Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-27
A MURDEROUS HUSBAND.

attempt at wifs.murder which occurred
IN small brick house on the east side
OF that thororghfare, between Gibbou
aud franklin streets. 1t was about t4p
o'clock when the murder was attempt.
ed, and from that time until now the
neighborhood has been in state of ex.
cltement. The would-be murderer is
michael Thomas and the victim Mary,
his Wife,. For several years the do
mestic relations of the couple have not
been sea of happiness, the wife having
long ago found marriage, so far as her
part in the contract was concerned, q
failure, and on more than one occasion
has had to invoke thelarm of the law
tor protection. 1t was one of these
cases where the wife seemingly was
disposed TO do all the work and
the husband was perfectly willing
she should. The monotonous plod
OF such a life naturally told on
the frame of the weaker vessel
until existence was uncomfortable.
They had parted and come together of
and on for several years and the do
nestle broils which followed culmi-
mated in the bloody scene of to-day. 1t
seems that Thomas had of late had the
house to himself, the wife having left
him, and yesterday he sent word for
her to come to the house and get Ter
belongings. 1t was while this part was
being enacted that the murderous act
took place. The husband and wife
were in an upper room at the time,
when neighbor who was down stairs
heard scuff1e and every indication of
an angry scene in the room above.
Surprising it to be mere quarrel she
called to the couple to cease wranglng,
when she was Mortified to hear thr, Q
pistol shots in rapid succession, and be-
fore she could gather her senses MIS-.
Thomas rolled down the stairs, the blot d
streaming from her head, face and side.
Two bullet holes were 10 her face from
which her life's blood was cascadinc,
another in the left side near the region
of the heart aud two triangular wounds
on the back of the head which had
been inflicted with the blunt end of an
axe The axe is said to have been used
on her first and the pistol was brought
giving her coup de grace.
The corner of the axe had struck
in each wound on the head and the
skull was fractured in both places. The
lady who was with her at the time
gave the alarm and in few minutes
time the neighborhood was aroused.
Mrs. Thomas lay in pool of blood,
apparently dying, and one by one her
relatives aud friends as they entered
wrung their hands in anguish at the
spectacle presented. Drs. Jones and
O'Brien were summoned and upon
their arrival did all that medical
science could suggest for the re-
lief of the unfortunate woman, but
it was generally conceded that her
wounds were fatal. Her son, her only
child, soon reached his home, and the
anguish he manifested was scene
long to be remembered by all who
were present. Leaving the dying wo-
man, we will follow the murderer. AT
ter committing the horrid deed he
skulked to Franklin street and took a
southwesterly course over fields toward
Hunting creek bridge which he crossed.
and upon arriving at the forks of the
road on the opposite side he managed
to summon nerve enough to cut his
throat, severing the windpipe. He
also cut both wrists. Policemen were
Immediately dispatched in the direction
the murderer took, and Mr.. F. l.. Ent-
wisle loaned his wagon for the purpose
| of accelerating the pursuit. After
some little search Mr.. Sidney Pullman
discovered Thomas lying in ditch
with his clothing saturated with blood
Later Officer Sherwood and Mr.. Walter
Cline came to the spot and the officer
took the murderer in charge and
brought him in Mr.. Harry Catts's bug
gy to the station house in this city
DR.. Purvis, who attended him, found
his injuries to be most serious, there
being every likelihood of him dying
from hemorrhsge. In answer to ques-
tions Thomas admitted shooting his
wife, but laid all the responsibility of
the affair on his mother in-law, saying
he should have shot her first. He
thought he was dying, and said if he
recovered be knew he would be hang
ed. He requested friend whom he
sent for to see that he was buried
properly should his death ensue.
Thomas came here from New Jer-
sey several years ago. Mrs. Thomas
was Miss Cook, of this city.
During the afternoon it was found
necessary to remove Thomas to the In
Urinary in order that he could receive
proper attention, it being the opinion of
DIR. Purvis that there is chance for his
life under proper conditions. He was
plsc ID in charge of a policeman and q
member of the force will watch him
night and day.
The condition of Mrs. Thomas has re-
NAMED unchanged all the afternoon.
Her life is at its lowest ebb and her
death is momentarily looked for.
TIE CHAIN GANG.-The Mayor at
the next meeting of the City Council
will send in q communication recon-.
mending the enactment of law by
which corporal punishment can be in-
ficted on members of the chain gang
who are guilty of naturalization. Oh
late several members of the gang have