The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-01
Strange Story Of Henry Crate and
Helen Symons.
MOST READABLE STORY
After Seven Years of Courtship and
Bitter experiences the Pair Are
Welded. The Groom Killed
His Cousin, Former
Admirer

I've killed my cousin, Fred Beh
rcns Here's my revolver.
Sergeant Rea picked up the weapon.
and romarking, well, guess Won
didn't hurt him much. " took the yo,np
man III charge and sent two officers to
investigate the matter The young man
gave his name Us Henry G. Grotc.
Upon fcaching 12oS Montgomery street
the officers found it to DO the residence
of Mrs Bessie Sylnons. a widow with
three daughters, two of them, Mary and
Helen, having just reached womanhood.
On the floor in. the Pnrlor was found the
body OF Fred Q. Behrens, man about
Grote's age Just over his heart WAS
bnllot wound, and Behrons was dead
Tho family was most rcticout about
making any statements more than that
Grote and Behrcns had euurreled and
Grotc had shot. Tho young men had
been calling on the two daughters for
some time. Mary, it was stated, WIS
engaged to Grote, and Bchrcns had been
paying marked attention to Holon.
Fred c. Behrens and Henry G. Grote
were first cousins and had been brought
mp sido by side. When they reached
manhood, they had entered society to-
gether, and in their choice of especial
lady acquaintances had fixed u,Hn sis
ters, Mary aud Helen Symons. They
had spent many evenings and DAYS to.
gether, and about Thanksgiving time,
previous to the tragedy, Mary and Henry
had become engaged Every ono looked
for similar occurrence between Helen
and Fred
But all at once Behrens had ceased
calling upon Helen. Matters had gone
so far with them that the affair created
talk Grote went to Behrens and asked
his reason. Bohrens refused TO give any
reason, simply saying he was tired, and
tried TO persuade Grote TO give up Mary.
This Grote refused to DO and upbraided
Behrens for his conduct.
Ehis angered Bohrcns, especially when
Grotc told him that all honorable men
considered him most contemplate. He
Threatened to get even with Grote and
to ruin his reputation with the girl he
loved The very next day he wrote Mrs
Symons note, telling her that Grote
was associating with lewd women Mrs
Symons asked Grote about it, and he de
MED It, This controversy was kept M
for some timo. The young men even
came to blows over the affair. The eli
max TO the trouble was told by Groto
himself
when went homo last night, moth
er asked me if [ had received a note
from Mary. l said 10, and she said
that Bessie, MAy's younger sister, had
been over twice that evening with u
note fer me. i concluded that Fred had
been making some new charges against
me, and l determined to put an end to
the matter. / put pistol in my pocket
Tor one reason. ] intended TO propose to
Mrs, Symons that Fred and l and some
one whom she might choose ehould go
directly to Ada Huntley's and prove
whether or not had ever been to that
house ! meant if she would not consent
TO that 10 go TO Fred and demand a re-
traction, and if ho would not make one
to use the pistol to intimidate him
cannot understand how got my cour-
age up to do the shooting.
We'll, when | went into the house. |
saw Fred sitting there. / threw my hat
down with an angry toss, and converse
ton began. Fred asked me if | would
swear on the Bible that did not visit
the lluntley wonan's house on Jan Z
| took the oath, and then he wanted me
TO swear about some visit i'll October. ]
did not propose to let him master it
over Inc III that way and told him /
would not | do not remember exactly
what was said. | saw him sitting there
coolly' calmly vindictively trying to
lie away all I held dearest, for fancied
wrong
1T may seem childish, but I could
not bear separation from Mary, and
here SAW this man whose greatest de-
light would have been to have parted
us forever. 1t was more than 1 could
stand. They say started out of the
room and then turned back. do not re-
member, only that drow my pistol and
fired without aim and rushed from the
honse"
Following the shooting came the in
quest, at which Grote and his sweet
heart met for tho first time after the
tragedy She threw her arms about his
neck and kissed him, but her evidence
only aided to fastcn crirne upon her
lover. Grote was held for the killing
and bound over to tho grand jury, which
indicted him for murder in the second
degree
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