Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-05-27
IN FAIRFAX COUNTY.


5iIss Putnam, ffty-two years old, ior-
merly Waterman in the War Depart
ment, Saturday fred six shots into the
body of Mrs. Emma beavers, with
whom he had lived for several years,
and, turning the weapon on himself,
sent the remaining bullet through MS
heart. His death was instantaneous,
while bis victim fingered nearly half an
hour. The tragedy occurred at Put
mau's home at Munson's Hill, about
two miles from Falls Church, about .
O'Clock Saturday night. In the house
at the time Of the shooting were The
five children of Mrs. beavers. Almost
at the firing of the first shot one OF The
children, snatchipg a lamp from the
table, flung it at the man, and turning
fled screaming from the house. Ruth,
May, and Gertrude, the older children,
when they saw their mother sink to the
floor, with Putnam standing above her
firing shot after shot into the body, also
ran from the house.
With rain pouring down upon their
bare heads, the children ran TO the home
of Mayor John I. Payne, of Falls Church,
and told of the tragedy.
The domestic conditions of the family,
1t is said, have been strained for some
time. Three years ago Mrs. Pullman,
during severe thunderstorm, was struck
by lightning aud killed in the same
room in which the tragedy occurred
Saturday night. Several years before
this accident, Nellie Putnam, eldest
daughter OF Putnam. committed suicide
in the same room. At the time OF The
girls death, Putnam, who declared that
a neighbor had been responsible, armed
himself and searched for his intended
victim. He vowed that be would shoot
him on sight, and the man, being
warned by friends, left the county, and
has never returned.
Six years ago Mrs. beavers. husband
was shot and killed by q neighbor in
Fairfax county, near this city, during a
row.
Shortly after the death of Mrs. Put
man, Putnam prevailed upon Mrs.
beavers to come and live at his house,
offering to board with her and pay a
stipulated sum each month, provided
she kept the house in good condition.
This agreement resulted in Mrs. beavers
moving into the Putnam house, and at
the same time Putman's children, Of
whom there is said to be three, left,
vowiDg they would not live under the
same roof with the woman.
Following the enlargement from his
children Putnam frequently engaged in
alterations with his housekeeper, and
at times, it is said, he even resorted to
violence. Ga such occasions the chill
dren would go to -neighboring houses
and remain until matters at their home
became more placid.
The crime was the outcome of long
continued disagreements between the
couple, whose association, is SO far as it
is known 10 the residents of Falls
Church, dated back to the time of their
living 10 Alexandria.
Seven months ago they appeared at
Falls Church and took up occupancy of
the house on Putman's farm.
Ruth, twelve years old, and May, &C
companied their mother to this city,
Saturday. Here, they SAW Putnam COM
ing out of saloon. He did not speak
to Mrs. Beavers, but followed the three
on horseback as they drove about the
city. May asked her mother what Put
man was following them around for, and
Mrs. Beavers told her that he had been
repeatedly asking her to marry him and
that she bad refused.
"He is Jealous ard is watching me to
see if sny man speaks to me-" said the
mother.
On the drive home Mrs. Beavers be-
came more nervous. She told her little
daughters that she knew death stood at
her side. She begged them to remember
her counsel and advice and told them il
anything happened TO go TO their aunt,
Miss Lizzie Beavers, who lives in Wash
iugton.
At Bailey's Crossroads, Putnam met
them and followed them to the house. AS
they entered, NJ began to force a quarrel
with Mrs. Beavers, who, in fear Of her
life, tried to pacily him. Putnam was
plainly drunk. He snatched Mrs. Beav-
ers' hat from the table, tore it to shreds,
and burned it in the stove. Mrs. Beav-
ers demonstrated and be struck her 10
the face. May snatched a carving knife
from the table and sprang forward, while
the other children huddled in the corner
in terror.
With blszing eyes, little May faced
the Infatuated brute and told him that
she would kill him if he struck her
mother again. Putnam then drew his
revolver, the same that eight years ago
his daughter Helen had used to commit
suicide 10 her room above, and pointed
il directly in the face of the little girl.
Her sisters say she did not move, but
dared to stand uninchingly before the
muzzle of the revolver Then the screams
of the other children and her mothers
cry, "'Run, Mary, before he kills you, "
unnerved her aud she turned and fled
out of the door, crying that she was going
to Mayor Payne's for assistance. Putnam
fired as she ran, but the bullet struck the
wall near the door, 80.
He then turned Ga the woman, seized
her by the arm and fired two shots, one
of which entered her brain, the Other
going wild. Coolly he raised the revolver
and shot himself through the temple.
Excitement lei the children to believe
that more shots were fred, but investi-