The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-06
TRIED: MURDER,
Then / SUICIDE 5 ].
J|osephW.L LaBelle Thrice
Shoots Wife. Then
Kills Himself.
.WOMAN'S WOUNDS
ARE SUPERFICIAL
The Most Serious is a Shot in
the Upper Lip, But Another
Went From Ear to Jaw.
Letters Show That It
Was a Premedi-
tated Crime.

AS the result. OF an attempted murder
Of his wife and then suicide at No. 03
Mayo Street. about 4:4o o'clock ycster-
day afternoon, Joseph w. LaBelle. of
No. 1715 East Main Street. died at the
City Almshousc at 1:45 this morning.
with his wife In another ward suffering
from the effects OF three bullet wounds,
apparently all superficial arid none dam
gerous. LeBcllc himself inflicted upon
himself a bullet wound about three inches
below the left breast, the ball hav.
ing ranged slightly downward and
emerged Just to the left Of the
spinal column. The surgeons are Of
opinion that the ball, 3s-calibre, pene-
trated the lung. There has been COM
paratively small hemorrhage. however,
and the man was thought until; late In
the night to have chances OF recovery.
LaBellc's murderous attempt was fully
prcmeditated. as three letters to his rela-
tives, taken f-om his hocket after the
tragedy, abundantly attest. His desire
to end his life soon disappeared
however. for in talking with the City
Hospital surgeons last night. he ex-
pressed desire to recover. The shoot
ing was done with a as-calbre cheap
revolver OF the American bull dog pat
tern. 5
It seems from the information attain
able that LaBele went to the house,
No 2oa Mayo Street, with the deliberate
design Of killing his wife and himself.
and he admits that he intended taking
his own life. The motive for the double
crime, as he himself states in a letter
to his sister. is that his wife had aban-
doned him and gone back to life OF
shame.
Saw the Shooting.
Police Sergeant Bailey was in the vi
cinity OF the attempted murder and sui
eide. looking up another case. when the
shooting began. Just as he was nearing
No. 2O1 Mayo Street Sergeant Bailey
heard the shooting and ran to the scene,
which was next door. at a house occu-
pied by Mary F. Gentry. This woman
and another named Bette johnson were
eye witnesses to the shooting. LaBelle
went to the house with the intention Of
killing the woman, and apparently be-
gan shooting MS soon as he entered the
hall. The woman ran toward the rear
OF the hall. screaming and begging him
not to kill her as she fed. and he firing
ms she ran. He emptied the five shooter
in his attempt to kill the woman, the
first shot having apparently been fired at
close range and while directly in front
Just below the nose, and inflicted an ugly
wound. which Is powder burned showing
that the revolver must have been placed
close to her face. The man emptied his
five shooter at the woman as she ran,
and when she turned down the stairway
toward the basement to escape his In
sane fury. he. having emptied the cham
bers OF his weapon, ran out OF the back
door and down into the weeds to the
ca stward. towards Lumpkin's Bottom.
When Sergeant Bailey rushed into the
house and down the stairs he found the
woman sitting In a chair and covered
with blood. AS she turned to go dowr
stairs she spat out bullet, which was
secured by the police and retained as
| evidence. It Is cut and mutilated and
mashed from having come in contact with
! teeth or jawbone. Another ball entered
/ the woman's right arm. near the shoul.
der, ranging upward and outward at the
shoulder. the woman's body apparently
being bent forward in her fight. The
other shot which took effect entered the
neck behind the ear and. ranging down.
ward, emerged just below the jaw. II
was at first thought. that another bal
had taken effect In tho temple. but the
wound there on later examination appears
to have been caused by fall. being
only n slight confusion. The other two
bullets must have missed their target
Fires on Himself.
While the man was In the weeds In
rear OF the house he reloaded his weapon
Continued on Twelfth Pnge.)