Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-09
Will Dougherty Shoots Miss
Fisher and Himself.
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE
BOTH GOVERNMENT PRINTING
OFFICE employees.
The Woman Granted Him an Inter-
view, Which Was Unsatisfactory to
to Him-Details of the Tragedy.

der and suicide about noon today. He killed
Miss Amelia Fisher and then ended his own
life The double tragedy was enacted at
the house of e. s. Thomas, 603h2 4th street
northwest, where the young woman board
ed. Dougherty shot the woman through the
face and then sent bullet through his own
brain, the leaden missile entering just be-
hind the right ear. Five minutes after the
deed was committed Drs. hewitt and Glaze-
brook were in the house. They examined
the bodies but found no sign of life In
either. Policeman G. K. Johnson. the pho
tographer at police headquarters, was
| the first person to enter the house after the
shooting occurred. He was walking through
Judiciary Square on his way home to lunch
when he heard the reports of two pistol
shots. Rushing over to the house the on1H
Ger met Mr.. Thomas.
Officer Johnson's Inquiries.
whats the matter inside?' the officer
asked.
Nothing at ALL Mr. Thomas answered
I've sent for somebody"
But" said the policeman, showing HID
badge, I'm officer"
"All right, then" said the occupant Of
the house, and the officer entered. Mrs,
Thomas and Miss Tnle Dougherty, the lats
ter a sister of the dead man. were 10
the house. They were so greatly excited
that they were unable to give the Officer
any information.
It was the officers belief that murder
had been committed and that the murderer
was hiding In the house After seeing that
he could not escape In any way the ofncef
started on tour of investigation. Upon
rea ching the parlor on the first floor he
saw the two dead bodies. Dougherty's body
was lying on the parlor floor, with his head
near the latrobe, while the BODY OF tne
uraC n
the folding doors. Her head had faHen
near the corner of the room and was rest
ing in pool of blood. Near Doughertys
left hand on the floor lay the weapon Whlcn
had been used in the double tragedy. Tho
weapon was still warm. Policeman John-
son was satisfied that both had been killed,
and so informed Captain Boardman- 81.
cyele Policeman Walsh, who had just left
the Cato inquest reached the house shortly
after the police photographer arrived When
Coroner Nevitt reached there a few mln1
utes later he gave orders that NOBODY pel
permitted to disturb the bodies until pho-
tograph had been taken OF the scene.
Jealousy the Cause.
Jealousy caused the young man to com'
NIT the crime He had been in love with
Miss Fisher for several years, 1t Is stated,
and she had recently given him reason 70
believe that she was more than willing that
their friendship should terminate she was
employed in the bindery OF the governments
printing office, where Dougherty also
worked and they were together every DAY.
Dougherty had become inSanely jealous pes
cause Miss Fisher had accepted attentions
from others, and the last words she said 70
him in response to his pleadings Were'
NO I'll never" ,-
He had become enraged over her alleged
attempt to give him up for another, ana
after talking with her this morning ne con-
cluded by saying: Please give me an an
Then it was that she gave the responses
stated, and he Immediately fired tina
weapon.
Wanted an Interview.
Last night Mr.. Dougherty called upon
Miss Fisher at her boarding house, but re-
mained only few minutes, as she did nos
seem anxious to entertain him. During the
day she had been out with a friend other
than Dougnerty and the latter knew OF 1t.
He had been on leave several days and had
been drinking Ordinary beer and whisky
were not strong enough for him, and he
had indulged freely in absinthe, II Is stated
This strong French cordial had greatly at
fected him and his conduct. 1t is said, was
that of a man whose brain was becoming
disordered Miss Fisher had visited Mrs
Dougherty's sister at her home, 6l9 streee
northwest, where the brother also resided,
and they were on the best of terms When
Dougherty wanted to see the young woman
this morning he persuaded his sister, MISS
Tillie Dougherty, to go to the printing o1-
flee for her.
II o'clock and had lengthy conversation
with Miss Fisher, who did not seem anxious
to leave her work and be interviewed BY
the brother After some persuasion she
consented to grant the brothers request
for an audience and went with Miss Dough-
erty to the 4th street house. Mrs. Ihomas
was there to open the door for them ana
the two young ladies entered. Tney went
direct to Miss Fishers apartments and
found the armed man seated In the parlor.
It became apparent to Miss DouSherty that
the meeting was going to become stormy,
although she did not suspect for an instant
that her brother contemplated the taking
of life. "Wilr' Dougherty, as he was
known was willing and anxious to renew
the cordial relations that had existed be-
tween Miss Fisher and himself. He had
hoped some day she would become his wife.
and 1t is stated by some of their friends
that they were actually engaged
When Miss Dougherty saw that Miss
Fisher had no idea of settling the love af-
fair favorably to her brother she withdrew.
Where she was when the shots were fired
she too excited to remember. She be-
came frightened and ran to the basement,
where Mrs Thomas did what she could to
console her. They were walking the floor
crying when the police photographer enter
ed the house.
The Murdered Woman.
Miss Fisher was upward of thirty years
old. She was tall and handsome, and was
a woman with lovable disposition. Her
friends were numerous. She was born in
this city and lived on Myrtle street near St
Aloysius Church for many years. Her par
ents ded number of years ago, leaving
her and three brothers. Two of the broth
ers are living in san Francisco, while the
third one is in the navy. Before the death
of her mother Miss Fisher accepted posi-
tion in the government printing office where
she has worked for more than hfteen years.
The Murderer and Suicide.
Douehertys father died not long ago.
His father was an invalid for many years
and he supported the family Miss Dough-
erty said her brother had always been
dutifuI son and never neglected to provids
for the family.
II can't understand why he did this,~
she stated to a Star reporter, but I'm %