Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-18
THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
A Shocking Scene in q Public School
Building.

Building.
DETAILS OF YESTERDAYS FEARFUL. cRMx-A
pIssoLuTE HUSBANDS DESPERATE Acr-rHE
PATHETIC STORY OF MRS. ALIENS LIFE-HER
HUSBANDS DIssIPATEp CAREER
The details Of the murder and suicide at the
Jefferson school building yesterday afternoon
as described in an extra edition of THE STAR
confirmed the report in The SrARs regular
issue as to the startling character Of the
tragedy. Oswald G. Allen, q man Of dissolute
habits, went to the school building about 8
O'Clock, and making his way to the school-room
where his wife was engaged in teaching, shot
and MORALLY wounded his wife and then with
the same pistol killed himself. The shocking
horror Of the tragedy was intensified by the
fact that it took place in the presence Of the
class of little girls that Mrs. Allen taught. The
shooting created panic among the frightened
children, and the alarm spread quickly through
the building, causing much excitement
STORY OF SUFFERING.
The story leading to the tragedy is that Of q
patient and long-sufering woman, who has
borne in silence for years the abuse, neglect and
insults Of dissolute husband They had been
married fourteen years. and during all that
time Allen had lived chiefly upon the scanty
earnings of his wife as a school teacher. She
had borne this imposition without murmur,
and sought repeatedly to reform him. Some
times, In his repentant moods, she was made
happy for brief time by his declarations that
he was going to lead better life. He always,
however, returned to his dissolute ways, and
by cajolery or threats obtained from her the
greater share Of her earnings to spend in de-
bauchery. A few months ago Mrs. Allen, on
the advice OF friends, sought separation from
her husband by means of divorce. She went
to 1--we with her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. R W.
johnson, 4O5 G street. Allen, deprived of the
support given him by his wife, has during the
year spent much Of his time in the workhouse.
occasionally, when at liberty, he has pursued
his wife with threats Allen owned some prop
erty In Charlottesville, Va, and desired to sell
1t, but Mrs. Allen had steadily refused to sign
away her rights in the property.
CHANCE FOR LIBERTY.
Several weeks ago Allen sought his wife and
induced her to sign deeds to the property on
his promise to withdraw opposition to divorce
proceedings. The happy prospect of freedom
from her heavy yoke led Mrs. Allen to this
step. 1t seems that Allen Immediately sold
and upon receiving the money entered at once
upon
PROLONGED pEBAuoH.
He took room at the National hotel, and spent
the money in most reckless manner. He was
arrested frequently during the time for drunk
enness, but upon being released at once re-
sumed his course Of e1travagant destination.
HIS money being exhausted for two or three
days Allen roamed about the street in a sodden
condition. Early yesterday morning he was
seen In drunken condition in front of De-
Alleys saloon, on Pennsylvania avenue, near
18th street, and ordered away by Policeman
Bailey. He appeared in the same neighbor-
hood yesterday noon and inquired for Police
man Bailey. but that offer was not then on duty.
DRIVING TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
He waited about the neighborhood some time,
and about quarter to o'clock hailed cab.
driven by VIM. H. Robinson. and bargained
with Robinson to take him to the corner of 9Th
street and virginia avenue southwest The
driver asked Allen at what place he wanted to
stop. Aliens reply was: "None of your bust
ness, but drive fast. 1 am in a hurry" At 9TH
and b streets Allen stopped the cab and going
into Poultons saloon got drink. Getting into
the cab again he was driven on to the corner of
9th street and Virginia avenue. where he
allghted and went into the Jefferson school
building by the west door, telling the cab-driver
to wait for him.
ENTERING THE ROOM.
The school-room in which Mrs. Allen taught
a third-grade school of girls is located on the
first floor Of the building in the south
west corner. The door of the room is
on the fight hand of the corridor which
Allen entered, and about twenty PAGES from
the entrance to the building. There are two
ways OF entering the school room. One door
opens directly from the hall into the school
room. Another at right angles to it opens into
the cloak-room, narrow passage leading to
another door to the school-room at the right of
the teachers desk. 1t was O'Clock when
Allen entered the building, and Mrs. Allen was
dlsmlsslng her pupils. They had risen as is
customary, were standing in the aisles beside
their desks and had begun to file out Allen,
it appears, passed through the cloak-room
passage and appeared at the door at the right
hand OF the teachers desk. His shabby, disso-
Lutte appearance and bloodshot eyes frightened
some of the children who saw him first and he
said: Don't make noise or I'll shoot"
''YoU CANNOT ESCAPE ME-"
Mrs. Allen, seeing him, appears to have STEP
ped toward him. He said: Snow have got
you and you cannot escape me-" or some re-
mark like that. Standing in the doorway he
threw his left arm about his wife's neck and
pressing the muzzle of a revolver to her head
fired. Then he quickly turned the weapon to
his own temple and fired again. The two fell
together just inside the cloak room, Allen still
clasping his wife's neck in his arm. The pistol,
which was clutched in his right hand, lay
against her cheek. The children fed franti-
oaiiy rum tue Tooln anu soon the DunQreQ5 OF
pupils in the building were in
WILD PANIC.
A cry Of fire brought the members of No. 4
engine company, located in the same square, to
the building and they with Lieut.. Vernon and
his officers, soon pacifed the children and re-
stored order. Allen shot himself in the right
temple, the ball lodging in the brain. He died
within a few minutes and soon after the police
arrived they had his body taken to the morgue.
THE DEATH OF MRS. ALLEN.
Mrs. Allen lived until Clio o'clock. She was
not removed from the school building, but
cared for on couch temporarily arranged in
the corner of the building. The fatal bullet
entered at the left ear and passed clear through
her head. Around the school building until
Mrs. Aliens body was removed to her fathers
home after her death, an excited crowd was
assembled. This morning Coroner Patterson.
after inquiring into the facts, decided an in
quest unnecessary, and issued a certificate of
death by murder in Mrs. Aliens case and death
by suicide in the case of Allen. Mrs. Allen was
thirty-nine years of age and had been employed
as a school teacher ever since her marriage
She was regarded as a good teacher and was
much liked by her associates and loved by
her pupils. Her father, and her mother, who
has been i'll recently, were FRUSTRATED with grief
last night. Mrs. Aliens brother, Robert john
son, dealer in the market arrived at the JEFF
ferson building soon after the tragedy and ar
ranged subsequently for the removal of the
remains.
ALIENS CAREER
Oswell Crawford Allen was the fuIl mama Of