third street north
west was injured about half past one o'clock yes
tcrlldy morning. as it was stated, by falling or
jumping out of a second-story window, and died
few hours later. The story was started yesterday
morning that there had been some disagreement
between her and her husband, John F. Dougherty,
and her death the result of foul play. The
police therefore took charge of the premises. About
noon Dr.. J. F. Hartigan went TO the house to make
Il post-mOrtem examination. but he and his assist
ants were driven from the house by the frenzied
DougheTty, who flourishcd
PISTOL AND KNIFE
and syrore that he would not have his wife cut up
Sergeant Brosnau and Officer Prather-thereupOu
pul Doughcrty under arrest and locked him up at
Police Headquarters aud DIR. Hartigan was
allowed to proceed. Coroner Patterson held all
inquest at three o'clock at the Health Office.
Doughcrty, a burly man, with a round head, COW
cred with a mat of gray hair and a gray beard
dressed roughly, and wearing a d" G. A r" badge
Oh his breast, appeared with his counsel, Mr.. Dan.
CahiIi. Dougherty's eyes looked iuaGmed from
drink and loss Of sleep.
TIE TESTIMONY.
Dr.. James Z. Riley the first witness, and testi
fed that lac had been attending Mrs. Dougherty,
whO was suffering from nervous prostration, loss
ofTcst and mental alteration. Wednesday after
noon he advised DOugherty 10 take her to the hos
paI. as ne was afraid she might do herself bodily
harm. Mary Johnson, a cOlored woman testified
that she was III the alley next to Dougherty's
house. between ten and eleven o'clock Wednesday
night and heard Dougherty talking to his wife
about going to bed, saying that he had been
bothered with her fer five nights. and he would
put an end 10 her life. Fanny Johnson, who was
with Mary. testified to the same effect Peter
iSri>c5e. who lives at the Cutler House.
testified to hearing a lady hallOoimg about
eleven o'clock, and responsive curses from
some man. Laura Turner who went TO
Dougherty's at four o'clock yesterday morn
ing to help lay out the body. testified
TO hearing DoUsherty say that he didn't care a
d-n for the d-n dead woman, for she wouldn't
doWhathet told her" DT.TOwnshcud tcstifedto hay
ing been called by Doughertyt 70 attend the woman.
He thought that when he first her she was
Intelligent enough TO give all account other death,
bat she had said nothing about any violence. Dr.
iIarigan testified 10 having found wounds and
abrasioHs on the lyoman'S limbs and a fracture
of the skull, the latter. IA his opinion, having
caused death.
DOUCHEITY'> STATEMENT.
Dougherty was permitted to make a statement
and talked il a very emphatic manner lie said
that Dr. Riley told him Wednesday afternoon that
he must get his wife to Providence Hospital a.
quickly as possible she needed care. He pro-
cured hack il the evening and, inducing his
wife TO enter ii by telling her that they were going
So the Schuctzen Park they were driven to Provi-
dence Hospital. ON entering The door," he con-
tinued, 81 met small Sister-a woman of medium
size. Upon asking for the olderOne found very
stubborn person -
sister Beatrice, / suppose" interrupted the
coroner.
lis small los who She was" said Dougherty;
& if heaven was made up Of such persons there
would be very little room for good people They de-
Clued to take her in. said Lady can't you take
her in for to-nightg No; not tonight she said
The little Sister demonstrated, but the other said
No l said: Lady, just quick as Judge Hoar
genes back VIII find out what is the amount of
money that comes TO this hospital, and then took
M wife home. After that shut up the house
she tried to jump out of the front window, but l
caught her 1 demonstrated with her till got her
TO lie down. Going to bed pinned her under
Clothing mine 50 that she could not getaway from
me without my knowing it, but she got away from
Ioe, and when woke up found she wasn't there.
INSTANTLY jumped out of bed and went through
the house with candle The dog ran to the door,
and
A SORT OF INSTINCT
told me she had gone out of the window. I looked
anu saw eE sLllS Oh the corner OF the cart. says
she: Pappy. what, in Heavens name, are you
looking for?' I said: Heavenly Jesus! is that
you saw she was all blood" D0ugherty then
told about bringing the wounded woman into the
house and about going to HicklingS drug store
As he in his Undertaking. a policeman |
stopped him, and, after learning what the trouble
was, sent him 20 DR.. ToWnshend. After telling |
about the death, Dougherty added: We never |
had a quarrel III our lives There never was a |
happier family. She handled all the money. The |
night l was married l put 5000 in her apron" |
The jury. after a short consultation returned a |
verdict that deceased came to her death from
Injuries to the head received in falling or jumping
ont Of a window while laboring under a temporary
alteration of the mind" DOugherty was dis /
charged from custody.