The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-02
Louis Mortified Murders
His Wife and Then
Kills Himself.
BOTH DIED INSTANTLY
Former Inmate of ST. Eliz-
abeth 5 Fiendishly Plots
His Victims Death.

Louis MOrtfeiu, formerly a contractor
and carpenter. murdered his wife this
morning and then committed suicide, ia
their room on the ground floor of the
house at 2l0 New Jersey Avenue north
west.
The weapon used was a .4O-ealibe=
revolver. Mrs. Mortified was shot in the
left side Of the forehead, while the bull
let which ended the life OF the murderer
entered the center of the breast at an
angle, puncturiag the heart. Death was
instantaneous in both cases.
Louis Mortfeld was forty years old
and his wife, Sophia. was thirty-one
Mortified was formerly from ST. Louis
where ne still has relatives. His home
and shop were formerly at 81 c Street
northeast A year ago last summer
MoTtfeld was working for A Brandt,
proprietor Of saloon at New Jersey
Avenue and D Street northwest. when
he was suddenly stricken with paralysis
of the entire right side. This stroke
so affected his minGS that he was sent
to ST. Elizabeth's Insane Asylum.
Quiet in Boarding House.
Last night the alortfelds Joined the
other boarders IN the parior, and, in he
presence OF Mrs. Worreil. the landlady
her two children. Maud and Marvin, and
Mr. and Mrs c. w Watkins, the pair
discussed his next treatment. Mrs. Mort
field suggested that he 20 to the Wash
ingIOn Asylum 51ospital to which ne
agreed with more than his usual grace.
The household then retired.
Friday night he took his wife to the
thcater. Last night he ate dinner ct
the restaurant % A. Brandt, where he
had been working when stricken. His
ready acquiescence in the plan OF his
young wife TO send him to the asylum
Vas unusual. but excited no suspicion Of
his desperate design In the minds OF his
hearers.
1t was about clock this morning
that-hfrs-- WORTH was awakened by a
piercing scream. The scream appeared
20 her TO come from tbs basement, where
her two children were sleeping At the
end CT the hail was the room occupied
by the Mortfelds. BY their room was
the door to the basement Mrs. worrell
ran 10 the basement door. where she
Was met by her thirteen-year-oId daugh-
ter. Maud running up. sch also having
heard the scream
With this Mrs. Worrell rushed TO the
street for assistance. No policeman was
in sight, but a negro was passing To
him Mrs. Worrell appealed TO secure a
policeman. stating that woman was
being murdered by a crazy man in her
house. He promised. and that was the
last seen OF him.
Seeks Aid in the House
Returning to the house. Mrs. worrell
called to Mrs. Mortftld to hold out a
little longer, as help V2s coming" The
only reply was two shots. which were
-,F 4 fa har~a cd
at her by the maniac. the shots lodging
IN the two -inch-thick folding doors and
doing no harm. All this commotion
awakened Mr. and Mrs. Watkins who
slept above. but they explained this
morning that they thought that Mrs.
Mortfeld was having an attack OF
Ey sterics. and so did not come to the aid
OF the threatened woman.
Half an hour after the tragedy a man
drove by Policeman @. w. Morgan, who
was standing at First and c Streets
northwest. and remarked that he
thought there was trouble on New Jer-
sey Avenue. Morgan secured the com
panionship Of Policemen Tracy ard
LaRdes and Sergeant Murphy, and re-
paired to the house. They found Mrs
Worrell standing in the front yard in
her night clothes. in a state OF great
excitement Sne conducted them to the
room. but their calls elected no re-
sponse. They then secured a hatchet
and forced the door The sight that
met them was a gruesome one.
In the corner, on the floor, in a
crouching attitude. lay the body Of the
woman. dead. on the folding bed. which
was by the door, lay Mortified, the mur-
derer and suicide. also dead. In the
woodwork Of the door and the plaster
of the wall were several bullet holes
on the dresser. only a foot or two from
the foot Of the bed, lay TIE revolver.
Each Of the five chambers contained an
empty shell. and another empty and a
loaded shell lay on the dresser beside
the weapon.
Woman Fought for Life.
It required but cursory examination
on the part of the police 70 determine
that both victims We're dead The strug-
gle for life on the part Of the woman
had evidently been a terrific one. Her
hands were stained and powder burned.
The cylinder rod Of the pistol had been
pulled out and bent in the struggle. The
fatal shot had been fired at such short
range that the womans face was full
Of powder, while a wound just above
the gaping hole made by the bullet
showed that the maniac had first struck
her, probably with the butt OF the
weapon. knocking ner unconscious be-