The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-30
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
ATTEMPTED WIFE MURDER AND SUI
eide.

Bloody Anair.
Sunday evening. about 5 O'Clock. an
awful tragedy took place near the cor
ner of Belvidorc aud High streets.
when James T. Conaty first cut the
throat Of his wife and then cut his own.
For some time past Conaty had not
been IN Richmond. aud latterly be had
sp.nt his time in Manchester. lie was an
iron worker by trade. and for years had
worked IN the various shops and foun-
dries in Richmond AZ the time OF ms
death he was engaged &C work IN the
nov spike mills ~ Manchester. lie
was considered 10 be- a good mechanic
and made good wages. lie Was liked
nv most peoplc who knew him. because
xch.n ne was sober he was thought to
be a good kind Of fellow.
HIS OWN ENEMY.
II. was hi. own enemy. however. Tor
be ,xopld indulge IN intoxicating IT,
auors 10 great excess at ume5' au"
nb,ie nnder the influence of liquor ne
vas ANYTHING but an agreeable person
In concurrence If these hard sprees
vh,eh exercised such controlling IN
a,cnc. over his life, his wife iound II
necessary to remove from ms nome anu
ootot thai Of her father. Mr.. Thomas
Carroll No. sO3 south BrlvideTe street.
nearly one of the last houses on the
street overlooking the James ilver'
HOW THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED.
Here she has resided with her two
lit.le children ever since her voluntary
separation from her husband. IL war
learned Yesterday that Couaty came to
coo ms wife from Manchester Saturday
. night and urged her TO 20 to Manches
tor and live with him. lie was not then
sober. so MIS- Conaty would not con
,.nt and her husband went away
Sunday evening, about O'Clock Nj
C,naty again called TO see his wle'
This time he did not appear 10 nave
been under the influence OF li9uor' bu'
as he had been on a continuous spree
for the preceding ten days he could moi
but have been suffering to a greater oi
less extent from It's effects.
When ne arrived at his falher-in
law g house he was met 10y Mr.. Carroll
who. i'm response to Conaty s question
repiied that Mrs. Conaty was up starr
in her room. Mr.. Couatv then quietly
parted from Mr.. Carroll and went tC
his wife's room. His manner gave No
indication Of any latent anger. OF
thought tnat his visit would result IN
the attempted murder of his wife an'
his own suicide.
WHAT THE WIFE SAYS.
After Conaty reached his ~ ife's room
there IL more or less uncertainty as Il
what really took place.
Mrs. COnaty. m talking with re-
a l.r mi
he wanted TO rent "a house in Manches
Ter. and have her and the children liv'
with him over there instead of M Rich
Inond. He tried hard to persuade he
t. come back to him.
Mrs. Conaty further says that IN ne
gpon.c To his wish. and with desire t
plesse her husband. she consented t.
take a walk around the bluff on whicl
the house was built. and which. at TIN
Tina of the wear. is "A great resort 10
south Clay ward residents. She TOO
oil her slippers and then proceeded L
put on her shoes. When c0hVersatiO
was resumed.
Mrs. Conaty SAYS She thinks some r'
mark of hers must have enraged he
husband. because he got mad ana the
stepping aside for moment. pulled on
razor. opened 1t. and began cuttin
ard slashing at her face with Do. On
screamed at the top of her voice an
fought hard with her husband, maj
aging to escape from the inicrlatc
man. She ran down stairs. still scream
ing. with the blood flowing from he
face and neck. and must have. M he
excitement. reached the street, as bloc
was seen on the sidewalk.
Mrs Carroll rushed IN hurry al
stairs and cried out to Conaty. "No
have killed my daughter. The stl
enraged man sand back. Yes. | II ki
YOU If y0d come i'm here. The raz
which COnaty used was bfokel
WHISTLER 10y the force of the blows &
during Mrs. Conaty's struggle was al
determined.
TIE SUICIDE.
Conatv then proceeded to put al Ell
70 his life. lie no doubt believed tn
he had Murdered his wife, and pr
ceeding TO get another razor. drew
across his own throat. severing Il
windpipe aud arteries, aud causin
what must have been iustantaneoI
death. The head was really near
severed from tho body.
W
by her husband her shrieks were hea
IN the street and in quick order a lar
number of people gathered about he
many Of whom were friends Of {
family. She was found bleeding pi
fuselv from her various wounds. i
George Ben johnson was sent for. W
with prOmptitude arrived. lie dress
all the wounds. and sand that iu
opinion. none of them would have
fatal turn.
THE CORONER SENT FOR.
Pol ceman Barefoot arrived IN qui
order. and took charge of the body
Conatv. which was found lying m
floor. until Coroner Taylor arrive
The Coroner. after iuquiiing INTO
matter. stated that he did not deem
inquest necessary. 1t being clearly @
dent that death WAS from self-slaught'
lie gave authority for the removal
the body to Laube undertaking room
where they we're prepared for burial
THE FUNERAL
took place yesterday evening from
residence IN which the tragedy occl
ed. and the mortal remains Of James
Conaty were land beneath the sod
Hollywood cemetery.
THE WIFE S CONDITION.
Mrs. Conaty is left with two childr'
She is also in a delicate situation Win
adds much to sorrow of the occasi'
Her wounds number about doe
They are on her face, neck, BODY. a
right arm and hand. Nesterd
she was resting easy on sofa with !
two children about. She was NJ
Sarah Carroll She isyoung, handsol
and clever. Mr. Conaty was twenl
eight years of age. lie had lived
Richmond since 1863. and had be
married TO his wife for five yea
Mrs. Conaty has nothi
10 say against him. Tn
had been a happy couple until he beg
to yet on sprees. then there wa
change over all. lie was naturally
good man. loving. warm-hearted, 3
% "a