The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-12
SHOCK OF DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Miss Alice King Discovers Mothers Dead Body and
That of Her Murderer in Their Home.

James T. Dumas shot and killed Mrs.
Wesley r. King and moment later put
a bullet through his brain that caused his
instant death yesterday afternoon at the
home of the murdered woman. 1902 East
Pratt street.
The double tragedy was committed at
half past o'clock. but the dead bodies
of the murdered woman and Of the muir
derer were not found until after O'Clock
when Alice, the Oldest daughter of Mrs.
King, came home from her work at the
Krauss box factory. On arriving at the
house she found the doors all locked and
me blinds of the front room drawn tight
ly. Thinking that her mother might have
gone out shopping, she climbed through
a rear window. When she first put her
foot on the floor, she said. she was struck
by the strange stiffness of the house and
an uncanny feeling crept over her.
Rushing to the door of the front parlor
she threw it open and was Mortified to see
her mothers lifeless body lying on
lounge. A pool of blood stood out in bold
relief on the pillow under her parents
head, and her white face, blood spotted, told
the story in tragic tones.
WILD WITH GRIEF.
wild with grief the girl called for one
word from her mother but the half-parted
lips refused to move. Up to that time she
had not noticed the cold. lifeless, staring
eyed figure of the murderer. which lay on
the floor at the feet of the woman whose
life he had taken, with the glistening revol-
yer that served his murderous purpose still
grasped in his right hand The sight
too much for her frail physique. and with
a scream that called the neighbors to the
scene she fell in swoon on the floor. She
was carried into rear room and doctor
hastily summoned, as 1t was feared she
might succumb to the shock. 1t was hours
before she was rational.
The police were notified and were soon on
the way to the scene of the double tragedy.
Deputy Coroner Gels and the City Dispen-
sary ambulance, in charge of DR.. Cunning
ham, removed the body of the murderer to
the city morgue. The coroner's invesuga-
ton at the house of the murdered woman
showed that she had been struck by two
bullets, either Of which might have been ia
tai One entered the left temple and lodged
in the brain, while the other fired di-
rectly into her left ear. 1t was evident that
the pistol was fired at close range, as the
woman's face, where the bullets entered,
was charred and blackene6 with the pow
der. Her death must have been instan-
taneous.
EVIDENTLY PREMEDITATED.
Dumas had evidently planned the deed
beforehand, as his actions all told of care
full forethought An instant after he sent
the two bullets into the woman's brain he
pressed the muzzle of the revolver against
his right temple and pulled the trigger. The
bullet made an ugly wound, penetrated his
brain and lodged against the left side of his
skull. His death, like that of his victim,
was instantaneous, and his body was liter
ally floating in his life's blood No cause is
given for the deed unless 1t be jealousy.
There is little doubt that the crime was
premeditated as Dumas in a conversation
with Henry Harmon signifed his intention
of committing suicide yesterday afternoon.
and said that he had bought a new revolver
for that purpose Mr.. Harmon conducts a
livery barn and had been renting horse
to Dumas for the last few weeks. Yester-
day afternoon Dumas returned the horse,
saying that he would have no further use
for the animal and that Harmon could keep
the harness in payment for what he owed
for horse hire Harmon said that Dumas
appeared distressed and he asked him what
was wrong.
"Well, nothing is wrong, except that 1
have got myself In trouble with Mrs. King
and have decided to Kill myself. You will
hear all about IL later" said Dumas. Har-
mon says he made him promise before leav-
ing that he would not attempt to end his
life, and the man seemed so sincere in his
promise that he thought no more of it. 1t
was after / o'clock when the above conver-
sation took place. and Dumas must have
boarded the next car and gone to the King
residence, as the crime was committed at
half ,ast g. From all evidence in the hands
of tn police 1t looks as If the man and
woman had agreed to die together as the
shutters and windows were all closed and
| the doors locked. evidently with the view
of muffiing the noise made by the pistol and
avoiding any intrusion. 1t is understood
that Mrs King was dissatisfied with the life
she leading and often said she would
be better off dead than alive.
Wesley r. King. husband of the woman.
was called from his work at the Adams &
Raymond veneer plant, and in speechess
agony gazed upon the silent figure of his
Wife II don't understand it at ALL he
said. "Why, never saw that man before.
What was he doing here? Who is hep he
exclaimed King seemed dazed. The full
meaning of what his eyes told him did not
dawn upon him until the coroner ordered
the body of the man who had robbed him
of his wife removed to the city morgue.
Then did he seem TO realize that he was a
widower and his two daughters motherless.