Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-07
H Id FOR M URDER
Result of the Coroner's Inquest Over the
Death Of Mrs Taylor.
Concluding Testimony Given Mt the
Hearfng-Mr. Taylor's Brief Stmte-
ment of What Induced His Act.

Heartng-Mr. Taylor's Brief State.
ment of What Induced His Act.
Thomas J. Taylor, who shot and killed his
wife yesterday morning at their home. as2
llth street southeast has been held for the
grand jury on a charge of murder. The
coroner's jury late yesterday afternoon,
after hearing a good deal Of testimony,
rendered a verdict that Mamie W. Tay-
Tor came to her death as a result Of a
wound inflicted by her husband. After The
Stars report of the inquest had closed,
Miss Clara Brown, the elder sister Of Mrs.
Taylor, swore that her family had never
had anything to do with Taylor. Her sis
ter often visited her home, and last spring
she showed marks Of having been terribly
beaten. She was bruised and her throat
bore marks of severe choking. She had
said that her husband had beaten her.
MISS; MISS Brown declared that as far as she
knew there was no reason for Taylor's
Jealousy. Her sister had complained that
Taylor followed her whenever she went out,
and she could not understand why Mrs
months.
Mrs. w. E. Garrison gave some interest
ing testimony. showing that Taylor's jeal-
ousy had caused him to decide to break up
he called her down into the parfer and told
her that things had come to such a pass
between him and his wife that he was 60
ing to give UP the house. He asked Mrs.
the house to visit Mrs. Taylor, and II she
received them in the parlor with the doors
closed. She replied that this was the case.
Taylor had gone on to sneak Of the agent
for the house as one Of those he meant.
Mrs. Taylor entered the room during the
conversation and began to cry. There was
quarrel between the husband and WIFE,
IN which he charged her with receiving
men during his absence. Taylor said he
had positive proof Of the guilt of the agent,
and reminded his wife that ne had a paper
to prove something. Taylor alleged that he
had arranged the furniture in the room
when he left the house in such a way that
when he returned he could see that 1t had
been changed about for certain pur-
pose" Mrs. Taylor afterward told Mrs.
Clarkson that there was no cause for her
husbands jealousy. He had accused her
becarse he had seen some boot-nail
scratches and some mud on a chair. Mrs.
GARRISON told Of the tragedy, and said that
while she stood ir the hallway she heard
Mrs. Taylor say: Before God in heaven,
1 am not guilty. This was the last ut
terance of the dying woman.
Mr.. Peake's Denials.
John H. Peake was the next witness, and
testified I'm an eager manner to demonstrate
to the jury that he had absolutely no con-
nection with the case other than that of
the mere agent of the house. He declared
that he had never called upon Mrs. Taylor
socially. and asserted that many of his
calls there for the rent had been with his
wife. who sat outside In the buggy. He
first knew the Taylors when they kept a
little cigar store at the corner of 9th street
and Maryland avenue northeast. He used
to go in to buy cigars occasionally, but he
did rot know Mrs. Taylor socially There
was an occasional lapse in the rent, but
ultimately it was all paid. There was a
wait of about two weeks for the rent due
on the 18th OF August. Thursday evening
Taylor called at his house and warned him
to stay away from his home. He had &C
cu5ed Peake Of being too friendly there
and Peake asked him If he had ever seen
MIN act other than as a gentleman. Tay-
lor had merely repeated the warning, and
then gave notice that he would give up the
house. He took a letter from his pocket
and, asking Peake If he knew a man named
SMITH son, read a part Of the paper, which
proved to contain certain illusions to a
meeting with Mrs. Taylor. Peake had an
swered that he once knew a man named
Smithson, who worked in the navy yard.
DR.. Sterling Rufin swore to the cause Of
death. as developed by the autopsy. .
Taylor's Brief Statement.
Taylor was the last witness He made a
brief statement, n,airly relating to his
talk with Peake, giving a different version
or the affair He said he accused Peake
with having ruined his wife and his own
life. He said that his buggy had been seen
standing before the house so often and SO
long at a time that the people In the neigh
borhood were talking. Peake had explain
ed that he had merely called there while on
his way from the cemetery. Mrs. Taylor"
he had said, lis a very prepossessing
woman, and l greatly enjoy a social chat
with her" Taylor had insisted that Peake
should not compromise his wife, and as
serted that a man in his position could
easily ruin family. Peake answered by
saying that Taylor was crazy; Taylor then
produced the letter which he had shown to
Peake which was as follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c.. August IS, 1894.
Dear Mrs. Taylor: 1 taken the pleasure
In writing to let you hear from me. Mrs
Iaylor, Mr.. SmithsCn wants to know II you
are coming up today to see him. and was
You up hear Friday to see him. was a
coming down there last evening. but was
lait Citing home, and don't you tell him 1
WASH there. because he wanted me to go
so bad. Please let me kno by the bar, tell
me everything. No fellars don't let me fail
Good by from frierd.
Taylor said that he had found this letter
on the floor Of his house, and had shown it
to his wife, She laughed and tore it up
He then gathered up the pieces and pasted
them together. and he and his wife went
to see Lucinda Battles, who explained that
she was f1ustered about Police Court case
when she wrote the note, and put down Mr.
Smithson instead Of Mrs. Smithson. This
explanation did not satisfy Taylor, who
thought the allusion to Smithson was really
intended for Peake. Lucinda has since said
that the note was about some dressmaking
Taylor was much affected during his
story, and wept at times. He concluded by
saying that he did not want to say any
thing about the shooting, as 1t did not seem
necessary. He left the stand with a prayer
for the soul Of his wife.
The jury then retired, and quickly re-
turned the verdict as stated.
Mrs. Taylor will be buried tomorrow from
the residence Of her brother-in-law, Mr.. E.
]. Adams. 81 Maryland avenue northeast.