The record-union., 1896-08-21
James Lee Stays His Mistress,
Nellie NJ. Allen.
He Killed Her Because He Was Jealous
Of a Japanese.
Captured by Officer William Talbot After
Shooting Three Times at His
PurSuerS.

A most brutal murder was committed
on Fourth street at o'clock yesterday
afternoon, to which several persons
were eye-witnesses. The victim was an
abandoned woman known as Nellie
Maud Allen, and her slayer-whom no.
body seems to know-gives his name as
James Lee. He says he is a cook.
The assassin attempted to escape,
and in doing so nearly addeG other
murders to his brutal crime. for ne shot
three times at his pursuers. He was
finally overtaken and captured by Off
Ger William Talbot. The circumstances
attending the tragedy are as follows:
The woman came here a few weeks
ago from Placerville. where she has
relatives, and took up with man
whose name could not be learned-as
his mistress. She was addicted to
drink and he left her, and then she fell
in with Lee with whom she had since
been living in a shanty in the alley be-
tween L and NJ, Third and Fourth
streets, chiefly inhabited by japanese.
One Jap in particular seems to have
undermined Lee in the woman's "af-
fectons,' at least she lately began to
evince a preference for the little brown
1Afdll- lit - SdlQ W nave SOttle TGduy
Ccfn, and this fact doubtless had con-
siderable to do with the transfer of her
affection from Lee to him.
On Wednesday night she sent the Jap
To a washhouse for some clothing, and
while he was returning with it Lee met
him and fired two shots at him. Yes
terday the woman stated to Officer
Douglas that the bullets took effect,
and that the Jap was wounded, but
could not be found by the officers.
Yesterday afternoon Lee, who had
been spying on the woman, found her
among the Japs and began abusing her
The woman started up the alley to-
ward Fourth street, and appealed to
Charles Yates, the colored L-street
salOonkeeper, who was nearby, for pro-
lection, but he saw no necessity for in
terfering. It is perhaps we'll for him
that he did not, for Lee would no
doubt have shot him.
After abusing the woman for a few
moments Lee whipped out his pistol
and began shooting at her She start
ed to run toward Fourth street, and the
first two shots missed her AS she
reached the street, however, Lee over
took her and his third shot struck her
in the region of the heart and she fell
dead on the sidewalk
The murderer stood by gazing at her
when W. A. CasweII came up, and
bending over the dying woman asked
the man who she was
She's my wifei" exclaimed Lee, at
the same time placing his hand on his
pistol, which he had returned to his
pocket, in a way to lead Caswell to be-
heve he intended to shoot him.
Caswell then drew back, and as peo-
pie began to gather about the spot Lee
walked off up the alley toward Fifth
street.
Soon several men started after him,
and then he ran.
AT the corner of Fifth and L streets
he turned on his pursuers and shot twice
at Julius Rosbarg, who was in the lead,
but fortunately hit no one. Soon he fred
a third shot, but without effect AS he
ran he threw the empty shells from his
pistol and put IN two more cartridges.
In the meantime officer Talbot heard
of the shooting, and jumping into one of
J. w. Wilson's hacks, driven by John
Martin, told the latter to drive with all
haste to the scene Of the tragedy.
Learning the direction the murderer
had taken. Talbot was driven up NJ
street, and between Seventh and Eighth
he discovered Lee.
The latter, finding he was closely pur-
sued, ran into private yard. Talbot,
knowing he would make for the alley,
had Martin drive around to Eighth
street, and leaping from the hack con-
fronted the murderer just as the latter
reached the street.
Talbot had him covered with his pis-
toll and Lee, seeing that the officer had
the drop on him, hurled his pistol with