The Washington times., 1903-09-12
MURDER AND SUICIDE
CAUSED BY JEALOUSY
III. L. Denham Shoots Wife
and Self.
THE DEED DONE AT DAWN
Family Together Last Night and No In
dication of Any Purpose to
Commit Suicide

Insanely Jealous without cause. Her
man F. Denham. thirty three years old,
a letter carrier. living at 426 Eighth
Street northeast. at o'clock this morn
Ing killed his wife and then himself
Denham has been a letter carrier for
fifteen years. and for some years has
been attached TO Station B. Six years
ago he married Willie May Kilgore, the
daughter Of Judge James Klgore, for
merly of Newberry. S. c. At the time
of their death this morning Denham
was thirty-three years old and his wife
twenty-eight. Denham was a native of
Washington. being a son Of Thomas S.
Denham, of 7O2 Ninth Street southeast,
one of Washington's best-known paint
ers.
Denham has always been very much in
love with his wife: so much so. in fact,
that he was jealous of her every look
and act. Himself of no remarkable ply
steal attractiveness. he seemed TO think
that there was danger of losing the re-
gard Of his wife. who was quite pretty.
This fact was well known 10 members
of both Families. though they did not
dream OF so tragic an ending.
Spent Jolly Vacation.
Two weeks ago Denham took his vaca
tion. and. together with his father and
mother. his wife's father and mother.
and Dr. and Mrs. Philip Wisner, a
brother-in-law. spent the time camp
ing at Colonial Beach. Always jolly
and full of fun, Denham was unusu-
ally so during the camping trip. and no
one knows just what circumstance II
was which excited his jealousy. All the
acquaintances of the dead woman unite
in saying there was absolutely no cause
for such feeling on his part.
Even yesterday there was nothing TO
indicate that there was a mIrderous
thought brooding in the mind of DEN
ham Last night all the members of
the family met at his house for a social
time and a pleasant game OF cards. AT
a late hour all departed, except Judge
and Mrs. Kilgore. who lived with young
Denham.
Deed Done at Dawn.
Il was a few minutes past 5 O'Clock
when Judge Kilgore was awakened by
the sound of two shots. He rushed into
the room occupied by Denham and his
wife. which was the back parlor on the
first floor, and there he found both hus-
band and wife dead. Denham had shot
his wife and then himself She was
lying on her face. her right arm under
her head. Denham lying at her left. He
had shot her in the left temple. Then
he had placed the pistol TO his own right
temple and sent a second ball crashing
into his brain. He was lying on his
back. and had lived long enough TO drop
his hand 10 his side. the pistol then
falling from his nerveless grasp, lying
on the bed just beneath his right hand.
The frightened father-in-law rushed
from the house and 10 the Ninth pre-
cinet stationhoGse, two blocks away,
where he told what had occurred. Ser
geant Falvey and Policemen Smith and
Curd rushed to the house, at the same
time summoning Drs. Boswell and Cole
The latter pronounced both dead. and
Coroner hewitt was notified.
Nothing was found in the way OF let
ter explaining the act. but members OF
the family informed Coroner hewitt of
Denham's Jealous disposition. and he.
therefore, gave q certificate Of murder
in the case OF the woman. and of sui
eide in the case of her husband The
bodies were then turned over TO Under
taker Scott Funeral arrangements have
not been completed, but /; is announced
that Denham will be buried here, while
his wife will be taken TO the old home in
South Carolina for interment. Her faith
er. Judge Kilgore. is now 4 law clerk
IA the Treasury Department.