New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-31
WALDEN'S WIFE KILLS HIM
SHE SHOOTS HIM DOWN IN THE STREET.
THE YOUNG TRAINERS FATHER DID NOT KNOW
THAT HE HAD MARRIED WOMAN
OF EVIL HABITS.


Fastening to the Broadway theatres in search of
pleasure, were stopped short in their course by the
sound of two pistol shots ringing out sharply and
clearly on the evening air. Looking in the dl-
rection from which the shots had come, they saw
lying in the middle Of the street. just at the east
ern intersection Of Fortieth-st. and Broadway,
man who in appearance was little more than
lad. Over him stood woman, dark and slenderly
built. Her hat had fallen off and hung down be-
hind her neck. Her right hand graspcd "A
heavy murderous- looking revolver. still smoking
The man was James r. Walden, trainer of race
horses and son of Jeter Walden, a well-knOwn
the American turf. The woman who
looked down his form, writhing in the agonles
Of death, was his wife, Annie. to whom he had
been married just ten weeks. Officer Griffith
Merritt, who had stood about ten feet away when
the shots w5re fired rushed up. seized the woman
and sent out a hurry call for an ambulance
In it Walden was taken to the New-YOrk Hospital
and within an hour he was dead.
The circumstances Of the ease afford merely an
other instance of the story of jealousy and MUIR
dcrous hate so often told in these columns On
the last day of the fall meeting at Shcepshcad Bay
young Walden was introduced by mutual friend
10 bright vivacious brunette, known to some of
her acquaintances as Kittie Delmar and to Others
as Kittie Graham. She was a habitual attendant
at the racetracks and her face had long been
familiar to those who follow racing. She came
from Philadelphia, and once the wife of
respected dry-goods merchant in that city. About
three years ago she drifted into dssolute life
and for a considerable time, it is said, was the
constant companion Of Len" Marshall book
maker, whom she had met at Monmouth Park
Her fascinatons turned young Woden's brain,
tl,a md ha mo
madly infatuated with her. At the close of the
Sheepshead meeting the couple went over to
Philadelphia and there spent two or three days
in wild dissipation. 1t was while on one of these
drinking bouts. and when Walden was stupidity
drunk. that the woman took him over TO Camden.
y. J. There they went TO the house of minister
and were made man and wife When Walden
came to his senses next morning and discovered
what he had done he was overwhelmed with
shame and confusion, but finally making the best
Of circumstances brought the woman TO Newly Hork
and took furnished fiat at No. 22O West Forteth-
st. Walden was only twenty years old and feared
the anger Of his father, on whom he depended for
livelihood. The marriage was therefore kept
secret Most racing men knew of it. but carcfull.
refraincd from enlightening the senior Walden op
the subject II did not take the youthful husband
more than two days to find out that the woman
to whom he had given his name a drunkard,
also that she had an insatiate passion for opium,
and lastly that she had already tired Of him ald
sought the company of other men.
During the two months that followed their mar
riage they lived a wrctched life. Scarcely night
followed without a fierce quarrel, in which Wal
den would brutally beat the woman. The cul-
mination came last week, when Walden, return
ing from Baltimore, found the fat deserted, and
heard that his wife had gone out with male COM
panion. Then he resolved to leave her. For the
last week he has kept away from his home, care
fully avoiding his wife At No. 2O3 West Thirty
eghth-St live Mrs. Samuel Harris and her two
daughters, one of whom, Blanche, is married TO
Walter Green, racing man. Green and
Walden were close friends. Since the separa-
tion Walden has spent most Of his time
at Green's house. Mrs Walden knew this. She
at once conceived violent jealousy of Mrs. Har-
ris's daughters and was determined to get her
husband back at all costs On Saturday night
she went to Green's home and demanded to
her husband. Walden left the house and walked
away with her. She begged him to return home,
but he refused. Then as they parted she said
Il will give you an altcnativc-elther
to support me properly or de- Trem-
bling with fright, Walden went back 10
,he Harris home, and there said " |
Mr., Walden again sought her husband on Sun
day. and in response TO her entreatleS lie went
back to their nat, which is shared by another
couple named Belmont. Then agaln the nightly
drunken ,quarTelS were renewed, and three GayS
ago Walden lett his home Tor the second time.
Yesterday he went 10 Guttenburg, and on his re
turn 10 town again went to his nome There he
1ound his wife drunk and sleeping 1Aen he
went to Green's home and took dinner
with the family. 1t was just quarter to when
Mrs. Harris heard a knock dt Jne door. Green
in, and ate
Mrs. Walden.
Where's Jimmy? she said. Green had re-
ceived his instructions aud Answered Il don't
know where he Is.
You lie she screamed, he's in the room
AS she uttered these words, Walden, yielding to
Mrs. Harriss pesuasions, came out of the house.
HIS wife few at him with the fury Of tgrls,,
but Green succeeded in calming her. Inen the
pair walked down the street and turned into
>eventh.ave. That was the last that Green saw
OF them.
OF what followed no one but the woman is able
to give any clear account. Policeman Merritt,
who stood IN Seventh-ave. within three doors OF
tOrticth-st, SAYS that the couple came along the
sidewalk and passed him, the woman talking and
gcsticulating wildly. lie watched them as they
went on to the corner OF tortletn-St., Where they
stopped. There the man dorted out INTO the
roadway and the woman followed him. some
thing gittered in the air. Walden seized ms
wife IS wrist and grapplcd with her, and IN the
loud report. Merritt ran toward them, ana
there was Il second report. There was a scream
OF horror from the crowd as Walden was seen 10
lall As Merritt seized the woman, the pistol
dropped from her hand and was picked up 6y
EDWARD Scott, a bystander. Having sent for the
ambulance Merritt handed the woman over 10
Policeman Thompson WHO took her 10 the
Ihirtieth-st. station. As she led away, she
turned TO Thompson and said. " would not give
any other woman the chance to take MN from
me wish | had died myself
She maintained her dogged cOmposure until she
reached the sergeants desk. and there she broke
into hysterical sobbinr. To Sergeant Sheldon
she said d" did it in a moment of passion. God
knows | am sorry. ! hope he won't die. lie
has deserted me for Miss Harris. and 1t has driven
me mad.
The first of the two bullets had struck Walden
on the right side of the neck The second
crashed into the right breast about two inches
below the neck and passed through the lung. lodg-
ing in the muscles of the back Either Of the