The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-27
KILLED HIMSELF FOR LOVE.
BUT FAILED TO KILL THE WOMAN
HE LOVED.

jenkins With Whom He Had Been
Living and Then Took His own
Life-She Wanted to Leave Him
and He was Determined That No
Other Man should Have Her-His
stroke Was Not Deep Enough,
However. and She VIII Probably
Recover.
William J. Aston colored, cut his own
throat at an early hour yesterday morn
ing, after having first cut the throat OF
his mistress Lizzie jenkins.
Alston's intention was to first Kill the
woman and then kill himself which he
had fully determined to do, as is shown by
a letter addressed by Aston to his broth
er previous to undertaking the crime. He
failed in his murderous effort. being foied
by the struggles and screams Of the wo-
man. but succeeded in taking his own life.
He probably died in the belief that he
had taken the life of the woman also.
Alston's crime is an unusual one among
the negroes He loved the woman and
determined to kin her to prevent any one
else from getting her, and to take his
own life in the bargain. Such crimes are
occasionally heard Of among white people
but very rarely among negroes. Aston
actions and his letter to his brother prove
him 10 have been crazed with love for the
woman, and he was evidently not in his
right mind.
Aston worked as a trucker for the
Southern Express Company at the Plant
system depot. He is said to have been
from Charleston but came TO savannah
several months ago from Waycross. He
had previously lived in Jacksonville, and
had a wife and child there. lie met
the jenkins woman in Waycross, and at
once fell in love with her This love seems
20 have been reciprocated, and the two
were fast friends from that date.
After coming to Savannah Aston cor
responded with the jenkins woman and
persuaded her to make occasional visits
here. which she could easily do, having
a brother living in the city. He finally
prevailed upon her to come to Savannah
and remain permanently. The woman was
aware that Aston had a wife ana chHd
living. but that did not prevent her from
living with him at her brothers home on
McAllister street. at the extreme eastern
end of Oglethorpe avenue.
All the evidence goes to show that Aston
was not only deeply infatuated with the
woman, but that he was morbidly jealous
of her and this jealousy made both their
lives miserable. He was afraid that some
other man would win her away from him.
The woman is said to be wel,-educated
and fairly attractive in appearance before
she was disfgured by her lovers knife.
Alstons jealousy had become so unbear-
able that the woman had made up her
hind TO leave him, and it was the knowl-
edge OF this determination that prompted
Aston TO undertake to take her life and
his also.
Although Aston had repeatedly threat
ened her the woman had no suspicion
that he would attempt to put his threats
into effect when they retired Saturday
night. He was more pleasant than usual,
and gave no indication of his intentions.
The Jenkins woman said yesterday that
she had an idea that after she went TO
sleep Aston got up and left the house,
but she could not tell whe ther this was
really the case of whether she only dream
ed that he did. The first that she really
knew was when she woke up about 4
o'clock to find Aston standing by her
bedside with knife at her throat. In
fact. he had already made a cash with
the knife and 1t was the pain that awoke
her. She started to scream, which Aston
endeavored to prevent by putting his hand
over her mouth. He could not entirely
prevent her screams, however, and she
struggled 50 vigorously that she escaped
from him and ran into the adjoining room,
where her brother was. This was not
before Aston had inflicted a long cash
entirely across her throat When the wo-
man escaped Aston ran out the back way
and escaped into the street.
When the jenkins woman's brother,
James Green saw the plight she was in
and heard her story OF the assault upon
her A1etoD 10 nafu borc
and then Green, with a huber Of others,
A messenger was also sent for a physician
and time Green, with a number of others,
set out to look for Alston. The crowd
could not find him and IL is believed that
he first ran away and then started to re-
turn to the scene Of the crime as half
an hour later he was found two doors
away IN front Of the house OF Robert
Williams. co.ored weltering in his own
blood with a deep cash in his throat. Al
ston was dead when found and lay in
large pool of blood.
The news Of the suicide and ATTEMPTED
murder spread rapidly and was all the
talk among the colored people of the city
by breakfast time. Hundreds Of them Wis
tied the scene and viewed the
dead body OF Aston ana those
who could got a look at the injured
woman. Dr. s. p. Lloyd, colored, respond
ed 10 the call for medical assistance and
dressed the neck OF the injured woman
He found the wound TO consist OF a long
but shallow cash, which had severed
some OF the smaller arteries. but had not
touched the main arteries and veins Dr.
Lloyd Is OF the opinion that with good
care the woman viii recover. The wound
was sewed up, fourteen stitches being re-
quired.
Or. Lloyd prohibited the woman from
talking As she was able TO write how
ever. she had no difficulty i'm giving a full
account OF the assault upon her. She
said that Aston wanted her to marry
him, but that she refused 10 do so on ac-
count Of his jealous disposition. knowing
that they would be- unable 20 1--we together
In peace. She had been telling him. She
said, that she would not live with him
any longer and he had sworn that IL she
would not live with him no other man
should live with her. lie had made threats
against her and She had thought OF see.
Ing a lawyer, but had had no chance 10
do 50. Sunday night. she said. Aston
told her that he was going TO his home IN
Charleston the next day ana Was very
pleasant 20 her, allaying her suspicious.
The story OF the assault has already been
told.
There were reports that Aston had not
killed himself. but had been Killed hy LIZ.