The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-03-02
A MAD, JEALOUS LOVER
KILLS BEAUTIFUL GALVESTON GIRL
AND SUICIDES.
Madly in Love and Rejected, He Shoots
the Girl on Public Street and Then
Sends Bullet Through His
Own Brain.

Wassam and then sent bullet
through his own brain little before
o'clock today. The tragedy occurred
at the corner of Avenue | and Six
teenth street in front OF the residence
of Morris Kemper and instantly at.
tracted large crowd. When the
press reporter reached the scene Gil.
Dough was lying across the sidewalk
at the corner Of Sixteenth street and
avenue I, his head in a pool OF blood
which had flowed from a gaping
wound just back of the right ear.
The body of Miss Wassam
had been removed to the residence of
Judge Mann, and the young lady was
Just breathing her last. She had re-
ceived bullet through her left breast
and another in the back. DR.. A. M
Wassam, father of the dead girl, was
bending over her body in an agony OF
grief that was pitiful to behold. He
brokenly said:
This is my daughter, Dora May
Wassam. The man who killed her Is
Frank GilLaugh. lie came to this
city about two years ago and became
acquainted with my daughter. They
have kept company for some time,
but he was never in my house until to-
day. He was employed for some time
in the Santa Fe general offices, but
about month ago lett for New York.
Dora has been corresponding with
him since he left here. He wanted
her to marry him but my wife and
myself objected to IL on account OF her
age. Gilbaugh returned to this city
about week ago and has been press
ing his suit, but my daughter refused
him and was trying to get rid of him.
Some time this afternoon he came
up to my house and my wife
answered his call. Dora and
my younger daughter, Dot, were
down town. Mrs. Wassam asked him
what he wanted, and he said he had
come to marry Dora. My wife told
him she did not want Dora to marry
now; that she was too young. He did
not make any reply, but walked
away. This Is all | know about it eX-
cept that when / went home to dinner
my wife told me he had been there
and acted very strangely. We
thought no more of the matter until
we were notified Of the terrible
tragedy"
Little Dot, the 12.y ear-old sister of
Dora, who was with her at the time
of the shooting, was almost Frustrated
with fright and does not remember
just how the affair happened. She
said: "DOIa and | were coming home
from the city. Mr. GilIaIgh walked
on the opposite side OF the street for
some distance. He came across and
met US on the corner Of Sixteenth
street and Avenue |. | heard him
say something to Dora about loving
him and hating him, but | could not
understand what it was. Before |
could realize that any trouble was be-
tween them he pulled out revolver
and shot my sister twice. He then
turned around and fired again and
both fell to tho sidewalk. | ran into
Mrs. Kempner's aud do not remem.
Der anything more"
A man named Hart, who was on the
opposite side of the street, heard the
first shot fired and ran across the
street, but both had fallen after the
third shot and before he got to them.
The shots were fired in quick success
sion. He did not hear n word pass
between them, and neither of them
spoke after the shots were fired.
There were conflicting reports re.
garding the affair. Several persons
who claimed to have been near by say
thai Miss Wassam and Mr.. GIlbaugh
were walking together, and had come
up Eighteenth street from Broadway,
and that the little girl was in front of
them fully ten feet when the shooting
occurred. No one heard word
spoken, and the last words of the vic,
tim of this fearful tragedy will always
remain imprinted.
2. After the third shot was fired both
parties fell together, Miss Wassam
Clasped in the arms of her murderer.
Their bodies lay across the pavement.
Miss Wassam's pocket book was
found under the body of Gilbaugh,
her gloves and handkerchief short
distance from the bodies. The revOl.
YER, n 3S. calibre bulldog, was found
about three feet from where the vic
tins lay and had four chambers
empty. Some of those who claim to
have been eye witnesses say there
were four shots fired, while others
heard but three reports.
The body of Miss Wassam was re-
moved to the home Of her parents, ia
Avenue /, where her distracted
mother was praying for a glimpse of
her darling daughter who but few
short moments ago had left her home
full of happiness and life and who
was now cold in death, the victim of
jealous lover, who, with no thoughts
of any loved ones and with no fear Of
hell, had taken her child.
The body OF Gilbaugh was removed
to an undertaking establishment,
where it is being prepared for
interment. The only cause that can
Re assigned for the rash act is mad
jealousy of man who had been re-
fused the hand of a lovely girl. The
coroner viewed the remains and gave
permission for Their interment. He
will begin his investigation of the de.
plorable affair next Monday morning.
Dora May Wassam was the daugh-
ter of DR., and Mrs. A. NJ. Wassam,
and was seventeen years of age. She
was a handsome young lady and be-
loved by many friends, who will be
shocked TO learn of her sad fate.