Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-18
Murder and suicide

Murder and suicide
Oswald O. Alien shot and s!iled his wife,
teacher in the Jefferson School building,
Washington, at three o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon, just as she was Diminishing her pu-
pills. After firing bullet through his wife's
brein he turned the pistol on himself and
put a bail through his temple. Allen was
during his life q disreputable character,
whose time was spent mainly in the work
house or slmshouse He is q character well
known to the police, although twelve or fit.
teen wears ago he was in Washington's best
society. Allen, it will bo remembered, was
horribly burned al Washington Asylum last
fall BY having some one touch match 80
him while he was coated with kerosene,
applied for the purpose of removing vermiu,
and something of his history and downfall
was given st that time. He never learned
trade, but was always supported by his
father. He moved in the upper circles of
society, and about thirteen years ago he met
the unfortunate woman that now lies dead
at her parents' house. At this time e7i
dences of Aliens worthassness had so fully
developed that the unfortunate womaa's
friends tried TO reason with her in order 20
induce her TO reject him. but she seemed iu-
fatuated with the inGo!snt, shiftess fellow
and married him in direct opposition TO her
friends and parents wishes Her unhappl-
ness began almost Immediately sfter the
marriage and has continued ever since
She at that time held position 3 teach
or in the public schools, and was
thought of so highly that the trustees would
not drop her from the rolls after her mar
riage, but kept her on as teacher. In
short time after the marriage her school
work became the only support of herself
and husband. The latter never attempted
to work, but devoted himself sssiduously to
the expenditure of his wife's salary. After
few years Mrs Allen was compelled 10
leave her husband, and went to live with
her father, R. W. Johnson, an old and re.
spected citizen of Washington, living on G
street opposite the Pension building.
Allen continued to sink, and has been in
the Police Court five times during the past
year. The episode at the asylum came very
near resulting in his death, but, unfortunate
ly, he recovered aud continued to burden
the community. Only year or so ago ne
visited his wife at the Potomac School and
beat her numerically before the pupils.
The sale of some property OF his fathers
short while ago gave Allen several hundred
dollars, and since that time his acquaintance
with the Police Court has become most init
mate.
At ten minutes of three yesterday after.
noon Just ss the witnesses of the Colbert
hanging were returning to their homes
from the jail, where they had witnessed
the execution of murderer, Allen en-
tered cab of William 81. Robertson and
directed that he be driven at once to the
echoolhouse, where his wife was teach
ing. When he arrived in front of Poultney's
saloon, on Seventh street southwest, ne left
the cab and stimulated his failing courage
| with copious draughts of liquor. He was
there out few moments, and the cabman by
| urging his horses let Allen out in front the
Jefferson school, on Virginia avenue, be.
| tween Sixth and Seventh streets southwest,
| lust as the gong had struck, announcing the
time of the dismissal of the school. Mrs. AL
! len had Just given the signal for her pupils
| to rise when the infurated brute she was
forced to acknowledge as her husband ap-
peared at the door and startled the little
ones by his haggard appearance. Short,
ragged, uneven breaths broke from between
| his liyid lips and yellow, broken teeth, and
the glistening revolver, clutched in trem-
bling fingers, startled the children into
panic. They were about TO rush pell NELL
| for the door when the unkempt brute stag.
pered into the room, and leveling short 80
cslibre bulldog revolver at the little ones as
they we're rushing from the room, he COM
manded them to remain quiet.
"Don't make any noise, or l shoot" he
said to the trembling pupils.
Some of the children started to leave the
room, but the others remained almost para
lyzed The mans actions were not those of
one under the influence of liquor, but rather
of one laboring under the influence of exces-
sive excitement.
"Come here!" he said roughly to his wife.
She left the desk behind which she was
standing and came toward her husband, who
still remained standing by the door of the
cloak. room. As she reached him her face
blanched to deadly paleness. but with a
loving. tender touch she placed her hand on
her husbands shoulder with calmness that
was perfect heroism.
"Wbat do you wish, O;Wald?" she asked,
faint culver in her voice.
With q horrible cath the brute drew the
unresisting form of his victim to his breast,
placed the revolver against her temple, and
fred q bullet into her brain. He then
nlaced the muzzle against his own forehead
and pulled the trigger The unhappy pair
fell to the floor together. his arm about her
neck. and the muzzle of the revolver rest.
;hg nm her cheek The frightened school
chi,dre,, Immediately fed in dire confusion
IN spread the news of the murder.
The fright of the chiliren at the sound Of
tbs unrosr which followed the killing, caused
soroewhat of q panic in the other school
rooms in the building. The children, think
;ne that q FIRE had started, rushed down
stairs nell NELL, knocking over one another,
but fortunately, doing no injury. The fire
ENGINES were called to the spot by one OF
the children who had run to the engine
! house.