Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-04
DE WOLOWSKI COMMITS SUICIDE.
TRAGIC SEQUEL OF A RECENT
SCANDAL.

The Music Teacher Who Was Charged
by His Daughter With am Unnatural
Crime Shoots Himself-A Suicide In
SOlitude-ExtensiveP Preparations fol
the Fatal Act-Letters Which He l.ef
for Different PeOple-He Says He
Died to Save His Daughters Honor
Prot. Alexander De Wolowskt, the music teacher
who was recently charged in the Police Court by
his daughter Isabelle with most brutal and un
natural crime, was found dead in his house, No. 81
New York avenue, this morning, having commit
ted suicide during the night. Since De wolowsk
was released on bail, last Monday. he has beer
sleeping at the house, which is a very finely fur
nished three-story brick dwelling. Monday nigh,
he had John II. jackson, colored man, with him
and Tuesday night and last night small colored
poy named VIM II. Smallwood remained in The
mouse with him. This morning, about 730 O'Clock
Smallwood's mother came to the house and rang
the bell violently for nearly two hours. Then she
and New York avenue and stated to Charles Disor
her difficulty in getting into the house. Olson a,
once went to the house, and, enecting an entrance
opened the front door,
THE BODY DISCOVERED.
Going to back room he forced open the door
which had been secured inside by placing cnail
against it. He found the body of the professor
lying on the floor. Olson at once informed the
police, and Sergeant HOll1nberger and Officer Law
coroner.
The room in which the dead man was lying was
the dining room. On the east side was common
and the center table the body was lying, on the
lett side, the face being turned to the floor four
barrsl Sharp pistol was lying on the lounge: Neal
the body lay seven barreled Allen and WheelocE
pistol, with three chambers empty. On the table
were two penkniveS, with all the blades open-one
carving knife There were also on the table pack
ages and letters One letter was addressed: "MiSS
Isabelle De Wolowski. at Mrs Chas. BeallS, No. 20a
should be delivered Immediately" Others were
addressed to the chief OF police to the Secretary OF
War, Robert Lincoln: to the Republican office, and
10 his counsel, Mr. Campbell Darlington. The dead
man had no coat or vest on. Near his mouth was
small pool Of blood.
STRANGE MESSAGES ON THE BACKS OF PHOTOGRAPHS
On some of the chairs in the room were
spread religious pictures. There were cabi.
net photographs on the table-one of his
daughter and one Of Maurice SchlOSser. On the
back OF Isabelle's picture was written: "My last
KISS for you While praying to the Holy Father God
bless you l am dying" on the front OF Schlos.
Wel it must be done, but I'll wait for you TO pun
ish you. My daughter saved your life, but con-
demned me to death | will do SO to save my
daughter. A. S. De w. Dec. 8, 'S4." On the back:
=" left my word OF honor to my poor, sweet child.
She did not do much for me. / hope will be
avenged. am now dying"
NO INQUEST HELD.
The coroner was notified and about 1890 O'Clock
made an examination Of the body. He found three
bullet wounds, one on the left side OF the chest
near the nipple and one at the pit of the stomach
Neither OF these was serious wound, the balls
hN having tailed to penetrate and fallen upon the
right side near the nipple. It penetrated over SIX
inches and probably caused death in a few
moments It was decided that an inquest was
unnecessary.
DR woLowsKI's GRIEF AND DRspoNpENcY.
The deceased was arrested about two weeks ago
on the charge preferred by his daughter of COM
mitting an outrage upon her. While In jail he was
very despOndent, stating that he could not bear
the disgrace. On one occasion at the jail he Dor
rowed knife from Mr.. Darlington, his attorney.
The latter expected that De Wolowski wanted the
knife to kill himself and asked il 1t was not So
himself II he had an opportunity. Last Monday lie
had hearing at the Police Court and was re-
leased on $4,000 bail Going from the court to his
house he remained there all night with Mr. Car
rtngtOn's valet, John H. jackson. He cried nearly
all night and in the morning stated that he could
not sleep. On Tuesday night he appeared In much
trouble and threatened then to Kill himself, but
his friend, DR.. Kloczewski. succeeded in quieting
him. Yesterday he visited several places about
appeared to be in good spirits At five O'Clock he he
had an interview at DR.. Kloczewskf's with his
counsel and then seemed to be in cheerful mood.
Mr. Darlington accompanied him to his home and
left him about six O'Clock. The professor as they
parted kissed Mr.: Carrtngtons hand and said he
would not see him again. Mr.. Darlington, how
had made the same threats before and was at this
time in better spirits than he had been since his
first arrest.
THE LITTER TO HIS ATTORNEY.
The letter addressed to Mr.. Darlington was dated
December Sd, IL o'clock p. m, and represented the
writer to be dying. 1t is rather incoherent.
ssYou knew, !" the letter says. "that could not
survive the misfortune that was struck with.
could not l did lose, at one time. any amount OF
money, but 1t never did have any effect. Remem-
Der 1t is my only child that do love, cherish and
respect"
He beseeches Mr. Darlington to befrfend and
tinues "that my daughter gets my package from
the q. 8. hotel. I am dying now, and convinced
vindicate me in our noble press; don't let me be
sacrificed. Excuse my poor baby. Excuse my
poor baby, she Is innocent"
DIRECTIONS CONCERNING HIS FUNERAL AND PROP
ERTY-
The letter to Major Dye requests him to send i'm
mediately to his daughter, and says his body must
not be touched but delivered to his daughter that
the house must be taken care OF by the police, and
that everything In 1t belongs to his daughter The
funeral, and asks his friend, Mrs. -, residing
on New Jersey avenue, for q small space near her
husband and son. Henry. The MaSOns, Odd Fel-
lows, Knights OF Pythfas and Knights of Honor,
must, he says, do him the last favor. He says,
''You must excuse my darling daughter, because
she don't know or understand what She did do to
her father. She ruined my reputation, my good
name. I die perfectly innocent OF the charges
brought against me by my own daughter. She was
always very weak In her head, and a very nervous,
sickly child" He goes on to say that his daughter
was persuaded by Others to make the charges
against him. He attributes her position towards
him to the influence OF his servant, Daniel Young
and Miss Jessie Beall, with whom his daughter Is
stopping. He insists that his daughter must leave
Miss Beall's house at once and go TO DR.. Kloczew-
skis house, or Mrs. Tyssows1's house, or Colonel
JohnsOn's house, 5l3 18th street northwest. He
asks Major D7e to attend to this "last desire OF q
broken-hearted father"
DYING STATEMENT BY DE- wOLowsKL
Among the packages and letters left by De
Wolowski upon his table were the following ad-
dressed to The EVENING STAR and enclosed in an
envelope, in the corner OF which were written the
words: ''To be delivered Immediately by the chief
OF police, OF Washington, ID. c., Wednesday, De-
cember 3, 1884. A. s. De WolOwSki:"
WAsHINGroN, D. c., December Sd, 1884
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
81 send you this few lines for immediate publ!ca-
ttOn In my dying moments, which you cannot re-
fuse It to broken hearted father, compelled to die
to save his only child'S honor.
Hoping that you cannot refuse, as this viii be
delivered to by the chief of police, OF Washington
ID. Co. and hoping that this great free press OF the
u. s. OF America Will publish as Well my innocence
As my condemnation in the daily Republican Of
23d ultimo, 1884 have the honor TO be,
Very respectfully, . -. -
No. $40 New York avenue nortnwest my late
reSidence.)
To the President and the people OF the United
States OF America, the MODEST and greatest
Nation on this earth.
His Excellency, The President, and the people OF
1 appear bef,re you to-day, in my dying mo-
mentS. DENY ina fearful condemn finu m