Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-03
IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL
Thinking Her Dead. He Attempts to
Commit Suicide.
BOTH HURRIED TO A HOSPITAL
Instance of Unrequited Love-Sur-
geons Say Condition of Victim is
Extremely Critical.

Il love her." John Popkins repeated sew
erai times when he was placed under arrest
yesterday afternoon by Policemen Welsh and
Garratt and Crossing Policeman Osbourn
FOR having committed an alleged murderous
assault upon Mary Popkins. his fourteen
year-old niece He used a hammer and ra-
zor upon the child, and then attempted sui
eide by cutting his wrist with razor An
ambulance and a patrol wagon were sum
moned to the scene of the tragic affair the
home of Mrs Nora Tubbs sister of Pop
kins. 1915 Sth street. and the wounded in
dividuals were removed TO Freedmen's
Hospital Policemen remained ut the hos
pitai all night and Popkins this morning
wa, was transferred to the Washington Asy-
ium Hospital for further treatment and to
DE held to await the result of the injuries
ne is accused of infiieting upon his niece
mary Popkins sustained a fracture of the
skull, her throat was cut and she also re-
ceived cuts across her shoulder and wrist
he was jealous of Mary" was all that
the police were told before they had an
opportunity to make an investigation
Attention of Police Attracted.
1t was shortly before O'Clock when the
cries of Mrs Tubbs attracted the attention
OF the police to the house. They were told
that man In the back yard was killing
a girl. The policemen fastened tcsthe rear
gate for the double purpose of efrecting
an entrance and of preventing the escane
OF the one responsible for the trouble Ly-
ing In the yard was the girl. the amount of
blood seen being sufficient to warrant the
belief that death had ensued. Signs of life
were discovered, however and the uncon-
Scious form was hurried to the hospital
ropkins was taken there also. The girl ap-
parently was in dying condition The one
VINO committed the assault was very weak
from loss OF blood
happening in the yard in rear OF the
mousse, IL was not until after the two
wounded persons had been removed RI
the hospital that the neighbors became
aware that anything out of the ordinary
mad happened. Mrs. Popkins was made
Ill py the exciting incident and IL was
necessary to summon a physician to at
tehd -her The parents OF the child liye
In Georgetown but she had been residing
at the house OF her aunt Popkins who
Is carpenter, was In love with Mary
ana made no effort to conceal his feel
lngs. Mary. however, thought of him
only as a relative. and he felt that the
disappointment of unrequited love was
more than he could endure ~
Prepared Himself for the Assault.
Mrs. Tubbs. 1t is stated. had made ar
engagements TO send Mary to her parents
home, and Popkins felt that he would
then have no opportunity 20 see her.
Smarting under the thought of having to
be separated from the child IL Is alleged
he prepared himself for the assault NV
lnduiging in strong drink. When he re-
turned home yesterday afternoon undsr
the influence Of liquor Mary Popkfns was
seated In the front room engaged i'm con-
Fersat1on with her aunt. Responding 70
call from Popkins, she went to the ward
and found him there with the hammer
and razor.
So sudden was his attack upon her
that she was unable to run and escape
his violence. A blow on her head with
the hammer stunned her and rendered
her perfectly helpless Then he contin-
ued the use of the hammer striking
her several times. and following the
blows with the razor Then he pushed
her to one side and she fell to the ground
Then II was that he turned the razor
upon himself and cut his wrist Mrs
Tubbs rushed to the back door but feared
to approach her brother. Returning
through the house to the front door she
screamed for assistance
The policemen found the condition of
things in the yard as described and IL
was only a few minutes later that the
couple were at the hospital receiving
treatment
Ii was stated at the hospital this morn
ing that the condition OF the girl was Sc
rious. The surgeons were unable to Of
Ter much in the way OF encoura cement
to inquiring relatives and friends