New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-28
AJEALOUS HUSBANDS CRIME.
HE SHOOTS HIS WIFE IN THE STREET.
THREE BULLETS FIRED-oNE GIVES MRS. LAW
KENs PROBABLY FATAL WOUND, ANOTHER
STRIKES CHILD AND THE THIRD
BREAKS A STORE WINDOW

In fit of insane fury, brought on by jealousy
despair and excessive drinking, Frank Lawkens
an electrician employed by the Holmes Burgla
Alarm Company, last night shot his young wifi
Annie, infiicting Wound from which she vii
probably die. The shooting took place in Hud
son-st. LawlSens fired three times at his wife
Only one bullet struck her. Another Of his shots
hit little girl in the shoulder, making Sigh
wound, and the third smashed store window
Only fifteen months ago the couple were mar
ried. At that time Lawkens, who is thirty years
old, was steady and industrious and afectionate
He seemed likely to make good husband. I'm
,mediately after the marriage the newly married
pair went to live with the wife's parents, Mr..
and Mrs Henry Soudan, who keep boarding
house at No. 315 Hudson-st. On the ground floor
of the house is a tobacco store run by Frank
Rosan, who is the husband of another of Mr..
Sou1ans daughters.
Iawkens had been husband only few weeks
when he took to drinking, and then began to beat
his wife. As time went on he became more and
more brutal and dissipated. Then he con-
ceTed an insane jealousy Of the male boarders
in the house and frequently threatened
that he would kill his wife and himself Mrs.
Lawkens bore it all with great fortitude until
about five weeks ago when she finally left her
husband Lawkens went to live at No. BAL
Beecker-st., while his wife remained with her
mrents. From the day of the separation he has
lnunted tho house of his father-n-aw asking in
pteous tones for his wife, who, however, per-
sstently refused to see him. Then his murderous
temper began to get the mastery and he
declared his intention of shooting his
wife on sight and then shooting himself
Whenever she left the house he dogged her
footsteps but in spite of this, Mrs. Lawkens did
not seek the protection which the courts would
have given her, being anxious probably to avoid
publicity
All through yesterday afternoon Lawkens
paced up and down on the Sidewalk
in front Of the house. making threats of ven.
geance About s 80 o'clock he walked into
ROstan's cigar store and spent twenty-five cents
for cigars. To Frederick Williams. boarder in
the house, he said that he would kill his wife un-
less she returned TO him. Then he went out 1t
is probable that Mrs Lawkcns believed that he
had gone away, for about o'clock she left the
house, accompanied BY Mrs. ROStan. her sister
As soon as they got outside the women saw
Lawkens lurking in a doorway and quickened
heir footsteps. Lawkcns followed close behind
them until they crossed King-St and stood out
side the cecream shop at No. 375 Hudson-st., kept
by H. A. Prum.
At that time there were about twenty
men, women and children in the shop
The two women turned as ii to 20 in, and at the
same moment Lawkens stepped forward and rails
ing 3s-calibre Remington revolver fired at his
wife,. The bullet struck Mrs. Lawkens on the
right side of the neck, and she dropped to the
ground with groan Mrs. Rostan, wildly shrek.
ing, put up her hands as if to shield her sister and
threw herself over the PROSTATE body. Then
there was a second shot. This shattered the plate
rlass window OF Voght BroIneTs' provision store,
next door.
At the sound Of the second shot there was a
-ush of people from the ice-cream shop and then
LAwkens raised his revolver for the third time and
ired at his wif. There was a cry OF horror
S Della Blake, screamed and dropped back into
he doorway Policeman Dunn, Of the Eighth |
Precinct, had heard the shots and ran up just as
1awkens put the pistol to his own
lead With one blow from his club |
he officer knocked the revolver from Law lIenss |
land and then made him an unresisting prisoner. |
Mrs. Lawkens and the little girl were taken TO |
It. Vincent's Hospital. There is was said that |
irs LawlSens was likely to die. The child had |
appily suffered nothing worse than slight flesh |
wound in the right shoulder and will quickly re- |
over.
IAwkens, when taken to the police station, was |
ute cool and collected. lie said that he had |
one what he intended to do Although it is GER
ain that only thpe shots were fired, it was found
hat five chambers of the revolver were empty.