Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-04
4 SHOCKING DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
Husband Murders His Wife and
Then Commits Suicide.

A shocking double tragedy occurred last even
ing in quiet neighborhood on Capitol HILL Fred
eric de Frouville murdered his wife and then
killed himself at the wife's residence, No. 61O
South street. Since last November, de Frouville
and his wife had been separated, and an applica-
tlon for divorce, upon which no decree has been
rendered, was made by the wife. About half past
eight O'Clock last night, while Mrs. de Frouvile
was in her parlor with George Buckingham, a
young man living in an adjoining house, de Frou-
vile came to the door and rang the bell Mrs de
Frouville going to the window saw her husband
and told him to go away. He demanded admis-
sion, and the wife being In fear told Buckingham
the house, when de Frouville forced the door
open: 1t appears that de Frouville then at once
sprang towards his wife, and shot her dead with a
revolver, the ball entering her left temple Then
placing the pistol to his own head, he fired and
at once alarmed, and, running to the house. found
the two bodies stretched upon the floor OF the par
lor. Dr. Bayne was summoned, but his services
age. and his wife year or two younger She was
a a,r,5 Dane her M maiden name being Andrea VOL
sfrup She was San tall, handsome and
They lived apparently In harmony until ABOUT
TWO years ago, when, 1t is alleged, he began to be
Frouville was born in Virginia, of French parent
age, and at the time of his marriage was employed
IN IN the sgpal corps: subsequently he lost his
afterwards he secured employment under the
Coast Survey, but lost his place through the same
influences. Since their separation, Mrs. de Frou-
Vile had been engaged as a translator In the Ag-
rlcultural department. Many stories as to the
motlVe OF the murder are In circulation. One al
leges that de FrOuville was angered at the atten-
ti0ns paid his wife by young Buckingham. and It
is said that Buckingham was included In the
scheme OF murder, but fortunately escaped.
THE UNHAPPY MARRIED LIFE OF THE VICTIMS.
Mrs. de Frouville's maiden name, as stated
Ar6~
mere from Denmark in 1871, accompanied by Col
Sheets, who had been U. s. consul at Elsinore, but
had been elected to Congress as republican
from Alabama. He obtained position for her
In the Post Office department., where she
acted as translator in the Dead Letter Office
de Frouville, Virgnian by birth, but of French
descent. She married him secretly in Baltimore
IN 1876, against the remOnstrances OF her friends,
TO |. Nv. Whom ne was khown as wild. reckless man.
After that she retained her place in the Post Once
department under her maiden name; but
dsa 1ne erh OF oe chd which
was afterwards appointed to a cierkship in the
Agricultural department. through the Influence OF
went from bad TO worse, and in November last
through John Amber Smith, she applied for d.
vorce from him On account OF habitual drunken
ness and cruelty. In a conversation in St Mares
hotel, about two months ago, de Frouville ex-
pressed his confident believe that she could not
Eotaln i" an divorce from him He spoke OF her hav
but he still declared that he loved her and could
not help IL and would love her as long he lived
Inc only thing he complained OF was that she re-
fused to deliver to him his private papers He was
then clerk on OF the Seacoast and Inland
steamers between here and Norfolk She was seen
on the Avenue yesterday afternoon, dressed In a
red dress with black cloak accompanied by Mr.
while de Frouville followed them on
the ether side.
The Divorce Suit.
The bill for divorce was filed November 10th
last wifi cofr NM hogp
marriage in September 12th. 1877, BY Rev. j. W.
osborne, in Baltimore, and she charged that de-
lendant has for three years past been an habltual
lie. Mr.. d. Amber Smith appeared as her
counsel
Mr. W. T; Johnson, for defendant. filed his
answer on December 18th, admitting his residence
mere and the marriage, but denied habitual
or violence.
On January 80 replication was fled and the
case was referred to Mr.. John Crukshank, exam
lner In chancery, February 10. since which time
some testimony had been taken, the witnesses
being relatives.
THREATENING TO BLOW HIS wIFH's BRAINS OUT.
The testimony OF Orsena L. Zimmerman, taken
February q, was the most Important In that she
testlfed that on the previous Sunday February
~ de Frouville said, when perfectly sober, am
driven to desperation, and I am going to blow her
brains out" When she eXpostulated on his con-
duct he replied, I" am determined in my course E"
He was SO cool and determined that witness was
induced TO warn Mrs. de Frouvlle. This deposit
llon was taken, subject to crOss-examination and
exception.
IN No other testimony was taken till March 18th,
when George w, Buckingham testified that he had
known the parties for about five years: that de
Frouyille in the last three four years INDUCED
In drink pretty freely, and, as far as he knew 1t
seemed to be habtuaL
STILL LOVED HIS WIFE AND BELIEVED HER vIR-
TUOUs.
Yesterday de Frouvllle called at Mr. Cruik
shank's Office and asked to see Buckingham's testi
mony, which was shown him. He became excited
and expressed his love for his wife and his conf
dence In her as virtuous woman. He referred to
buckingham as doing him great injustice. and
said he would not attack Buckingham himself. but
would get his nephew "a youth about his WeghD
TO TO whip him. Subsequently he became more
Later in the afternoon he drank little. When
the divorce case was referred to he spoke OF his
VIE ni IN me highest terms and thought that the
from pretended friends, and he asserted that he
loveu the very ground on which she walked.
DE FROUvILLEs CAREER HERE
De FrouVllie came to this city when he was very
young, out LETT here when he was young man for
New Orleans, and for a time was employed in the
custom-house In that city. He came back to
washington some ten years ago, and had been
In various capacities from time to time
about the Capitol, and in the coast survey Office.
and was In the employ OF the tier at Norfolk in
November last, when the above suit was filed
neh Ne returned lie stated that this the first
lntlmation that he had OF his wife contemplating
such action.
TAKING THE RISK OF BEING SHOT
MIS- dc FrouViIle having been warned OF his
threats some three weeks since called on her coun-
sci, Mr.. j. Amber Smith, who advised her to have
him arrested, and Mr.. Smith said it was her duty
TO DO SO. She replied that rather than their
affairs be made public she would not do so, and
would take the risk OF being shot, In ah inter. |
view with MIR. Smith a few days ago de FrOll- |
vile said that he was satisfied that his wife was
pure vlrtuouS woman, aud the very fact that she |
lad taken action against him was evidence to him
that he ought to be dead. |
The Inquest To-day.
curious. expectant crowd lettering about in |
tne sunlight in the vicinity OF $40 street. small
two-story brick house, marked the scene of the
double tragedy last evening. The coroner. Dr. |
Patterson, arrived about 10 o'clock and viewed the
remains He decided that an tnnuest was I'M
necessary. The bodies were left wing in the nar |
lOr, where they had fallen after the fatal shot.
Ihe 1rendS OF de FrOuville directed that his hOnv
De removed to ZurhorSts undertaking establish. |
ment, on the avenue. The remainsO Of Mrs de FrOu |
vile VIII remain In the house until the funeral |
About II o'clock Coroner Patterson impan eled
THE FOLLOWING JURY:
w. B. Marsh, E. A. Lpscomb. + N Shomo chas
Beall, Saml Cook, Hugh McCafrrey.
TIE FIRST WITNESS
was the young man Geo w p,,oa,,nrh,p, ,vbo