The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-31
The Woman for Whom He Had Con-
cclycd a Fatal Inrltuation-He
Leaves a Letter OF E5plana-
tion. Saying He Is Crazy.

ored girl with whom he has been ascot
ating during the past year, and falling in
that, shot and killed himself. A letter
found ON his person afterwards showed
that the shooting was premeditated.
The man stated in his letter that he be-
lieved that he was crazy, and his actions
would seem TO bear this out. II is sup
posed that jealousy, furthered possibly
by drink, was the cause OF the mental
disorder that resulted 80 seriously.
Gray was the son OF David Gray, IN
old colored man that used TO be well
known hereNbouts Us hack driver, and
who now lives in Bridgeport. The de-
ceased was about "a years old; he was
always considered II bright, likely youth,
and Is graduate OF the Bridgeport high
school. For some time past he has been
employed asaporteFin ]. Q. Dent < Co. g
drug store ut bridgeport, He was usual
" in genial mood and was well liked by
those who knew him, but OF late he has
often been moody and seemed to repel
his friends.
The woman in the case, Ida Brown, ia
Il buxom mulatto Of about Gray's age
"a years. Her people live here and are
among the most respectable class Of the
colored population. After her fall from
virtue she went to Pittsburgh and lived
in a house of ill.iame there. She re-
turned 10 Wheeling little more than a
wear ago and lived us IN inmate Of Will
Iiams' house when she ran her establish
ment on North Market street. II was
there that she met Gray and he became
desperately infatuated with her. She
finally left Williams place, more to
please Gray than anything else, 1t Is
understood, and became chambermaid
in Nellie Martins house Of ill.iame on
EoG street near the place Of the shooting
The Story Of the shooting as told by
Madame Williams is rs follows: It wRs
about quarter OF eight o'clock and she
and the Brown girl were sitting on her
front door step, the Brown girl having
came around from Martins about half
an hour previous to talk over proposed
trip, when Gray appeared at the corner
of EoG and Nineteenth streets. lie
walked down to where the two women
were, and addressing Ida, asked what she
was doing there. She made no definite
answer, and he asked her whether he
had not warned her often enough not
TO have anything to do with Celia. She
answered no, and he then asked herwhat
she was doing with q Mother Hubbard
dress on. lie asked these questionsin
an angry tone Of voice, and Williams says
that his eyes were fairly flashing fire.
As he asked his last question Ida gave
a little scream, and getting up hurFiedly,
started into the house. She had seen
his hand, which had been behind him,
come forward with pistol in it. He
sprung up the steps after Ida, and stand
ing in the front room scarcely ten feet
IRON her, ieyeied his gun, scit.coCking
Smith 4 WeSson OF 3S.calibre, and fired.
The ball missed her. She ran quickly
out the back way and bid herself. Gray,
stunned or dazed by what he had done,
paused moment and then darted after
her.
BY this time Williams had recovered
her senses and started after the fellow.
She followed him out n side door down
the street 4 short distance and then back
again. All this time he appeared to be
looking for Brown, and Williams was re-
monstrating with him over his perform
ancc. Arriving ut the front door again,
he stepped into the house. Williams
followed him and said, George, you
will have to pay dear for shooting at
Ida" As she said this, lie turned and
lcvclcd his pistol at her. She started
back towards the door, and he, placing
the Jistol TO bis head, said, an end It
all now!" and pulled the trigger.
The ball crashed through from above
the right ear to behind the left ear,
where il came out. lie icllin tue centre
Of the room, the blood and brains oOzing
from both holes in his head, and about
iOrty-iye minutes after brcathed his last.
The first shot was heard by Officer
Wilkic, who was on the Seminary bluff
across the creek, and had been watching
the conversation Gray had with the
women on the steps. Hearing the shots
and seeing Brown running, he at once
surIuised that there was serious trouble,
and summoning other officers hurried
To the spot. 4 physician was sent for,
but nothing could be done. Coroner
SChuizc was sent Tor and heard the story
and rendered verdict in accordance
with it, rs related above. He took charge
OF the dead mans effects, which inClud-
ed silver watch and chain and some
other jcwclry and small amount OF
money.
in an inside pocket Of the mans coat
was found sheet OF soft wrapping
paper, stained with blood, on which WAS
coarscly written with pencil, the fol.
lowing:
Statement OF George Gray before his
death.
81 am firmly Of the belief that | am
going crazy. have read that amy per.
son that commits suicide must be crazy,
and that is what contemplate at this
writing:
"Why do do this? | am tired of
life! Ii has been in my mind for sew.
crtl years. ! would like that everything
that possess be buried with me. Mine
Is the type OF q bright future ruined by
a woman. shall Kill her with myself.
| am writing this while riding on street
ear. May God help mel"
At q late hour last night the remains
were taken charge Of by his friends.
Williams said in her talk with the re-
poriers iha, Gray lad always been very
Jealous Of Ida when she was an inmate
Of her house on Market street, and on
one occasion Williams took gun from
him when he was threatening TO do
what he did Inst night. Tie was con-
tnuaiiy talking with ihn nbOut provid-
ing her with private room and telling
her what he would do II she had any
thing to do with other men. Ida re-.
turned to the Williams houscaitcr Gray
shot himself, and fell in dead faint.
When she was brought 10 she was hys-
tcr!cal aud could saynoihinR.
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