The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-09-18
SHE WAS A NATIVE OF NBWBBRRY.
Daughter Of James Kilgore, Formerly of
Newberry, Shot In Washington by
Her Husband, Who Suicides.

formerly Of Newberry, was shot and
killed by her madly jealous husband,
who then sent bullet into his own
demented brain, killing himself in
stantly.
Mr.. James Kilgore, the father of the
unfortunate young lady, was native
of Newberry, and lived here until 1888,
when he moved to Washington, carry
ing his family with him. At that time
the daughter whose life was ended by
her husband on Saturday, was beauti-
full young girl of about thirteen years
of age.
Mr.. Kilgore lived in Helena up until
the time of his removal to Washington
He is a nephew of the late Andrew J.
Kilgore, of Newberry, and consequent
ly a first cousin of Messrs. John B.
Kilgoro and Jesse Kilgore, who now re-
side near the city. He was for several
years clerk in the law Office of the Hon.
Y. J. Pope, now Chief Justice of South
Carolina, and was connected with the
Office of the Clerk of Court during the
incumbency of Clerk of Court e. p.
Chalmers, 1977-1884. He has visited in
Newberry during recent years.
Mrs. Willie Mae Denham was the
third child and the second daughter
She was twenty-eight years of age and
only six years ago in Washington mar
ried the man who on Saturday perpe-
trated the horrible deed which ended
her life
Following is the account of the
tragedy which appeared in the Wash
ington Post of Sunday:
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
Failing in one attempt to kill him
self and wife four nights ago, Herman
T.. Denham, a letter carrier, Of 426
Eighth street, northeast, made careful
preparations early yesterday morning
and shot his wife, Mrs. Willie M. Den
ham, as she slept by his side. Then he
sent bullet into his own brain. Both
died instantly. The police made care
full investigation, but the only motive
they could discover for the deed was
that Denham was insanely jealous.
'"The Denhams made their home with
Mrs. Denham's parents, Judge and Mrs
James Kilgore, at the Eighth street
house, and Judge Kilgore was the first
to discover the tragedy. His wife heard
the shots, which seemed to come from
vacant lot in the rear, and sent her
husband to investigate. On the way
down stairs he smelled powder smoke
and as knocking brought no response
from his daughter or son-in-law, he
burst open the door Of the back parlor
on the first floor, which was their room
Both were lying on the bed, dead. The
smoking revolver, which was even then
slipping from Denham's relaxed hand,
told the story but too plainly.
Judge Kilgore ran to No. precinct
station house, two squares away, and
gave the alarm. Sergeant Falvey, in
charge, and Policemen Smith and Curd
hurried to the house, picking up Drs
Boswell and Cole on the way. After
examining the bodies, the physicians
stated that both Denham and his wife
were dead, and that death must have
been instantaneous.
ASLEEP WHEN SHOT.
"Mrs. Denham was still lying as if in
sleep, and it was evident that death had
come to her without struggle. Her
husband was in more rigid position,
the revolver, 32 caliber hammerless,
lying on the bed beneath his hand.
"Sergt. Falvey, sent the patrol wag-
on to the residence of Coroner hewitt,
and he was on the scene before 6
o'clock. His investigation showed that
Mrs. Denham had been shot through
the left temple, which was the side
nearest her husband. The wound which
caused the latter's death was in his
right temple, and the revolver had been
held in his right hand. The coroner
concluded that Denham murdered his
wife and then committed suicide. Ger
tificatcs of death were given according
ly.
1.-The previous attempt which Denham
made to kill himself and wife was on
Wednesday night, when he turned on
the gas in the room after his wife had
gone to sleep. Mrs Kilgore, on that occa-
sion, detected the odor in time to prevent
aserious ending. Denham's explanation
that he must have turned the cock while
walking in his sleep was accepted as
plausible, for at that time there was no
hint of his intended deed.
Nor was there anything in his de-
meanor on Friday night to Indicate even
the possibility of such tragedy. Dur
ing the evening all the members of the
two families had been at the Denham's
home for a social time and game of
cards, and when his guests departed,
Denham walked to the door and bade