Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-04
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
"Reddy" White wounds His Wife and IAsa
Takes His Own Life.

Takes His Own Life.
Whisky and jealousy we're the oauss which
led TO the commission Of double tragedy yes-
terday afternoon The chief actor was James
White. the former keeper Of Questionable re-
sorts where rum was dispensed to the lowest
classes, and the pulling Of the trigger Of . pis-
tol, with the barrel Of the weapon pointed to-
ward his own head, was his last act on earth.
Three shots were fred by the man who was
crazed with liquor. One bullet made . hole
through his wife's lung, while the last hpllet
entered his own brain and caused almost in
slant death. The dead man was known ia, his
associates as Freddy" White and but few ever
know him by any other name.
REDDY WHITES CAREER
He was about forty years old and most Of his
acquaintances were persons best known in
sporting circles, particularly those character
lied as ''sluggers." who engage In sparring
contests and fights generally. For several years
he was bartender at Rooneys saloon and while
employed there he was arrested on charge of
robbery. for which he served time in prison.
Upon his return to this city he secured posi-
tons IN various saloons and then he opened q
place for himself on Pennsylvania avenue near
the Capitol. where confidence men and bunco-
steerers spent most Of their time. On account
OF the bad Character Of the people who fire.
quented this place he was forced to sell out
and leave and he subsequently opened a place
on Pennsylvania avenue between 18th and 18th
streets. This place was no better than the
hrst and, acting upon the recommendations Of
the police, the Commissioners refused him a
license and he was finally forced out Of the
whisky business.
TIE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING.
From there he went to live at No. 462 N
street, where he had tilted up the front room
to open business shortly, and it was at this
house that the double tragedy was enacted
yesterday. Five years ago White married Miss
Mary Siben. They had no children. but bad
adopted a boy who is about six years old. Be-
fore the affair happened White, his wife and
adopted son and a friend named Thomas Nc
Neal were sitting in u room on the second
hoor. About 5:15 O'clock the boy asked for a
nickel with which to buy some peanuts. The
boy went out and spent that amount Of
money which was given him by McNeal, and
before he returned White suggested that McNeal
go down stairs and bring up some more liquid
Refreshments. This McNeal did, and when he
assembled the steps he saw hisfriend White hold
ing.a revolver In his hand. He had evidently
meant to kill McNeal, as we'll as the members of
his own family. but as they were .saeh good
friends he said he would not kill him. uThan he
McNeal to 60 down stairs, and, got
some glasses, which request he was complying
with when tho report Of pistol startled him.
Mrs. White screamed, and following her outcry
came another report.
MRS. WHITE SHOT.
McNeal, who was in the trout room on the
lower floor, hurried toward the stairway. when
he met Mrs. White, who ran through tine yard
to tine house Of . colored woman named Belle
johnson.
I'm shot" she exclaimed.
The colored woman left Mrs. White on a sofa
and hurried to the Office Of DIR. William T. Gill
and from there she went to the police station.
Sergeant McTaggart and several policemen
hurried to the White residence and inquired for
the would-be murderer, but as no one had seen
him leave the premises the officers concluded
that he was still upstairs. The house wss STIR
rounded and Sergeant McTagsart, With pistol
in hand. started to ascend the steps in search
of White.
4 SHOT AND FALL.
Before he had reached the upper landing he
heard pistol shot in the room above him and
then there was heavy fall. Not a sound fol-
lowed the heavy fall, not even a grosn, for the
bullet from the weapon had struck vital spot,
as already stated. aud had sent the miserable
man into another world.
When Sergeant McTaggart entered the room
he found Whites body stretched upon the
floor and beneath his head was the thirty-two-
caliber pistol that had done the deadly work.
An examination OF the body revealed a bull
let hole Just above the left ear. The bullet
had cleared the skull on the opposite side OF
his head and was found on the floor.
THE WOUNDED WOMAN.
In the meanwhile Drs. Gill and English had
reached the wounded woman and ascertained
that the bullet had pierced her lung. She told
the doctors that jealousy prompted her hus-
bands rash act. On account OF her condition
the doctors advised her not to excite herself
any more than she could help by talking, and
after dressing the wound they had her sent to
Providence Hospital. While the wound is .
serious and dangerous one the doctors do not
consider it necessarily fatal and they think she
may recover.
After the excitement had subsidized the police
learned that freddy" had been on drunk for
some days and he was on the verge OF the de-
lirium tremens. 1t was learned that only two
or three days ago he attempted to kill his wife
by shooting at her, but the bullet did not strike
her. -. ..
This morning the injured woman was resting
quietly and was doing well as could be ex-
pected under the circumstances.