New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-31
SIDE BY SIDE IN DEATH.
A DELIBERATE MURDER AND SUICIDE.
A YOUNG MAN SHOOTS HIMSELF AND WOMAN
WITH WHOM HE HAD BEEN LIVING


WITH WHOM HE HAD BEEN LIVING
Occupants of the four-story house No. 211 West
Twenty second-st. were alarmed at 8 a. m. yester.
day by two pistol shots which were fired in frons
room on tho third floor. Several furnished rooms
in the house were let to persons who took
their meals at neighboring restaurants. The
room in which the shooting occurred was occupied
by Horace b. Shepard, young clerk, and a woman
much older than himself, who was believed
to be his wife. Mrs. Williamson, the landlady, was
in the lower part Of the house wien the shots were
heard. Other women, who were in their rooms on
the upper foors went into the halls and said they
believed some one had been killed in the house.
They were too much frightened to mako sniinv est-
CATION. Mrs. Williamson sent for her brother, g. G.
Smith, young artist who also lived in the house.
and was employed at place not far away When
Mr. Smith arrived he tried tho door of the room oc-
cupied by the Shepards and found it locked. There
was no reply when he knocked loudly and de-
manded admittance. Policeman Clark. of the Six
teenth Precinct, was summoned and he forced the
door open. Then it seen that murder and
suicide had been committed in the room.
FOUND DEAD IN THEIR BED.
On the large bed, which was placed with its head
against the middle of the east wall of the room, lay
the lifeless bodies of Shepard and his wife, That OF
the woman was on the side Of the bed nearest the
door. She was large and coarse-lookiug woman
with features of Hebrew cast. Her age was about
forty five. Death had lent soddeu,
almost brutal, look to the face. Blood
was streaming from shot wound
near the right ear. 1t was evident that she had
been killed in her Sleep her eyes were closed and
the position of her body was one of natural repose.
She had been lying on her left side with one arm
folded over her breast and the other stretched out
axro ;~hN ,lorf f,o ldar ha
ards mead was thrown backward over the edge OF
the bed, his eyes were wide open and wore q
look of agony and his body, lying on the back was
twisted in manner that showed plainly death
struggle He had shot himself in the right side OF
the head also, and death must have followed the
shot quickly. A new-model Smith a. Wesson re-
volyer of 3Scalibre, with two chambers discharged,
lay between the bodies close to Shepard's right
hand. which had dropped to his side. Shepard was
Of medium height and slender with clear-cut. hand
some features light hair and complexion and brown
mustache. The bodies were dressed only In night
c4othing, but the coverings of the bed were drawn
Up over them. The couple had slept late in tho
morning. Shepard had walked first Dut he had not
moved from his place in the bed. probably
fearing to disturb his companion. His pillow was
displaced showing that his revolver had been taken
from under it before the shots were fired
The furniture in the room consisted of an ordinary
black walnut chamber set, with chairs to match
plain carpet covered the floor and on the walls
were a few cheapy framed chromos and wood en-
cravings one Of them representing the Last Supper
There vas trunk near the bed. In q small closet
at the west end of the room was hung most OF the
clothing worn by the couple on the previous day.
Mr. Smith said that Shepard and the woman began
to occupy the room on May 49, They had been
extremely. quiet. The woman had been in the
a.. ia t.an AL
husband was away at work, and their
evenings had been spent in the room as rule.
Nothing more was known about them by any In
mates of the house.
LITTLE KNOWN OF THE COUPLE
Police Captain McElwain, when he heard of tho
tragedy went TO the house and made thorough
search in the room. In Shepards pockets he found
about 50, watch and chain and several letters
which showed that the young man had been en-
ployed by Herring & Co.. the safe-makers, at No.
251 Broadway. The letters were about business
matters. Not scrap of information concerning
the woman was found until piece of paper with
some writing in pencil on it, was found IN an iu-
side pocket of Shepard's waistcoat. On the back
of the paper was the address, Rev. 7. l.. Shepard.
Saybrook Conn" The following letter was written
on the other side:
MYDEAR MOTHER AND FATHER: Kitty and vera
secretly married There will be nothing revealed OF tho
ceremony We have Deen very happy together in life,
will DO happier in death. which seems so pleas
ant our last wish Request is that may rest to-
gether. With all our love and devotion, we are your
'A'0'''""'0 KIrTY AND HORACE SHEPARD.
Shepard had written the letter on July 20, as
that date appeared the page, but he probably
had not shown 1t to the woman mentioned as his
wife. Captain McElwain said he could not find
any clew to the woman's identity. Coroner Martin
gave a permit for the removal OF the two bodies to
an undertaking shop in West Twenty-thrd-st He
said he would not proceed with au inquest until
later in the week. The police directed to take
charge of the property belonging to the couple
which was found IN the room.
THE WOMAN IDENTIFIED.
One article which the police overlooked. fur
nished to reporters of ascertaining who the
murdered woman was 1t was q bundle
of hosiery. on the wrapper of which
had been written the address, Mrs A. G. Kelley.
Marshall Flats, No. III West Fifteenth-st" At the
large hlt-house it was said that Mrs Kelley was
away from home. The name Kelley" was printed
on the letter-box for the fourth-hoor fat and over
that somebody had written the name 'Voullaire"
Occupants of other fats in the big build
ing said they had not associated mueA
with Mrs. Kelley or her children. Tho
family moved into the fiat the fourth floor sbouta
year ago. Mira Kelley said to be a widow. She
had two sons, young hlen WIN Weio hno"n 40 nv
phonse and Belmont Voullalre. and two daughters
who wore short dresses, although they were nearly
as tall as their mother The fiat was furnished
extensively, il was said, and u piano ia the paror
was used every night to accompany singing Several
young men called frequently at night
Within three months, however, there had been
marked change Mrs. Kelley was away much of tho
time and the other members OF the family were nos
seen often IN the halls. The Hat had been closed
for q day or two. description of Mrs Kelly was
singularly like that of the woman who had been
killed in Twenty One inmate Of the ras
house said that son OF Mrs. Kelley wasempioyeaia
ONeil's dry goods store IN Sixthaye.
At ONeilrs store it was found that Alphonso
Voulaire q young man, was employed TO wrap up
packages He said that he know Horace Is. Shep-
ard, and his tone implied that his acquaintance was
not a pleasant one. When asked If he knew where