Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-30

,S6.
LEES PAINFUL DEATH BY srRANGULATIoN.
Lee was found TO have died of strangulation,
but his features were not in the least distorted,
as was the case with Sommerield. The remains
OF Lee were sent TO his brothers on street
coffin Rev. Mr.. Gibbons pronounced the bene.
diction and the crowd present-over 900 in
number--filed around and viewed the body.
Lee brother stood on q bench in the rotunda
or the Jail 10 witness the execution, but was
led away by one OF the officers before his
curiosity was gratified.
suMMERFIELD's FUNERAL
1t was the desire of Sommerfield that he
should be buried at Prospect Hill cemetery,
near Glenwood, and most, if not all the men,
bers of his family were willing that his wish in
this respect should be carried out Some OF the
and Although as matter OF sw the owners Of
the lot could have him inferred there, yet after
1uil Interchange of views yesterday the
was, therefore, determined To have the inter-
ment take place at Graceisnj. and Mr.. John r.
sary arrangements last evening. The remains
were this afternoon taken I'd Graceland, and in
the presence of several OF the family. Rev. Mr..
schneider officiating, they were inferred.
soMMERFIELD'S STORY OF HIS LIFE
In conversation this morning Sommerfield
said that he would be 81 years of age next No
vember; that he was a forester in Europe and
served eighteen years in the Prussfan army, re-
ceiving for bravery in the war with Austria,
1866, and France, 1870 and 1871, the bronze
medal and iron cross OF honor; that he married
his deceased wife when she was a widow with
two children, twenty-four years ago, and they
lived very happily together in Poland and also
after they came here, in 1872, until a few years
ago After communion was taken, about $50
o CLOCK this morning, Sommerfield was in ex-
cellent spirits, perfectly resigned and hopeful.
He seemed DESTROYS that as little be said about
his crime as possible, and that 1T should be for
gotten. His action In giving letter to Mr..
Schneider in regard to his revolver is explained
In the fact that he had been asked for the pistol
by another party, and that he had been told
that 1t would be sold. He looked on the idea of
us sale with repughance, and then asked If Mr..
| least prevent its identification. Mr. Schneider
has not as yet received the pistol, and If he OBJ
tans possession of il he will some time throw it
III the river or in other ways get rid OF it with
out Its identity being known.
SOMMERFIELDS CRIME.
Sommerfeld's offenses were the murder of his
wife, Christina Sommerfield, in which the sem
tence of death was passed, and the murder of
his son-in-law, Gottlieb Isenbraun, in which
sentence was suspended. The double murder
was committed at Eisenbrauns saloon on Mary
land avenue, near 18th street northeast, on the
2Oth OF November last. The accused shot both
OF them dead, 1T is claimed, without any provo
cation, save that the sOn-in-law and the daugh-
ter objected to his seeing his wife, who had not
lived with him for some time. He was arrested
as he was making his way from the place by
officer Slack and Special Officer Childs. He was
place December 14th. OnJanuary 9th, he was
sentenced to be hanged between the hours of
| and O'Clock ON the second Friday after the
adjournment of the next general term. The
announcement of the sentence was received by
him In the same stoid manner that had char
acterzed his conduct during the trial. He was
Oh years old, by birth Pole, 5l2 feet in height,
heavy build, had gray hair and full whiskers
and his countenance was not unpleasant.
Sommerneld has been averse TO holding any
crime and DESTROYS
| that 1t be forgotten as soon as possible Some
of those who have had his confidence state that
him up in a frenzy. His effects, with the eX-
ception of his cot and stove, had been moved
discarded by his family he was SO tempted
they say, 10 end his life, and three times he put
! the pistol to his head with intent to shoot HIM
SELF. Having been brought up religlously and
taught that there was no pardon for the suicide,
| his conscience caused him to desst. He went
to the house of Eisenbraun no less than i've
times that day, it is said, to get pan TO cook
with, and he was as many times put out of the
house.
LEES LIFE.
Richard J. Lee, known also as Dick Sparrow,
was in his 32d year and was from one Of the
old colored families of the District Loosing his
| father in infancy, he was raised by his grand
| mother, Susan Henson, south of the Capitol.
When a youth he attended Israel Sunday
school and also the colored public school in
Lincoln building, leaving school when about
10. For some years he played in his brothers
band and also assisted in his brothers barber
| shop in South Washington. About 1874 he
shipped in the navy and served five years on
the Relief and the Gettysburg in the Mediter-
ranean and in the Black Sea, coming home in
the band and helped his brother In the barber
business and in 1881 was married to the
woman for whose death he to-day forfeited his
own lie.
To "a friend who saw him three days ago he
said 1--WE lived first on street, near 9th, and
then on 5th street, Capitol Hill, and my married
fla VAS nr jr1a ham nnn t.aI 4 brax,
children, and loved them and her, but she de-
stroyed two others, at which L found fault, and
then commenced my unhappinesS and
quarreled. She left me three times, the first
time remaining away two weeks, the next one
month, and the last time she had been away
three weeks. was not, to say, drunk at the
time, but was worried and full OF trouble and
veXation, and when went to her sisters to see
her, il others had not interfeIed there would
have been no trouble. Although had attended
church and Sunday school, it was not until the
I'd OF February last that experienced religion.
Mr.. Roberts, believe, of the Young Mems
Christian Association, and Rev. Mr.. Williams,
OF Israel church, had been visiting me, and
the day have just said, when one was here
| and all alone in my cell, 1 poured out my
prayer for the salvation OF my soul, and re-
ceived the assurance that God had spoke peace
to my soul.
What have you to say to your friendse"
"You may tell them," answered Lee, slowly,
shat hope this will be a warning to all young
men and young women: Try and live right,
II
out having the grace OF God In his heart. Wives
should endeavOr to comfort their husbands, to
try and help them and not pull them down.
given him full directions about my affairs.
People will say that liquor brought me to this,
but although had been drinking, this is not to
be chargeabie to drink. 1t was temporary in
sanity brought on by my wife's conduct in
leaving ME Tor every little trif1e. loved her
and the children and could not bear the sepa-
ration, and became frantic with passion"
LEES CRIME.
Lee was convicted on December 10th last of
the murder Of his wife, and sentenced January
16. The murder was committed on the 13d of
November last, near 4th and X streets south
east. Lee had had some words with his WIFE,
who had left him on account of his drinking,
and chased her from her sisters house to the
street, nring several shots at her with fatal
effect Lee, who was undoubtedly drunk at
the time, at once left the scene, but was arrested
by Sergeant Mulhail, with Officers Wilson,
Blan1ord and Thompson, in house in Howard
row, the same night. He was completely broken
down when arraigned and all during the trial.
1t was thought by the jail officers that il he
could not restrain his feelings he would wear
himself out. He however, AFTER his trial Quieted
down and devoted about all his time TO the
work Of preparation, reading his Bible receiv-
ing the miniStratiOns of Rev. Mir. Williams, of
Israel church, his spiritual adviser, and others
He was feet 8 inches in height, and weighed
145 pounds, was OF light brown color and
slightly pOck-marked. He had star worked
in india ink on his right hand.