Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-13
Charles Morehiser Kills His Wife and
Commits Suicide.
uses RAZOR In BOTH INSTANCES
Particulars of Horrible Affair at
the Soldiers Home.
INQUEST NOT NECESSARY

Charles H. Morehiser, a pensioner, fifty
three years old, killed his wife, Margaret
by cutting her throat last night and then
ended his own life. razor was the weapon
used and the work of the frenzied man
was almost instantly effective in each case
His wife died at the home of her father
within few minutes after the deadly
wound was inflicted. Morehiser died at
Freedmen's Hospital soon after he had
been placed upon the institutions operating
table
About ten weeks ago Mrs Morehser left
her husband because of his cruelty and
he killed her because she refused to return
and live with him. Her father, Patrick
Ford, is gatekeeper at the Whitney avenue
entrance to Soldiers Home. He lives in
the little building inside the grounds at the
gate Her husband visited her there, and
without warning committed the awful
deed.
After infiicting the fatal injury to his
wife Morehiser ran to the home of John
Green, who keeps a grocery store on Mar
shall street, passed into the kitchen and
used on his own throat the razor with
which he had killed his wife. Moreniser
was member of the 9th Cavalry during
the Geronimo campaign in 1886, when Pat
rick Ford, who subsequently became his
father-in-law, was coroner of Yavapa
county, Arizona. Both men had seen serv-
ice in the army before they returned to
this city. Both We're pensioners, and Ford,
upon going to the Soldiers Home, was
made gatekeeper and given comfortable
quarters where he has lived with his family
a number of years. Margaret Ford his
ran away, in October, 1899, and married the
man who took her life last night. Her
parents bitterly opposed her marriage to
Morehiser, but the young woman went to
ma r.
ried by a justice of the peace. Upon the
return of the elderly groom and his young
bride her parents We're not satisfied with
the service having been performed by a
the couple returned to Alexandria and a
minister of the gospel repeated the cere-
mOny.
Husband Becomes Quarrelsome.
For short time the bride and groom
lived happily together, but the husband
soon became quarrelsome, and soon made
life burden to his wife. Even after the
birth of daughter, eight months ago. the
husbands cruel treatment was continued,
and finally, about New Year day, Ms.
Morehiser left him and with the infant went
to the house of the mothers parents.
Morehser returned to this city, the place
of his birth. thirteen years ago after he
was discharged from service in the 9th
Cavalry. For time he kept a barber shop
on Brightwood avenue, and after follow
ing other pursuits he went to the Soldiers
Home to live. He was given a salaried
position at the home, which, with his pen
sion of $11 a month, enabled him to live
very comfortably. While he was thus
ployed he spent many evenings in the
young woman's company, and finally, as
stated, they were married. Six weeks ago,
about a month after his wife left him,
Morehiser lost his position in the home,
where he had charge of a ward. Follow
ing the loss of his position he went from
bad to worse and was frequently under
the influence of liquor. Ten days ago he
drew his pension money, SOL, and showed
his wife the cash, although he refused to
give one cent of it toward the support of
his child. Repeated attempts We're made
by him to have his wife return to him,
but each time she refused fearing the
treatment she would receive at his hands
would be worse than it had been before
she left him.
1t was about $50 o'clock last night when
Morehiser called at the gatekeeper's lodge
and inquired of his mother-in-law if he
could see Margaret. She answered in the
negative, but this. did not deter him. He
passed his mother-in-law and entered the
room, where he found his wife changing
the infants clothing.
The Cruel Deed.
Morehiser conversed with his wife a few
minutes, but seemed to take no particular
interest in the baby Without giving any
warning of what he intended to do, he
drew from his pocket his razor and pro-
ceeded to use 1t his wife's throat The
first cut was SO severe that the woman was
hardly able to utter an outcry. With the
fatal cash in her throat, extending from
ear to ear, the dying woman staggered in:o
the next room, where her parents were
seated, and fell the floor near them.
Morehiser quickly passed from the house
and was soon speeding away in the direc-
ton of Whitney avenue, evidently trying
to escape. He seemed to be undecided
what to do, going first way and then
another, as if he were bewidered. Finally
he reached the grocery store of John
Green, No. 3400 Brightwood avenue. His
conduct was that of a man who believed
he was being pursued. Without looking
back, he entered the store and continued
on through the house. Thinking, probably
that he was about to be captured, he con-
cluded he would seek refuge in the next
world. Saying "GoOd-bye' to Mr.. and Mrs.
Green, the miserable man took the razor
that was still wet with blood and drew it
across his own throat. Mr.. Green made
an effort to prevent the infection of fatal
wounds, but was forced to get out of the
way in order to save himself.
MorehiSer, who was still terribly excited
rushed out of the house, but he soon fell
from exhaustion. He was unconscious
when picked up, and did not speak before
he breathed his last the operating table
at the hospital Husband and wife died
about the same time.
When Mrs Morehiser reached the room
In which her parents We're seated and fell
on the floor near them the sight was an
extremely pathetic one The grandmother,
unable to do anything for the daughter,
hurried to the adjoining room to see what
had happened to the little one. She found
the baby covered with blood, and feared
that she, too, had been wounded, but it
developed that the blood had come from
the wound in the mothers throat. AS
soon as the Fords realized what had &C.
CURED doctors were summoned but the
woman died before anything could be
done for her.
Mr. Ford had an undertaken to lake
charge of his daughters body, that it
might be prepared for burial. The body of
Morehiser will probably be buried by the
Grand Army of the Republic.
The Police Notified.
Soon after the double tragedy was en-
acted DIR. Gross notified the police by tele-
phone, and Sergt. Slattery of the eighth
precinct went out and made an investiga-
ton. He learned that Merehiser had called
at the Ford home about two hours before
the murder was committed, and had been
advised to keep away from the house, as
his presence there would in all probability
mean trouble.
Morehiser ALREADY stated horn In,