Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-21
Alleged Murderous Assault by At
torney Edward G. Niles.
COURT HOLDS him FOR GRAND JURY
Statement of Mrs. Niles Upon
Which Warrant Was Issued.
DIVORCE CASE PENDING

Attorney Edward G. Niles, who has an
office in the Gunton building, was ar
faigned in the United States branch of the
Police Court before Judge Scott this MORN
ing, on Il charge of assault with intent to
kill. He had been arrested only a short
time before he appeared before the judge
and his wife, who charged that he had shot
at her only TWO hours earlier, was not in
court to tell her story In her absence her
husband was permitted to waive an exam
nation and give bond of 500 for his APP
pearance.
The case was sent to the grand jury
William II. Booker colored, was accepted
as his surety. Mrs. Niles was both sur
priscd and alarmed when she learned from
Star reporter OF the action Of the court.
She was surprised thai the court would ac-
cept such an amount in view OF the nature
of the charge.
Divorce proceedings are pending between
Niles ana ms wife, and, it Is stated, the
decree was TO have been signed today. At
ter their separation Mrs. Niles lett her
husbands house, at No. 1iS Massachusetts
avenue northeast and rented a room two
doors west of that number. His recent con-
duct toward her has been peculiar so the
wife believes and although she alleges he
mas frequently threatened her life she
never believed he would shoot her until this
morning.
About $50 o'clock this morning Mrs
Niles was seated in the pa-lor of the house
"here sic is stopping, when the door bell
rang. Her husband was al the door and
ne was admitted by the woman of the
house, who answered the call. Entering
the pariOr where his wife was seated, Mr..
Niles, 1t is said, engaged her in conversa-
ton for few minutes. During this talk,
she says that he renewed mis- demands on
her for her diamonds and also spoke of
other matters of interest to them.
Then you are not going to give me what
/ want?' he Gueried.
Il certainly am not" was Mrs Niles
answer.
The husband then left the par1or and
started toward his wife's room on the sec
Ond floor. where she had the diamonds.
Mrs. Niles followed, and, she alleges he
started to search the bed for the jewels.
In the meantime the wife seated herself
the bed to watch the proceedings. Fail
ing to find the diamonds, the husband
seated himself on chair near the bed and
repeated the question. The wife repeated
her answer, and then she charges he drew
a revolver from his pocket and fired. Mrs.
Niles sank on the bed and imagined she
was speeding to another world.
She was sure she had been shot, she said,
and it was not unfit the woman of the
house had driven her husband from the
room that she realized she unhurt.
Then she found that the bullet had gone
through the head of the bed and had
only stopped when it came in contact with
a brick in the wall Spinters from the bed
and plaster from the wall fell to the car
pet, and it was in this debris that the fat
tened bullet was found. This, Mrs. Niles
is holding evidence against her husband
in the event of a trial of the case in the
Criminal Court.
Only one shot was fired, although it is
alleged Mr. Niles iourished the revolver
afterward. After leaving the house he went
to his own home and soon afterward he was
on his way to his office.
Mrs. Niles left the house soon after and
sought the advice Of Attorney French, who
represented her in the divorce proceedings.
Then she obtained the warrant from JUS
tice of the Peace ONeal and called on In
spector Boardman at police headquarters
to have the writ served. Detectives Boyd
and Heaan soon found Niles and placed him
under arrest He refused to discuss the
case
1t is stated that although the couple were
separated and divorce proceedings were
pending, the husband frequently sent his
wife delicacies, including ice cream and
flowers