Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-06
COLORED MANS SUICIDE
RASH ACT FOLLOWS ATTEMPT TO
COMMIT MURDER.
Irene Howard in Hospital With Two
Bullet Wounds in Her Head
-Coroner's Action.

Notifying the police Of a suicide, follow
ing an attempted murder, James Roland,
colored, entered the Emergency Hospital
about 4 o'clock this morning, accompanied
by his sister, Irene Howard, and friend.
Robert Randolph, colored, and announced
that the woman had been shot She mad
two bullet wounds in her head. One had
entered near the ear and the other had
penetrated her jaw. The home, 1t was
stated, is at 1715 D street northwest. VIII
liam Brown. colored. who had done the
shooting, the surgeons were informed. had
taken his own life after he had shot Irene.
The house on D street was visited. and
the body Of Brown was found on the floor
in the room where Irene Howard slept.
Jealousy Is alleged to have been the
cause of the shooting. Brown had asked
Irene to become his wife, and she had re-
fused She was kept in the hospital Ene
body of Brown was not moved from the
house until after Coroner hewitt had made
an investigation. He gave a certificate OF
death without the formality of an inquest
Then the body was taken to the morgue,
and friends were notified, that they might
have it prepared for burial.
Brown a Street Sweeper.
William Brown was thirty-two years old,
and was employed in the street sweeping
department of the District. He and Mrs.
Howard had been friends for a long time
They were frequently together before the
death of her husband, Charles Howard,
who was killed in South Washington about
six months ago by an express wagon.
Howard and his wife were separated a
short time. and a few weeks before his
death she had him arrested for alleged
threats. Policeman Creagh, who made the
arrest, had the case nolle pressed, as he
felt that the trouble was about Brown, and
husband
After the death of Howard, Brown went to
the D street house to live. He occupied the
front room on the ground floor, while the
widow occupied the adjoining room. Last
night they were about the house conversing
until after II o'clock. and, so far as others
In the house know, there was no quarrel
between them.
He wanted me to marry him and
wouldn't" was the reason the wounded
woman gave for the shooting.
Shot While She Was Asleep.
Widow Howard was asleep on a sofa in
her room this morning, when Brown, fully
dressed with the exception Of his shoes,
went noiselessly IN and aroused her by dis
charging his revolver. A second shot was
fired at her and she screamed Jim" at the
top of her voice. The call was repeated sew
eral times and her brother hurried from his
room on the second floor to the apartment
of his sister.
"Will las shot me-" said the woman. who
was seated on the soft with her head rest
ing upon table.
Resting on the floor not more than five
feet away was the dead body Of Brown
There was a bullet wound in his head and
the weapon was on the floor at his right
side
Wits dead" the woman's brother told
her.
She thought she was dying and was anx-
icus to set to the hospital. Her brother I'M
dertook to get her there as soon as possible
and therefore did not lose any time in a
search FOR a policeman. He assisted her to
the hospital and she was upon the operating
table in a short time. Neighbors had call
eG at tie house just after they heard the
reports Of the shots and they remained
there until the return Of Roland and Ran
dolph
Third precinct policemen went with them
and took charge Of the house. The police
were told of Browns conduct, and being
satisfied that he alone was responsible for
the tragedy no arrests were made.
The witnesses IN the case met the coroner
at the house at $50 o'clock this morning
and related to him what they knew of the
affair. Coroner hewitt was soon satisfied
that Brown had Done the shooting and gave
the necessary death certificate.
1t was stated at the hospital today that
Mrs. Howard is likely to recover, although
she will possibly be retained in the hospital
several weeks. She is III no immediate dan
ger of Death