Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-10
SHOT DEAD BY HIS WIFE.
\ Terrible Calamity Befalls a Wealthy
Baltimore Family

Baltimore Family.
\ Baltimore special of August eth to
the New York Times. says that a terrible
domestic tragedy occurred about two
miles from ReisterstOwn, Baltimore cOun-
~, early this morning. Mr.. Lewis Law
renee Conrad. a well-knOwn Baltimore
lawyer, was shot and instantly killed bv
his wife. Minnie Worthington Conrad. at
MOntmorency, the estate OF Mrs. Mary c.
WOrthingtOn. Mrs. WOrthingtOn, who
Is the mother of Mrs. Conrad, was
awakened about o'clock by her daughter.
/ who ran into her room CRYING. Mother
have killed my husband. Oh,
my God, I have killed himr' Mrs. Worth
ngtOn spraug to her feet. and. rushing to
her daughter. discovered that she had in
her hand a small revolver. Mrs. Worth
ingtOu's shrieks brought her son. John
IOlly WOrthingtOn, to the scene. and to-
gether they proceeded to Mr.. COnrad's
room. They found that gentleman lying
upon the bed, his head in pool Of blood,
and large wound in the left side of his
head. from which the blood was slowly
OOZing. \ messenger was dispatched for
DR.. j. y. Dickson, at ReisterstOwn, who
arrived at the house soon after. The doc
tor saw that life was extinct. and upon
examination found that death had been
instantaneous. The ball had entered the
left side Of the head, about an inch and a
half above the ear and had penetrated to
the centre Of the brain. The news of the
terrible occurrence spread rapidly. and
by daylight a number of friends and ac-
quaintances had called to ascertain the
truth Of the report and cOndOle with the
family. Mrs. Conrad had in the meantime
been removed 10 another room in a violent
state of Mysteries. She was perfectly
rational. however, and gave a lucid and
clear statement. as far as her excited con-
70 CHI
the shooting may have been accidental.
The lady has been suffering since last
January with acute neuralgia of the
stomach and bowels. which at stated pe-
riOds seemed almost to derange her mind.
She stated to the doctors that last night
her suffering was so great that she
had resolved upon suicide as the only
method Of relief, and to that end had taken
10 bed with her a small revolver. and Sc
creted the weapon beneath her pillow.
Between y and 1 O'Clock, she said, her
sufierings became unbearable, and she
seized the pistol, resolved to end her life.
In turning il around. however, the weapon
exploded and killed her husband. She
does not remember whether her husband
awoke or not, but from the position of the
body it Is thought that Mr.. Conrad was
awakened by his wife's movement and
raised up and encouraged her TO re-
main quiet. The admOnitiOn coming sud
denly upon her, it is thought, startled the
lady, and, in her excited and nervous con-
ditiOn. the weapon exploded.
A COrOner's jury returned a verdict
that the death was from accident. This
verdict, however, is not in accord with
the views Of many people in the neighbor-
hood. who believe that Mrs. Conrad. in a
moment Of temporary insanity, pointed
the pistol at her husbands head and fired.
There Is a streak of insanity running
through branches Of the family, John Toll
". Johns cousin, having committed sui
eide two years ago. and Ned Hanson. an
other cousin, having murdered Mr..
Charles White in fit Of in
sanity few months ago. Mrs.
Conrad was once a handsome woman.
but is now emaciated by continued sick
ness. Mr.. Conrad was born July ,, 1899. in
the state of Mississippi. He entered the
Confederate army at the breaking out Of
the war, and was for some time Captain
on General Buckner's staff. His father
was Charles NJ. Conrad, at one time Sec
retarv Of War under President Fillmore.
Mr. COnrad's grandfather was nephew
Of General Washington, and his grand
mother was Nelly Custis. daughter Of
Mrs. Washington. Mr.. Conrad owned
large estates in New Orleans and was
very wealthy. He married Miss WOT-
thingtOn about I3 years ago, the issue Of
which union has been one child, boy
about II years Of age. Their domestic
life has always been "A happy one. The
WOrthingtOn family is one of the most
prominent in the county, and the news
of the tragedy has shocked every one who
has heard it.