Evening journal., 1899-11-22

DRINK, INTENDED TO MURDER
HIS WIFE. WHO WOULD NOT.
LIVE WITH HIM. AND THEN
COMMIT SUICIDE.
James Baxter, of this city, is in Cam
den IN. j. Jail, for shooting Mrs.
Mary Ryan and her husband. Jerry
Ryan. The bullets were intended for
mis- wife, Of whom he was jealous She
was not injured.
Baxter had been living in this city
for several months and up to some time
during last Summer was employed by
the Wilmington Steamboat Company
as a fireman. He formerly lived in
Camden. He is 80 years of age.
Baxter admits that he intended to
commit murder. He says. 1t was my
wife / was after
The stories of the quarrel and the in
cidents leading up to it are somewhat
conflicting. Baxter was married nine
teen years ago, at Stockton, Mass. A
child was born, and for fifteen years
peace reigned in the family. That is,
there was no open break. jeremiah
man dllAt lLn NAlN mtAA ANASAAb0Ao VI
the BaSters for many years, and .Bax-
ter was always suspicious of them. But
his remonstrances with his wife about
her associations with them were never
violent.
About a year ago Baxter's son. then
grown into a stalwart youth, took a
position in Wilmington. Baxter came
to live with him and urged his wife to
come. too She refused to leave her
Camden friends. She secured a place
in a mill and supported herself.
When the Cuban war broke out Bax-
ter enlisted. Returning from a three
months service, he found his wife more
intimate than ever with the Ryans, and
as Obdurate in her refusal to live with
him. Then the hatred that had long
been smoldering in his breast burst
into flame. Yesterday he purchased a
revolver in Wilmington, and went to
Philadelphia on the boat City of Ches-
ter, arriving in Camden at $50 o'clock
in the afternoon.
Since the separation Baxter, who Is
of a jealous disposition, and claims TO
madly love his wife, has several times
attempted to induce her to return to
him. but each time she has turned a
deaf ear to his pleadings. Yesterday
III uIAtlliAlt W lloht UAt lnOlG dl-
tempt to effect a reconciliation. If she
again refused him, he decided he would
Kill her and then kill himself. When
he alighted from a car at Twenty
sixth street his mind was greatly dis
turbed by liquor he had drunk.
Washington avenue is but one square
distant from the trolley line, and with
his hand on the butt of his revolver. he
stealthily made his way to the rear OF
the Ryan home Merry peals Of laugh
ter, in which he recognized the loud
hal hal of his wife, fioated through
the open windows.
CHOKED A PET DOG
Baxter cautiously opened the gate
leading to the yard, and took up a po-
sition in the darkness, from where hC
could see the movements of the merry.
makers through the open kitchen door
He thought he saw his wife being
caressed by a man named Jane!
Brown, but to satisfy himself that sh,
was really in the embrace of another
man, he shifted his position TO get ;
better view. AS he did so his foo
struck box, making a slight noise
that attracted the attention of a pc
house dog. lying in the doorway. Th'
dog, a little black and tan, gave a low
grOwl. and bounded out into the yard
and ran straight to where Baxter wa
crouching. AS the dog came within
reaching distance of Baxter. he graspeI
the dog firmly by the throat and neve
released his vicelike hold until the lit
tie animal had ceased its struggles. Ac
cording to the wOuld-be murderer
own statement this inhuman act mad
him more desperate.
Advancing to within a few yards q
the open door, Baxter called to his viii
to come out. She arose to obey, anC
knowing that Baxter had threatene
his wife's life, Mr.. and Mrs. RyaI
Harry Horter and the man Brown az
companied her to the yard
Well what is it?" asked Mrs. Ba,
ter.
For Gods sake, Annie. come to n
and prevent this desperate deed" al
swered Baxter, in excited tones.
Go away from me-" exclaimed tn
wife. and as she turned to retrace ht
footsteps, Baxter quickly pulled the II
volver from his pocket and fired fly
shots.
SHOT INNOCENT WOMAN.
AS he fred Mr.. and Mrs. Ryan rus
ed at him, and right in the path of d
bullets, four ofwhiCh took effect i'm MI
Ryan. One struck her i'm the neck nj
der the chin and ricochetted into Il
folds Of the neck Another entered Il
right arm al the elbow, and the thi
struck her in the right shoulder ~
fourth shot, which will probably pro
fatal, entered her back and lodged
the abodmen. The fifth shot stru
Ryan in the shoulder.
The entire neighborhood was arouse
and Officer Sam Paul was summone
When the officer reached [
scene, Ryan although wounded. a
Harry Horter had Baxter on [
ground, kicking him in the face a
body. The would-be murderer "
hurried to the lookup. and after I
Ing relieved OF his revolver was lock
mp. In the meantime, Mrs Ryan. WI
the four bullets in her body. had rush
from the yard into Twenty-sixth sire
ami then down Federal street. N,
TUpulv-Hffh afrpef che bar,r,e .