Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-23
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE
Lemuel Diggs Tried to Kill His
Sweetheart.
sHE HAD DISCARDED HIM
The AssaiIant Escaped and the
Police Are in Search.
seem OF THE AFFAI

Gin and jealousy caused the commission
of a crime on the road near Benning at
late hour last night which resulted in the
serious injury of Henrietta West, colored
Iemuel Diggs, her former friend, inflicted
the pistol-shot wound, and then he follow
ed the example set by Dorsey Foultz. the
colored murderer of Charles Robinson, and
made his escape. Fortunately for Hen
retta the bullet was small one, and fail
ed to penetrate the windpipe or sever the
jugular vein The piece of lead entered the
left side of the neck and passed out
through the opposite side just behind the
windpipe Henrietta had been so much in
love with the man that when he tried to
kill her some months ago she would not
inform on him. Diggs had the reputation
OF going armed on all occasions, and as he
was addicted to the use of gin, he was al
ways regarded as being dangerous. He
had been working for Capt Jack Hayes
who has a farm just across the District
line beyond Burrville, and not far from
Deanewood, where his victim lives. Yes
terday morning he was considerably under
the influence of liquor, and it is reported
he was exceedingly quarrelsome. He
quarreled with a man named Phelps. so 1t
was sta ted this morning, and then he went
to the mans house and threatened to Kill
He did not discharge the weapon. however,
but the police have received information
that he did fire one shot at a child of Mr..
Silence, who lives in Prince Georges county,
just across the District line. During yes
terday afternoon he was seen about Ben
ming. and although he was under the in
f1uence of liquor. he was not in a condition
to make him irresponsible. The last seen
of him by the race track hangers-on was
when he had dispute with man about
bottle of gin.
Nothing more was heard of him until
the shooting last night, and then the peo-
pie of Deanewood and Benning, well
some of the residents of Burville, We're
alarmed. Last nights affair had recalled
the Dorsey FoultZ case, and visions OF a
man going about the woods armed with a
loaded revolver seemed to haunt them.
Their Relations.
Lemuel Diggs, or Lem Diggs. rs he
is better known, and Henrietta West had
been close friends for long time, but be-
cause of the mans disreputable mode of
living she had concluded to discard him
for another. The fortunate one was Jas.
Hutchinson, whose friends call him Pete"
and he was with the belle of Deanewood
last night. They HAD attended the closing
exercises of the Benning public school, and
1t was rather late when they started home.
Lem" Diggs was also at the entertain
ment; but he kept back seat and watch
ed his former sweetheart, and she smiled
Sweety upon her latest admirer.
This was more than he could stand. and
he made up his mind to put in execution
the threat he had made earlier in the day
to end her life and then die with her
But he did not seem to have the courage
to harm himself. as it turned out. but fled
for his life after lie had fired the shot.
Eliza West, Kate Moore and William jack
were i'll the Deancwood party on the
way home from the school entertainment.
The party had proceeded only short Way
from the school when Diggs overlook
them, and addressing his former sweet
heart, asked: Henrietta, how often are
you going to treat me in this way?'
Treat you how" Henrietta asked him.
That's all right" muttered the man.
" no was armed with loaded pistol, and
who was bent on murder.
Come here, Henrietta called her
sister; you don't belong to him. you be-
long to Nose West and yourself, don't
you?"
He Fired.
Yes" was her answer, and then she
again Joined the party and proceeded III
the direction of Deanewcod, thinking Diggs
would not follow them. But Digs had 10
intention of allowing Henrietta to escape,
and instead of leaving her, he went around
through the bushes and made short cut
from the Baltimore and Ohio track TO the
main road. and remained in hiding behind
the bushes until the party approached,
and. jumping in front of them, he shouted
Henrietta, Stop
What do you want now?" the woman
asked.
Diggs then pushed Eliza West aside, and
Pete Hutchinson spoke to him to remind
him that he was a man. and he should not
touch a woman. But his warning was Of
no avail. for Digs lifted his arm and fired.
Henrietta turned and ran, and after DiggS
had pretended he was going to shoot the
sister, he turned and pursued the wounded
woman, who ran to the house of Mrs.
Eliza Brooks. Entering the house, she
threw herself across the bed and said: I'm
shot"
He Escaped.
Her assailant turned and was soon lost
in the darkness. 1t was nearly l O'Clock
when DR.. Savage was called ITO the house
to dress the wound. He found that the
bullet had barely missed the jugular vein
and windpipe, but the wound, unless prop
erly attended to, might prove dangerous.
The affair caused considerable excitement
in the vicinity of the Benning race track,
but it was not until after o'clock this
morning that it was reported to the
police at headquarters. Then Detective
Boardman and Policemen Preston anu
Boland went out and made an investiga-
ton. They heard all sorts of stories af1oat
about the shooting and also concerning
the whereabouts of the fugitive. He had
been seen in Burvilie and Deanewood this
morning, some of the people said. while
one man SAID ne udu SOIle " tNdIluoIO .
From another source, however, the officers
received reliable information that he had
gone away on a freight train to Baltimore
There was a freight train near the sta
ton about the time the shooting was done.
and 1t is said that Diggs went away on
it. A good description of the would-be
murderer has been obtained. and the police
are making every effort to apprehend him.
Accident to Mr.. Marcan.
Mr.. Morell Marean. manager for the
Western Union Company In this city, was