New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-16
TRAGIC END OF A MARRIAGE
TRYING TO KILL HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF.
MAKING AER MISS STEAMER TO KuRoPK-rnErs
FREQuEN. QUARREis

TRYING TO KILL HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF.
MAKING AER MISS A STEAMER TO KuRopK-rHRrR
FREQuEN. QUARREis
A runaway match was brought to traQic
end yesterday afternoon at tho Altman House. No 67
East Tcnth-st. Augustus Erwin shot his young wife,
Della, and then tried to put end to his own life.
Early in October last Erwin first hIs wife at the
house Of mutual friend Despite the fact that she was
young woman Of twenty -four and Roman Catholic,
and he forty four years old and Hebrew. he seemed
have fascinated her and after short acquaintance
she consented to 60 with him before
magistrate and become his wife with
out the consent of her parents She the eldest
daughter Of Patrick OThayne the wealthy proprietor
OF the Washington Steam Laundry at No. SO Grove-st
She had been educated at tho Mount st. Vincent Con-
vent and was schoolmate at one time Of Victoria
Morosini After her marriage with Erwin she returned
home. Her father demanded cxpana-
tion Of her prolonged absence from homo
and she acknowledged that she married to Erwin
MIR. OThaync was angry and indignant at first. but
after thinking the matter decided make the boss
OF bad bargain. and after long interview with his
son-inaw, who claimed TO he salesman
for dry goods commission house. hired
fat for them in Harlem and set them
up housekeeping The training Of the bride
did not include knowledge Of housekeeping and tho
business Of the husband sufficiently prosperous
to support household SO month after the marriage
the fiat up and the couple took apartments ss
the Altman House, where they have since lived Mr..
O'Thayne furnishing tho money to pay the
board bills and keeping the daughter clothed. Il
took only few weeks Of married life convince tho
girl that the Of her choice the hero that her
fancy had pictured him and to bring home to her with
great force the truth of the old sayng"Marry In haste
repent at leisure" Early in the
Erwin asked his father-in- establish him
In Saratoga where he could make money easily various
ways which not regarded strictly honorable The
old man refused Indignantly to have anything
TO do with his schemes and Erwin. seeing
poor chance to get anything out OF his fathernaw.
began systematic scheme Of abuse OF his wifo.
He would swear at her IN most brutal
guilty OF p.rsonal violence He did not give hera
cent OF money whenever she could any money
from her father he would take 1t away from her aud
gamble 1t away on horse races aud In other ways
Several times the unfortunate woman went TO hcr
father with complaints Of ofitreatment, and was told
that she would bc welcome at home II she would
leave her husband. He seemed to have some strange
fascination for the GIRL ard though she several limos
threatened to leave him. he always able to dssuado
her from carrying out her purpose week two ago
Mr. OThayne suggested tn his daughter that she should
take trip to Europe with himself and ncr sister,
Blanche the best OF getting rid OF her husband.
After much persuasion she consented to the arrange.
ment. Tickets bought and all arrangements made
on: the Cunard steamer servia which sailed
Saturday HeI husband tried all his arts to dissuade
ton BY means. however, he succeeded Ia deain-
ing her at the Altman House, Saturday morning until
last when se got to the Cnard pier the steamer had
sailed and she forced to return home Erwin Ia tho
meantime had come home under the influence Of liquor
aud there bitter quarrel between the husband aud
wife, The QuareIng kept up pretty much all the timc
until Monday morning. when 1t eliminated In an attack
by Erwin on his wife, She had a long talk with Mrs.
Brown, the housekeeper Of the Altman House. who is
also Catholic and after telling her about her troubles
consulting with her concluded to home to her step
mother who lives No. So Grovest She carried out
her intention home until yesterday afternoon.
when she received note from Erwin requesting an In
terview with her. IL company with her brother,
Thomas. o weak looking lad Of about seventeen, sao
went to the hotel The apartments OF the Erwns are on
the second floor Of the building and open into the ladies'
raror. After a brief interview in which Erwin en-
treated his wife to return to m and was met Win rm
refusal Thomas was requested by Erwin TO ,eaye the
for moment so that he could have few minuteS
private conversation with his wife.
The boy went the ladies' parlor. About five min
utes elapsed when he startled by pistol shot, tho
door OF his sisters apartment was hung open ani she
rushed out screaming. with the blood streaming from
wound in her shoulder. As the boy Jumped 10 his feet
head and buried in the wall. The woun tod woman
out 10 the hall and to the rooms OF Mrs Browns
whom she found sewing. She threw herself into Mrs.
MY God! Mrs. Brown, I'm shot. My husband has
shot me. Send for y clergyman" 7"
The nousekeeper laid her on he oed aud asked what
MY husband wanted lac to back TO live with
him. and when refused he took pistol sut OF drawer
Erwin in the meantime. had rushed out Of the room
past the brother who was thoroughly frightened and
shots had aroused the whole house aud parors
filed with excited guests and the news oi the shoot
around the doors Of the hotel john Young Brokaw. tho
manager of the house. called In othcer Taylor s ans
them began hunt for the woald-bc vile murderer
They had reached & long hall cr fsvr q.
man whom they were after. He caught slgnt 81 them
at the same liae and putting the revolver with which ne
sank to the floor with wound that viii probably kill
HIM Did TIE Ell HsS S sis Tsrs Se se s sa.pe sss " moment
When Informed na' she SSay %aS o TSn9 xii e mar
called In They found tnat Mrs IFS Erwn % h d Seen n
detected by striking the bone and could not be found:
dangerous. Erwin Is shot in the abdomen. An ambu-
lance was summoned aud the wounded man was taken 10
Bellevue Hospital, where he now lies. Coroner Martin
Mrs Erwin at the hotel last night
BrOkay gives Erw good &c chraesr e s says
self quietly and 1appeared to he fond Of lbs %iH ne
wes mot n ns aoi Of lie
treated hswife so far as he knew though hc had heao
ro Mrs Brown. Mrs Erwin had told all about her
clandesne marriage ana the unhappy fc that she ie9
blue marks on Mrs Erwins arms. and when she asked
about them told that they had been inflicted ny
Patrick o'Thayne. the father Of the wife, has lived
fpr a long time the Ninth ward AT the tme OF tho
MARRIAGE OF his daughter he lived In the Newtoi hat
house. Christopher and West Fourth sts- put moved
spccted and the marriage OF his daughter TO man ike
Erwin was the cause OF great deal OF comment among
his neghbOrs. ,,,-,,. p,. 4,
When Coroner Martin went TO tho bedside OF Erwin IN
Bellevue Hospital Erwin refused to make any state.
ment although he said that he believed ana oped hat
he would die In reply to questions by the coroner ho
said that had shot his wife In ht OF passion when
was auscd by jealousy but that he had nothing bad y
say about her. whatever he knew he desired should
be buried with him.
NEWSDEALERS CONVENTION
I,,lr 70 lavfs anssi0n