The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-15

Drink and jealousy prompted Charles Gum
mel. 2 grocer, to enter his wife's apart
mer,t az their home. corner of Seventh aud
X streets southwest, this morning and ia
nict wounds on her head with meat ak
from tie effects OF which She is now lyins
at the point Of death at Emergency Hos
pital. Tire man then attempted TO c0Ie-
init s.Iicide by hacking his throat with
razor. He also occupies a cot at the hos
pital. The physicians expect both to re-
cover.
Gunmell is foTty-five years odd and his
wife thirty-seven. They have been mar
ried sixteen wears and have five children.
About a year ago they moved 70 Wash
ington from Prince George county, Md.
The Inahopened the grocery store atSe"eBih
and streets southwest, but as the husi-
ness was not large his wife took III hoard
ers to help out their slender income.
Up 60 this time their married life had
been q happy one, but soon after George
Corbin. night watchman, came TO live
with them Gummeil began TO cvince signs
Of jealousy. lie became SO suspicious and
abusive that some days ago Mrs. GgnlHel
went 10 the police court and swore out .
warrant, charging ner husband withtmeats.
This warrant was 20 have been served to-
day.
Last night Gummell 1t is said, had been
drinking. During the evening he taxed his
wife with having taken steps 10 have him
arrestcc. The woman denied tbs, and
70 escape her husbands abuse locked Ter
self In the bathroom. Gummell broke ia
tile coor and continued TO berate his wife.
bit did not strike her. Toward midnight
the man quoted down somewhat, and ii
nally went 10 his room Mrs. Gummel
fearing that he would DO her bodily harm,
went - iIcr daugauer Lucy's room t. spend
the night.
Concerning what happened afterward
there are conflicting stories Gunmell
probably 70 brood over his wrongs.
fancicd nr real, until he was half-crazed
with iralouSy. Shortly before 3 o'clocS
ne got up and securing cleaver from the
store downstairs, entered his wife's room.
H. asked her 10 get up and come to his
apartment. When she refused, he suddenly
drew forth the cleaver which he had held
behind him. and struck her with the ljiunt
end on tie breast.
With moan OF pain the woman sank
hack on the ted. The sound OF the blow
swoke the daughter, who threw her arms
about ber mother and begged the infuriated
man TO desist. Gummell paid no attention
to her. however, and bringing wn the ak
again inflicted afrightful gashon his wife's
fsce. laying open the flesh and cutting
through the bone TO the brain.
Lucy ran slaielsing to the street. HeI
cries attracted Policemen Herbert and
Osborne. They ran to the house and found
Mrs. GummeIl gasping ON the blood-soaked
bed. Policemen Vermllion and Smith had
also arrived on the scene and the -four
Officers began a hast Y search for G. amIneI
They fond him in a rear room lying face
downward across a bed with a gaping
wound IN HE throat and his night clothing
Iaturated with blood. A telephone message
was at once sent Tor an ambulance and the
Fourth precinct patrol wagon and the
man aud woman were taken TO Emergency
Hospital.
This morning q crowd OF curious people
stood around the Gunanell house talking in
eubdued voices OF the crime. The fifteen.
year-old daughter, Lacy, opened thu store
Tor business as usual and divided her time
between caring FOR the two smaller chill.
dren and waiting on customers. who pur-
chased a few small trifles as an excuse Co
ply the child with questions. Upstairs the
bloodstained bed aud disordered room
bore witness TO the terrible event OF the
night.
AT Emergency Hospital it was said this
afternoon that both Gummell and his Esf. |
would probably recover The Physician |
stated that Mrs. GumIaell skull was frac- /
tured, and that owing TO thc gFest loss OF
blood she Was in a Tery weakened condi- /
tion, but Wa doing as Well as could beck !
pected.