Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-01
TRAGEDY ENACTED
JOHN PARIS ATTEMPTS MURDER
AND COMMITS SUICIDE.
Wife Of Victim Narrowly Escapes
Death - Crime Result OF
Domestic Trouble.

cad tragedy was enacted in the tenant
house on the Cruit estate, in Alexandria
county. Va. near Fort Myer Heights Sat
urday afternoon, in which two persons
were shot. One died and the other was
brought to the Georgetown University
Hospital, where the bullet was extracted
and the patient was placed on the road
to recovery. The patient at the hospital
is Mrs Catherine Paris and the man who
did the shooting was John Paris, her hus-
band. The latter undoubtedly thought he
had killed his wife when he fired the bull
let into his own brain. He fell dead be-
side his wife. Ruth. the twelve-year-old
daughter of the couple. was in the room
at the time Mrs. Paris was hurried to
the Georgetown University Hospital IN a
wagon, accompanied by the child Ihe
latter was made happy by the assurance
seriously wounded. She had feared her
mother was dying and was greatly ex-
cited
While the wounded woman was being
cared for by the daughter and friends the
county officers took charge of the body of
the suicide. DIR. S. r. Ashton, county cor
oner, held an inquest later In the day.
Those who served on the jury were Elmer
Speer, Charles Harrison d. E. Speer, Ed
ward Veitch, r. c. Moncure and Clark
Ball. Ruth Paris returned to the scene
of the crime and her testimony was heard
by the coroner's jury. On the way to the
hospital she had held her mothers head
and her dress still showed blood stains
when she appeared as a witness The
jury promptly returned a verdict of death
by suicide. Children of the dead man had
Undertaken Geier bring the body to
Washington for interment. 1t was con-
veyed to the undertakers place of bust
ness on 18th street. from where the fu-
neral took place this afternoon. The in
terment was at Prospect Hill cemetery.
Family Troubles the Cause.
Saturdays crime was the elimination of
a series of family difficulties. These trou-
bles, 1t is stated, made the womans life so
miserable that she was forced to leave her
husband a short time ago and seek home
where she might enjoy little comfort and
be where she would not be in constant fear
of her life. Paris, 1t Is stated, eloped from
here some months ago with woman and
went to Cleveland, Ohio. In March last he
returned, and was forgiven by his wife.
He was a tailor by trade, and opened a
shop at the home of his family, 1915 9th
street. His business did not prosper, and
he closed his shop and sought employment
at local establishment.
During the early part of last month he
showed considerable irritation, declaring
that the children were not contributing
enough toward the support of the family.
Separation followed, and the husband went
d Il.
Mrs. Paris sought employment, and sue
ceeded in getting a place as housekeeper
on the Cruit estate for Edward Parich, the
superintendent. Her husband learned she
was there and sought several interviews.
He was anxious to have her return to him,
but she feared a repetition of the past un-
pleasantness and declined to do So Her
husband had threatened her life, she stated,
and she had reason to believe there would
be no improvement in the family affairs
should she return to him again. Saturday
morning the tailor called at the Office of
Mr.. Widdicombe, manager of the Cruit es-
tate, and tolf him of his wife's presence on
the farm. He was greatly agtated, and
asked that Mrs. Paris be sent away. Mr..
Widdicombe promised to assist him, and
he went away apparently satisfied. He was
not IN a happy frame of mind. however, as
subsequent events proved.
Crime Evidently Premeditated.
Upon reaching the tenant house on the
Cruit estate he found his wife in the
kitchen preparing meat for Sunday dinner.
.Hello. mamma" he said when he entered
the kitchen, "how is everything
..All right" was the wifes response.
Paris then asked his wife to kiss him.
She offered no objection, and he kissed her.