The Washington herald., 1907-08-16

New York, aug. 15.-Gustav Washer.
who dishonored his nine-year-old daugh-
ter, and left his wife. decent hard
working little woman, 10 shift as best she
might for herself and children. stepped
out Of a Third avenue saloon to-day
He walked a block or two northward
and mounted the steps Of an apartment
house. at eos Third avenue. where Mrs.
Washer had tried TO hide herself and her
children from the man who had brought
nothing but misery 10 her. She was in the
kitchen, washing clothes over a tub.
when Washer flung open the door and
let himself into the fiat. Her two daugh-
ters Madeline. a widow. and cookbook
ing woman OF twenty-five, and little
Annie, were in the employment agency Of
fee at the front Of the apartment. and
did not hear their father enter.
Mrs. Washer heard his step and knew
who it was before ne kicked the kitchen
door open Half dozen times In the
past four years, when she had moved
from place TO place trying 10 get as far as
possible from the scoundrel who had
ruined his own daughter and prosecuted
her with every manner OF insult and VIC
lence. she had had the same experience.
Turning around suddenly from work TO
see his ugly red face, Mrs. Washer
dropped into a chair and began TO cry.
The daughters, hearing voices. as they
say IN the employment Office. tiptoed back
10 the kitchen door and looked at their
mother.
Woman Fears Her Husband.
Washer with his back to the door, did
not see them. The mother threatened TO
call policeman.
Washer stuck the muzzle of a pistol
against her forehead and she tainted. As
she dropped to the floor, at Washers
feet, he fired four shots, which brought
the tenants out Of their flats and into the
hall Two bullets hit Mrs Washer, one
piercing her left breast Just below the
heart. and another going into her abdo-
men.
As Washer stood cycling the baby little
Annie cried. ''Oh mother, mothert' and
started to run backward through the fat
Madeline let her go. and Annie crawled
under the bed and hid there. The elder
sister ran into the office and took
revolver from a desk drawer. Madeline
said afterward that she was so fright
ened that she did not know what she
was doing. She was back IN half a
minute, and met Washer in the hall.
as he started 10 leave the fat.
Get out Of my way. you little devil"
yelled Washer, swapping the pistol at
her. Let me out. or I'll fix you as /
did your mother"
An imperfect cartridge saved Madeline's
life. in all probability. Her hand was
shaking. and the muzzle Of the pistol
wavered, but she let him have II before
the words were fairly out of his mouth.
The shot went into his shoulder. Just
tearing the skin. He fled, lowering his
head and bending double. but before he
had made ten feet through the dining
room the girl fired again, and the bullet
took Washer in the back and dropped
him heavily. Another bullet went into his
head, and the girl fired twice more, one
shot bringing down a chrome that hung
on the wall and the other burying itself
IN the plaster.
COnfesses to the Shooting.
Madeline dropped into q chair, utterly
unnerved. Lieut.. John ]. Scott, of Nc
Canerty's Central Office staff, found her
there, with the pistol in her lap.
This man is my father" she said.
nodding toward the still figure on the
dining-room floor. HE shot my mother,
and I shot him. I don't know whether
he is dead or not, but I hope so. wanted
10 Kill him"
Scott found little Annie under the bed
The child was half dead from terror. and
could hardly stand.
Maybe the condition her little sister
was IN helped Madeline. for she took An
ME on her lap and mothered the little
girl until the ambulance came from Har-
lem Hospital and a patrol wagon was
ready 10 take her to police headquarters.
Mrs. Washer died at a few minutes
after o'clock IN the hospital. and her
husband lived only an hour longer.
Neither recovered enough to make an
ante-mortem statement. At police head
quarters Madeline told her story to In
spector McCafferty in q clear straight
forward way. breaking 10 tears every now
and, then but always pluckily continu-
ing.
Madeline was arraigned before Magis-
trate House, IN the Harlem Police Court,
on a charge OF homicide. She repeated
her story 10 Magistrate House, and the
magistrate. very much affected himself,
assured her that she would not have to
be locked IN q cell He paroled her. in
custody Of a probation officer. for the
coroner