The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-29
AKNIFB CUT IN HER Side
Hrs. Elizabeth Weleh Stabbed by
John ". Gaines.
Tie Attempts Suicide by sInshing His
Throat-AssaiIant and His Victim
at the HospitaI-B0th Likely TO
Recover. Though the WOmnn's
Condition l. Regarded az Serious.

Enraged al her refusal to marry him,
John " Gaines, fireman employed at
lie Champlain Avenue shaft Of the Ly-
decker tunnel. plunged Z carving knife
into the side of Mrs Elizabeth Welch
about 3 o'clock this morning and then at
tempted to commit suicide by slabbing
himself in the throat with q pocketknife-
TIE man and his victim now occupy beds
at the Emergency Hospital and the doctors
believe that both OF them will recover
Mrs WEIGH is the wife of William P.
Welch. who is employed as a woodworker
IN Crupper's mill. Thirteenth Street and
Ohio Avenue. but for some years they
have not been living together. Welch is
said 10 have room on Washington
Street northwest. while his wife, with
their seven children has occupied frame
house at 2514 NJ Street northwest for the
past two years. the husband regularly con-
tributing 10 her support. Gaines IS about
thirty years old and for about a year has
boarded with Mrs. WEIGH. On various oc-
casions he has protested his love for the
woman and wanted her 10 marry him.
but It Is said she always discouraged ad-
Tances on his part.
Saturday night Gaines invited Mrs.
WEIGH and her eldest daughter 10 80 to
the theatre with him. When they reached
the Academy they met WEIGH Welch
bought seats downstairs for himself and
wife. while Gaines occupied seats in the
balcony with the daughter. During the
performance Gaines was taken sick, and
the daughter so informed her mother and
father. Welch took him TO a drug store
and got some medicine. Mrs. Welch then
bar IN
see the performance through.
At / o'clock last evening Gaines went
to work at the tunnel. as was his custom,
and worked until midnight When he re-
turned to the house about 1890 o'clock,
Mrs. WelCh and her eldest daughter Ma
ME were waiting up to give him some
thing to eat After the meal was fniSaed
and the dishes washed and put away.
Mamie. who IS eighteen years old, went
to her room, while her mother started TO
lock up the house In closing one of the
rear doors she passed BY Gaines room.
when il is said he stopped her and insist
ed that she should marry him
When she again refused and attempted
to leave him he made threatening motions.
Her screams brought two Of her daugh-
tiers, Mabel and Ella. aged fourteen and
fifteen years. respectively, from the up
per part Of the house, and as they ap-
preached. Gaines picked up the carving
knife and plunged il into Mrs. Welch's
left side. under the arm
Ella opened the window and shouted
Murder" and Police while Mabel
picked up a teacup and broke 1t over
Gaines head in her endeavor to pro ect
her mother. Upstairs Mamie had gath
cred the remaining children, Thomas
John. Ethel, and Bulah, aged twelve.
eleven. six, and four. respectively. in
one Of the rooms. and locked il for fear
that ThQV WOUl1 no aTTac9Rd
Policemen Newton and Cox responded
to cries for help, but when they arrived
Ella and Mabel had forced Gaines away
from their mother. and held him until
Mrs welch had run into The alley in the
rear, and secured shelter il The house OF
Richard Thompson. colored, where she
was Joined by the two girls
When the girls left the house Gaines
Who had made 10 attempt to hurt them
went into his room and lying down on his
bed stuck his peHknife into his throat
The knife remained there until withdrawn
by the policeman An ambulance was
summoned and both Mrs. Welch and
Gaines were hurried TO the Emergency
Hospital. where their wounds we're dress
ed. and they we're sent u 4 ward.
Gaines wound is rather slight, and the
doctors are confident that he viii recover
but. while there is no immediate danger
for Mrs. WEIGH and the doctors believe
that she also Will recover. her condition
Is serious The knife entered between the
fourth and fifth ribs and penetrated the
left lung. She also had lacerated wound
over the right eye. She was in very good
spirits when seen this morning. but was
very bitter against Gaines, regarding
whom she said that she hoped his inju-
ries would prove fatal Gaines admits the
crime
The children are being cared for by Mrs
WeIch-s sister. Mrs. Hoffman. at 2132
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest.