Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-09-15
A Tragedy in Washington.

Five years ago Thos. j. Taylor, tnen
a man of about twenty seven years OF
age, married in Washington Annie
WALES Brown, of st. Mary's county,
Nd, beautiful girl of twenty years OF
age. Fol time they were very happy
in each others love, but finally the
peace and harmony of the little home
was disturbed by the intrusion of a
tempter, who, according to the hus-
bands fears, wrecked the happiness of
himself and made his home life mock
cry and his very existence a degrade.
ton. Lately they have been keeping
house at $50 Eleventh southeast. They
occupied only the two lower floors,
renting out the upper floor to w. E.
Clarkson, a dyer. For over month
Taylor has been driving wagon for
J. G. Weinberg, baker, having before
that been q book canvasser in very
good circumstances. During the time
hs was engaged in canvassing he was
away from home good deal, and
,laims that it was at this time that his
wife first began to give evidences of in
Gdeli,y. For a week or so past his
conduct has been that of man half
crazed with some secret trouble, and
his employer has fears for his sanity.
1t is also said he has been addicted to
drink. About S o'clock yesterday
morning the trouble that had been
brewing for some time past eliminated
in an open quarrel Taylor states that
be had time and time again spoken to
his wife about her preference for the
companionship of men other than her
husband, but that she had never given
him any definite promise. Yesterday
be upbraided his wife for the part she
had been playing and and accused her
of ipGdelity. She denied all his allie
cations and promised that she would
never again see any of the men he sus-
pected. Taylor was only employing
ruse. however, for he was convinced
that none of the men he had mentioned
were guilty of improper advances to-
ward his wife. He finally named, how
ever, a man be was certain had ruined
his life. At this name the wife only
laughed and refused to talk of the
matter further. This angered Taylor,
and he sprung from the table, as they
we're then at breakfast, and demanded
of his wife that she should return to the
paths of rectitude and be to him a true
and faithful wife and never again see
the man that had come between them.
She still laughed in his face at his
Jealous rage, and he, angered beyond
control, drew heavy revolver and shot
her in the side. She fell partly to the
floor, and he then pointed the pistol at
his own heart, but she caught the
weapon and prevented him from using
it. Even though dying, she pleaded
with him not to take his own
life, declaring that she was not badly
hurt. Tie neighbors had been aroused
by the shots by this time, and came
iocking in. They found Mrs. Taylor
living on the lounge, where her husband
had carried her, the pink wrapper IN
which she was dressed stained crimson
with her life blood. Police Officer w.
G. Cramer and DR.. John ]. Slattery
were at the house in few minutes, and
while the one placed Mr.. Taylor under
arrest, the other turned his attention
to the wounded woman and attempted
to save her life. She was beyond hui
man aid, however. The bullet had
penetrated the abdominal cavity and
had pierced the liver. There was n
heavy internal hemorrhage, and the
woman was rapidly bleeding to death.
An effort was made to get her to Provi-
dence Hospital, but she died on the
way. The cause of the trouble between
TAYLOR and his wife is said to be col
lector named John FL. Peake, who
called at the house number of times
and in this way became acquainted
with Mrs. Taylor. There are number
of stories in circulation. concerning the
tragic affair, but none definitely fix
guilt upon the ill-fated woman. A let
ter written by an ignorant colored
woman to Mrs. Taylor and which her
husband opened is said to have had
much to do with precipitsting the
tragedy. The letter, however, is may
and its import uncertain,