New-York tribune., 1902-01-15
SHOOTS TWO IN BED.
POLICEMAN KILLS WIFE AND WOUNDS
MOTHER-IN-LAW.

With revolving brutality Policeman William
H Ennis OF the Adams-st. station, Brooklyn
yesterday shot and killed his young wife and
dangerously wounded his mother-in-law. Mrs
Alice German. The shooting was at the home
Of Mrs. German, Rockaway-ave., near Avenue
E Canarsie, after Ennis. craZed with drink and
broodng over his fancied troubles. had broken
into the rear door and surprised Mrs German
and his wife in bed Ennis ran away. but was
later captured in Luhr's Hotel, Atlantic and
Vesta aves East New-York, where he had hired
a room and was vainly endeavoring to go TO
sleep.
Mrs German is ffty-two years old. and her
daughter Mary Agnes Ennis. was not yet
twenty-five years old. The latter had been
separated from her husband for some time. and
had been trying to secure limited divorce from
him on the ground of inhuman treatment. Ennis
had recently said that he loved his wife dearly.
and attributed his domestic troubles to his
mother-in-law The latter had recently secured
a warrant for Ennis's arrest, charging him
with failure to support his wife.
Recently Ennis had been brooding over his
troubles. Last Saturday he drinking in
Manhattan and was arrested on charge of
disorderly conduct. When he showed his shield
at the East Thirty-hfth-st. police station he was
allowed 10 go home but charges were preferred
against him. When he due at the Adams
St station for duty on Sunday morning he was
reported sick, and has not been there since. The
detectives learned that he had been drinking
heavily for some days and those who him
early yesterday morning say that he appeared
to be much excited That his act pre-
meditated is shown by letter postmarked at
D. m. on Monday 1t sent to a friend, by
whom it was turned over to the police yesterday.
In the letter Ennis wrote:
You must pardon me for what have done.
but I was driven to it by the mother. When I
go I want Mamie 10 go with me. would like 1t
If she will let be buried with her" =
Mrs German. in a statement made in st.
Mary's Hospital. where she Is suffering from
a wound In the breast last night described
the shooting. She says that Ennis appeared
at the house and cried out TO be admit
ted. The family not stirring. and did not
heed his cries. In minute he had broken into
the house and gone upstairs. Mrs German was
in one bed with Ennis's baby boy, who is only
four months old. Ennis into the room with
a revolver in his hand. and shouted that he was
going 10 kill Mrs German She pleaded with
him. but he placed the weapon at her breast and
fired. Then he ran into the adjoining room,
where his wife was preparing to escape He
forced her back into bed and held her there FOR
several minutes, while he carefully examined
the cartridges IN his revolver. She begged to
be allowed to confess to priest before she died.
but Ennis told her she must die at once. Then
he shot her through the head. She died almost
instantly. Meanwhile Mrs. German had run to
the house Of neighbors. Ennis in his frenzy ran
from the house.
When captured he was taken to st. Mary's
Hospital There. IL Is said. he laughed at the
sufferings of his mother-in-law, and said he was
sorry he had not killed her Then he was taken
70 Police Headquarters where he broke down
and made confession 10 Inspector Brennan.
"Oh, my poor father and mother" he said.
What will they think when they hear Of this?
I was not brought up this way. l am sorry.
Ny poor wife She was good woman. and
loved her"
Ennis was then arraigned before Magistrate
Watson in the Gates-ave. court. and sent TO the
Raymond Street Jail He is thirty years old.
and his parents live in Saratoga. He has been
on the police force for nine years. and had
good record.
At ST. Mary's Hospital 10 was said last night
that Mrs. German might recover.