Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-23
UxoRIoIDE avn SUICIDE.
A school, Teacher Sh0t RcForc tie,
IsODnifuI Of Children.


Isoonifui of Children.
WASHINGTON. May l7.--Tna little girls al.
tehdlng the third grade In the Jefferson
public school, IN the southern seetion Of
this city, we're standing In the aisles u the
schoolroorn, at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
about to bid goodbye until tomorrow
when their teacher, MEs. Sarah E'
Allen, was fatally shot in their presence by
her worthless husband, VINO then killed
himself.
Allen had been supported on tho earn.
fngs OF hts wife ms school teacher ninth
some time ago, when she left him on nc
count OF his dissipated habits aud frequent
violence. He has annoyed and threatened
her several times aimee eha refused to haya
anything more to do with him, and she had
been warned very recently to DO aware OF
him. This afternoon Allen hired a cab on
Pennsylvania avenue, and after stopping at
saloon, told the driver he wanted 10 20 10
tho Jefferson school building. EElg
Arriving there be bHde the driver WsIt
for him and Immediately went to tbs room
where his wife taught, and taking out bis
revolver, a smali-sizsd British bulldog OF
O2-calibre, In the eloRk-roOm, advanced
towards his wifs's desk. Tho children were
tho drst TO see him, and when they showed
how startled thoy were ut hls Appearance he
called on them NOT to make any noise or be
would shoot. Mrs. Aliens attention had
meanwhile been attracted. and she started
TO move, but her husband by this time HAa
upon her and saying:
"Now I've got you where want you, A." he
fred at close range, the ball taking effect
near the right ear and passing through ths
head. Ho then turned the pistol on himself
and inflicted an almost instantaneously
fatal wound, the bullet, entering the righl
tomple aud passing through the brain.
The murdered wlle and the suicide fell
together on the school.room floor his arm
about her neck and the revolver lying OF
her cheek.
The startled, torror-strIeken chtldter
almost created panic, but some Of til,
more collected of them ran for othe
teachers, who succeeded In restoring order
Police and physiciens were summoned
who did everything possible 10 make Mrs
Aliens last moments fires from pain. shl
fingered, only semi.conseious, for SOM
time and then passed away. Her HUSBAND
expired a few minutes after the arrival o
the police.
Her father, X. W. Johnson, is an old anC
well-known resident OF this city. Abou
IS years ago, against the advice OF nel
family and friends, she married her hus
band, Oswald q. Allen, who came iron
charlottesville, Va. He was known as
worthless, indolent fellow, with no trade G
means OF livelihood, but the MURDERS
woman seemed TO be infatuated with him
The marriage was nm unhappy one. an
hirs.Allen said that the only blessing result
ing from IL was that no children was Dor
10 them. She was good teacher and wa
retained In the public schools no.withstand
Ing her marriage and her husband
drunken and vicious habits. She supporte
her husband until his abuse became into
cradle, when she left him.
He has often been sent to the workhous
for vagrancy, and since be came III the POI
session OF a few hundred dollars snol
time ago has been almost constantly In til
hands OF the police for drunkenness. Abou
a month ago while Allen was being washe
with coal oil In the workhouse TO rid him I
vermin one OF his fellow.pfisoners held
lighted match near him and he was badl
burned.
The fright OF the children In the seho,
at the sound OF the uproar which iollowe
the killing caused somewhat OF a panic
the other school rooms OF the huildini
The children thinking that fire ha
started rushed downstairs pell NELL, knool
ing nver one another, but fortunately doiu
No injury. The fire engines We're called
the spot by one OF the children who ha
run to the engine house,