Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-25
From story Win
dow by a Detroit Man
After Seriously but Not fatally
Shooting a Woman,
Letters from Him Says Her Houndinq
Drove Him to Deed-She Says Was
About to Break Engagement and He
Attempted Her Murder.

Detroit, Mich. June 25.-Charles
Swayse, employed by a life insurance
| company ana former assistant super
| intendent of the Detroit House of Cor
rection. today, shot Miss Effie Alvord
twice. while the couple were i'm a priv
| ate office in the company's suite on the
| eleventh floor OF the Chamber of Com
merce building. and then jumped from
the window himself He was picked up
on the brick pavement OF State street
and died as he was carried into the lob
by of the building. Miss Alvord was
shot in the neck and wrist but Is not
fatally hurt. it is reported at Harper
hospital.
Miss Alvord drove up to the Chamber
Of Commerce building in an automo-
bile about IL O'Clock, accompanied by
man. She went to the eleventh floor
and entered the office of the life in
surance company. asked to have a
private interview with Mr.. Swayse
She was shown into a small private
office fronting on the State street side
of the building, where Swayse Joined
her. shutting and locking the door,
In few moments the other persons
in the office heard a struggle, then
screams which were followed I'm quick
succession by several PISTOL shots. Man
agor Mccall of the agency, rushed
against the door of the private room
and broke 1t open. Miss Alvord was
PROSTATE on the floor, her hair dis
hevelled, her waist torn and blood
pouring from the wounds in her neck
and wrist.
Through the window Mr.. Mccall
could see Swayse's hand clutching the
window ledge. They were in view for
only n moment. Then Swayse let go
and his body went whirlng down
through the air. II hit several wires
and turned over twice, striking on the
face and chest. A bullet wound In his
nose showed that he had also shot
himself before taking the awful plunge.
There was just breath Of life in the
body when it was picked up and that
nickered out before 1t had been carried
into the Chamber of Commerce lobby
Meanwhile physicians In the build
ing had been summoned to the insu-
rance office to attend Miss Alvord. They
found that her wounds are not fatal.
Miss Alvord is an employee of sew
ing machine company. but worked at
the House of Correction when Swayse
was assistant superintendent there.
Her home is said to be at Saginaw,
Mich.
Occupants of a building across the
street from the Chamber of Commerce
say that they heard agoniZing screams
from the Chamber of Commerce build
ing and, looking out, saw Swayse at
tempt to throw Miss Alvord out of the
window. Her head and shoulders were
across the ledge and she was fighting
desperately. Then the couple disap-
peared from the window and the shots
rang out, followed by Swayse's mad
plunge.
A letter written by Swayse was
found which, 1t Is said. explains the
tragedy. 1t Is alleged that the letter
says that Miss Alvord and Swayse had
been intimate. that the intimacy was
responsible for Swayse's losing his po-
sitioE at the House OF Correction, and
that Miss Alvord had been bounding
him.
The man with whom Miss AlvOrd
drove up to the building was J. b. Ter
ry. an employe of the same sewing ma
chine company that employs Miss Al
word. At Miss Alvord's boarding house
1t was stated that Miss Alvord and
Terry had been married for several
On the contrary Miss Alvord
sent word to the reporters through the
physician who dressed her wounds at
CONTINUED on page 81