Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18
TOOK HIS WIFE'S LIFE
John BlaytOn Kills His Companion and
CasheS His Own Face.
JEALOUSY CAUSES The TROUBLE.
'Ohn Bell, a Family BOarder, Figures
in The Case.
TWO FlVE-Sll00TERS EMPTIED.
-Four Of The Balls Take Effect, One Of
Them Piercing The Heart.
Uses A HATCHET ON HIMSELF.
The Cuts Are Numerous But
None Ct Them Seriou8.
USES A HATCHET ON HIMSELF.
TIE Cuts Are Numerous But
None Ct Them Serious.
THE MURDERER'S STATEMENT
sue Had Conclusive Evidence af Inf
deity stories by -Wiiucsses-
IaIk With n Niece.

Vifh icr C0unteuancc as serene ana
"a r0r.u. I'D as in life. but four bullet
hla. .a her body Mrs. John Henry Blay-
,.n urs cold In death at No. 400 west
I.trh street. the victim Of jealous and
rnrsecl husband. who after taking her
ufr ana Gisoharging every chamber Of
is, r,,ulvcrs. attempted sclf-destruction
D. the us. Of "a hatchet
rba tragedy occurred few minutes
,ftsr 10 O'Clock yesterday morning. aud
,. trc report Of the ten shots fred rang
5.t an thc still atmosphere. accompanied
.. ur h,artrcniiug shrieks ~ IN" NOR
tIly-wcunIed woman. that hitherto GGiet
n..shborhood was thrown into a state cf
great excitement.
People rushed to the scene Of the
tragedy from all directions ana soon d
large crowd had gathered around the
grc,n-rroccry of John Ben. who figures
consp!cuously IN the case, and over whose
store al the northwest corner Of Iarri-
SON and Leigh streets. the Baytons
lived 1t was I'm the rear room OF the
family apartments that the shooting took
place.
In the house lived Blaytou, man
aged &, years, his vile Esther Virginia
BMyion. aged 3S years. John BEN aged
about 20 years. Lula Crump or Blayon.
the l7-ycar-old niece Of Mrs. clayton. and
Edgar and Tommy Garrett aged rcspec-
lively l. and : years.
JEALOUSY TIE CAUSE.
rcalou,y appears 70 have been the
cause Of the tragedy.
The husband had become persuaded that
improper relations existed between his
wife and Zen. though the latter stoutly
denies that such was the case. and,
being worked up TO state Of frenzy.
BMyton. with "a revolver in each hand
proceeded 10 IRE upon the companion
of his NE Though evidently not good
marksmtu. his work was effective. Out
of the many bullets fired enough took
erect 10 produce death.
Tho cnraccd man then endeavored to
terminal. his existence. AID claims 10
r.ve shot at himself several times ana
tiat two II the balls struck mis- forehead
and glanced. but tho physicians were uh-
aDlc up1u "a hurried eXamnaiioh TO us
.Ina,iish these alleged wounds ifom those
made with the hatchet
ARRIVED DURING THE SHOOTING
AIR. 4 r. Mallcu. a night-watchman
.n a culvert tnat is being laid beside the
l....e wherein the murder occurred. lives
,.4t ourositr the clayton TcSld nc lie
WAS the nrst person to reach Tie h"u-r'
and arrived there while the shooting was
in progress IL was asleep when ms Vile
,.i.d to him and told him that some
thing awful was happening over al the
lI4ytous. lie hastily donned his clothe-.
p Npfal shots having been distinctly hrdid
b. him mean while. and rusnrd over 10
tl, house. Upon going up stairs he dis
covered Mrs. Blayton standing IN The
..rtre of the room crying for help with
blood ~pdftercd an over her clothing, and
..- husband standing with his back to
On. doorway. Immediately In front there
az. with pistol IN each hand, rapidly
rrrg 81 her.
THERE ur, two beds IN the room and seV-
.ral other articles Of furniture. ana II
being quite small there was hardly room
f- more than one person 10 walk about
DO it
THEN SHOT AT MALl.ETT.
Nal,tt grabbed Blayton's wrists from
i.niul The unfortunate woman saw
S..' rtifdliifi4 az Siif 'tfS ''' 'i'f'N
o.. ROOM trying To dodge the shots that
vere being nred at her.
.lr Mallett, help me; for Gods sake
l.r m.." che cried.
lav,.n struggled 10 free himself, and
...Il.r- his arms free. shouted To Mtll,tt
Sow I'm going L. shoot you Suiting
t.. action - the word. he blazcd away,
r..rc two shots point-blank at him. Rca-
i.nE his inability TO cope with the
..t.raiti man. and also realizing his
.....r Mr.. Mallctt caught Mrs. Blay-
t.. ODD his arms. and rushed down stairs.
rh. hous, is SO situated that in order
cd .,t $50 the lower room in rear Of the
.-.i. used as dlning-roOm, one has TO
..-..ui HIGHT Of steps into the back
N.rt .,I enter the room from a rear door
N.I- Mallctt was going down the ~ ps
vf. hi- burden on his arm Rlayton rush
,l after him and from the top of the
Ct rHav shot at him again. The bah
v.s.l,1 past his ear and lodged in the
= ,r outside. In the mean time Mrs
vi ttYn had lost consciousness. and when
Nla,r iot her into the room he laid her
Gown ia the floor and went into the
1rr 20 close the doors, a crowd having
already conrro gated on the outside. While
fc was in thc store Blayton came into the
T.lr ROOM
CNOppING AWAY on HIMSELF
c'.pp.ug h.s head al frightful rate.
,.lI,i d'd not interfere with him. hut
1,a Mallctt who was also in the store.
Cf..i out. "Oh. Mr. BlaytOn, don't do
r..t" lle paid no attention TO her re-
W'nsjfluce. but turned ana retraccd his
a'cIs to the room upstairs in which the
.ooting occurred. As he passed the pros
rate body Of his " fe now rapidly gasp
lag her last. hc said, "Oh, honey, don't
-' that" lie continued 10 hack himself.
Policeman Priddy. OF the Third District,
having been notified of the occurrence.
entered the house at this juncturc. and
T1uul the murderer seated on the bed.
vlciously chopping his head. lie looked
Up as the officer entered. and said: Go
away and let me alone. want 10 XIII
myself and go 10 hi" Mr.. Prlddy
took the hatchct from him. and seated
him Ia chair until the arrival Of the
Coroner ana the ambulance when ne was
removed to the almshouse.
scenes of the Tragedy.
The house In which the Blayton's lived
T. situated on the northwest corner Of
Harrison ana Leigh streets. fronting on
Lcigh. 1t Is tWo-story structure. and
consists OF store room on the street.
q dining room In the rear Of this, and
three rooms on the second iioor The
store Is occupied 10y Bell. and he boarded
with the Biaytons. sleeping Immediately
over the store The room adjoining this
was occupied by Miss Crump. and Mr..
and Mrs Blayton occupied the rear room.
There were two beds in this chamber.
one belmg occupied by the two little boys.
Edgar and Tommy Garrett. They had
Zen placed there by their father, who
- widOwer.
A BLOODY SPECTACLE.
house shortly after the Tragedy this room
presented a frightful spectacle. Blood
was CONCEALED all over the floor, In front
Of the ooor. and the beds, which had not
been made up. were also besprinkied win
gore Every indication Of severe
struggle having taken place was 10 be
seen. Chairs wse overturnea. pictures