The Evening critic., 1883-04-04
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
Fred DC FrouviIie Murders His wife
and Then Blows isis own Brains
OUt-Wbat Was Developed at the

OUt-what Was Developed at the
Coroner's Inquest.
One of the most terrible and revolving
double tragedies that ever sent thrill Of
horror through the quiet precincts of Capt.
tol Hill was committed last evening ut
about half-past eight o'clock and resulted
in the instant death under the most tragic
circumstances of Frederick de Frouville
and his beautiful wife, Audrion de Frou-
vile.
About seven years ago Frederick de
Frouville married an accomplished Danish
| lady named Audrien Walstenp and soon af-
| ter went to housekeeping at No. 6l0 A
| street southeast. Frederick was clerk in
| the Signal Office, but being of dissolute
habits soon lost his position and became iu-
cumbent upon his wife for support.
| Mrs. de Frouville, being well. educated
woman and talented linguist, held posi-
| tions as translator of languages in the Gov
ernment Departments, and has recently
| filled that position in the Agricultural
Bureau. The couple lived very unhappily,
| Frederick being almost constantly drunk
and abusive to his wife, and frequently be-
coming involved in dsgraceful quarrels,
during one of which, about a year ago, he
| stabbed gentleman named Thomas j.
Morrison, and was tried and fined for the
|
sued for divorce and separated from her
husband during the tendency of the suit.
Recently Mrs. dc Frouville has received
the attentions of q neighbor named George
Buckingham, which has aroused the jeal-
ousy of her husband.
The lady has continued to live al the
house, No. 610 A street southeast, and was
| sitting in the parlor of the residence last
| evening when her husband, in half-in-
1 wi fod I'M nj n.
horhood inquiring for young Buckingham.
| De Frouville went to his wifes house at
about $50 o'clock when she was sitting
with Mr.. Buckingham in the parlor and
rang the bell. Mrs de Frouville went TO
the window, and seeing her husband did
not go to the door, and asked what he
wanted, and told him to go away. He told
her to open the door, and she refused to do
so. He then forced the door open. The
wife told Buckingham to get police
man, and when the husband
at last got into the mouse he had gone out
the back door. As soon as de Frouville
saw his wife he drew 39-calibre Smith &
Wesson revolver and shot her in the left
temple. Then putting the pistol to his
own head, shot himself, and both fell dead.
The neighbors ran into the house. On the
floor in the parlor were the two dead bodies
The form of the woman was lying across
the room. with the head toward the mantel.
The body of her husband was at her feet
The wife was dressed in evening dress,
with short sleeves and she lay face down,
her hair clotted with blood. Her arms lay
loosely at her sides as if she had died with
out struggle. The face of the man was
turned upward, and the same dreadful de-
termination that had prompted the awful
deed was marked in the dead features.
DIR. Bayne viewed the bodies, but as they
were beyond his aid he left them in charge
of the police. Buckingham was apparently
overcome with grief
De Frouville was 36 years of age and
his wife about 32, and an estimable and
popular lady. The de Frouvilles had no
children.
The COroner's Inquest.
Coroner Patterson held an inquest at the
de Frouville residence at 10:40 o'clock this
morning over the remains of the murdered
woman and her husband. The following
jnry was impanneled William B. Marche
J. NJ. Shomo, E. A. Lipseomb, Charles Beall
Samuel Cook and Hugh McCafl'rey.
The first witness called was Mr.. George
II. Buckingham, who testified that he wa;
in the parlor with Mrs. de Frouville about
$50 o'clock last evening. She was engaged
in giving him lessons in German when the
front door bell rang. She went to the bay.
window, opened the blinds and asked
who was there 1t was her husband, and
be demanded admittance. "You can't
come in herew she replied. He then began
to kick at the door and tried TO break il
down. Mrs. de Frouville turned to wit
ness and said run for an officer" and he
(witness) had just reached the back door
when he heard two pistol shots fired
Found two officers and brought them to tht
house as soon as possible. Witness had
never heard de Frouville threaten his
wife.
Mr.. John Z. Buckingham, ST., father o.
, above, was the next witness. He testified
that he heard the shots about $50 o'clock
Mrs. de Frouville had just been IN witness
house (next door to her own, and stated
. | that she wanted to attend the matinee to.
| morrow Today, and consequently desired
f to make some preparations. However, sh'
, | agreed to practice on the piano with y0unl
) Buckingham who performs ON the violin
) | When witness heard the shots in Mrs. d,
Frouville's house, he ran up stairs and 60
his pistol, fearing that the man mean
, violence to his son; had frequently heart
that de Frouville threatened his wife. NJ
intimacy existed between the dead woman
and his son other than as scholar ant
| teacher.
, Mrs Zimmerman, cousin of the husband
! testified that she heard him maxi
, threats on the Goth of February last ant
, warned Mrs. De Frouville. She gave tn
| same testimony in the pending divorc
case. He called at her house at O'Clock
last evenings a half hour before the dec
, was committed, and said If he grew
4 desperate that he would take both his owl
and her lives When he left witnes:
, house last night lie gave her written pa
' per, which stated that in the event any
thing happened to him she shoul,
, take certain of his goods. Upol
going out he turned and said
II intend to settle this matter a
once" He appeared annoyed by some
. thing, and had been drinking.
After q few minutes deliberation the jur.
returned the following verdict THAT tn
:, said Frederick and Andrea de Frouvill
: came to their death from pistol shot wound
3 of the head inflicted with pistol held i
: the hands of Frederick de Frouville wit
| the intent to commit murder and suicide.
The remains Of the husband We're take
to the undertaking establishment of Zul
horst. Mrs. do Frouville will be buried b
a the ladies and gentlemen of the Agricu
) tural Department., where she was employed
Her remains were laid out in the parlC
!, where the tragedy occurred, and wei
!: viewed by many relatives and friends.
n A friend of dc Frouville said that he WI
y born at sea, of French parentage, when nei
:, San Francisco. Mrs, de Frouville's etfec
% were taken charge of by friends.
y
"a NOnparcil VeIveteens.
II The manufacturers OF the Nonparell yC
afa ,ial xuar