Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-13
KILLS HIS WIFE
WHILE DREAMING
Mrs. Evelyn Hollis Victim of
Husbands Revolver.
SHOT DOWN AT BEDSIDE:
Man Awakened by Mother.in.Law
and Told of Tragedy.
CORONER HOLDS AN INQUEST
Official Orders the Release of Hollis
After a Full Investigation
of the Tragedy.
SHOT DOWN AT BEDSIDE
CORONER HOLDS AN INQUEST

Dreaming burglars were in his
house and that he was in danger
of being killed. Hugh Hollis, jr.,
private secretary to Davis A.
Gates, chief of revenue agents in
the internal revenue bureau of the
Treasury Department, sat up in
bed this morning about 3 o'clock
and fatally shot his wife, Evelyn
Hollis. A coroners jury this aft
ernoon exonerated the husband
from blame.
The tragedy was enacted in the family
home, 1415 Newton street. Mount Pleas
ant where the young man. his wife.
child and mother-in-law resided. Hollis.
driven almost insane by the affair. was
held prisoner at the tenth precinct police
station until he was taken to the morgue.
where an inquest was held at noon.
Mrs. Forsyth was the first witness ex-
amined at the inquest. She was apparent
ly on the verge of nervous collapse
She had hardly closed the door after
kissing me good night" Mrs. Forsyth
said between sobs, when heard the shot
and my daughter screamed. I ran in the
room and my daughter said: MY God,
Hollis you've shot me-
Witness added that she shouted to HoI.
lis to get up. but he was asleep.
caIled-'Get out of bed,'" she said.
and he asked. What's the matter?
told him he had shot my child and when
! succeeded In arousing him he said he
Mrs. Forsyth expressed the belief that
her son-in-law was in a deep sleep at the
time the shooting occurred He Is a deep
sleeper she said. Frequently when she
called in the morning he would answer
and say all right and would be asleep
all the while. 1t was difficult to convince
him that he had shot his wife. The ex-
animation of the witness was BRIEF and
She was unable to stand being cross-ex-
amined. Coroner hewitt finding It neces-
sary> to have her assisted from the room.
Statement by Mr.. Hollis.
What's your full name?" Mr.. Hollis,
next examined, was asked.
Hugh Hollis was his response.
What's your address,
my legal address is Louisville. KY"
Tell the jury what you know about the
shooting the coroner directed.
Il don't know thing about it, he
said. THE first I knew was when I got
up and lit the gas"
Hollis repeated that he had no recol-
lection Of what occurred before his
mother-in-law aroused him and he saw
the form of his wife on the floor.
up?'
Il don't know 1 never did see it after
the shooting. The detective told me it
was found at the foot of the bed.'
Hollis told the jury that he had owned
pistol since he was six or seven years
OLD. and had never had an accident until
of revolver club in Louisville before he
came here. and 1t was his intention to
join one here next month.
Did you ever walk in your sleep?"
Il used to" he answered. but I've out.
grown that. When / was about twenty
years old l walked out the window
Have your domestic relations always
been happy?' juror asked
Not always he answered Usually
they are not always happy during tho first
year of married life. 1 went to Panama
and remained three months, and I think
it cured both of u.s."
Coroner hewitt suggested that Mrs.
Hollis had said he walked in his sleep
during the past year, but he said he had
no recollection Of having done so.
During the past three years. Hollis ex-
planned. his domestic life was as happy
as 1t could possibly have been. He said
he had been on the range at Anacostia
yesterday afternoon. and his score card
was shown to the jury. He said he had
quite a collection of weapons at his home,
some of them having been obtained when
he was in West Virginia.
The colored domestic in the house.
Mary Washington, was examined but
she was unable to throw any light upon
the case.
Testimony Of Boarder.
n, hoo rda in l,n
heard the noises this morning. He said
he heard the screams. but could not dis
tinguish any of the words. When he was
partly dressed. he said. Hollis came to
his room and said: For Gods sake come:
I've shot Evelyn" Witness went to the
room and saw Mrs. Forsyth standing
over the body. He thought Mrs. Hollis
was dying. but was not dead. He said he
had heard Mr.. Hollis habits discussed
and had heard him tell that a burglar
could enter the house and carry him Off.
So far as he knew. he said. there WAS
no fault to find with the domestic rela-
tions of Hollis and his wife.
]. p. Hefnaday testified that the win
dow of his room was slightly open this
morning. and about 3 o'clock he heard
the report of pistol shot which was
followed by a scream. Mrs. Hornaday. he
somebody had been shot. Witness looked
out the window and heard voice say.
Run for doctor.
Mr. Hornaday said he went to the
house and was told by Mrs. Forsyth. HE
has shot my baby" Witness thought the
baby had been shot. until he got upstairs.
He described the condition of the room.
and said Mrs. Forsyth and Mr.. Phillips
were greatly excited. Witness offered to
summon a physician. and said he would
also have to call the police. He called
the police and telephoned for physi-
clan.
When he returned to the house he found
Hollis and Dr. Smith. During his con-
versation with persons in the house he
obtained no information that would war
rant even an impression that the shooting
was other than an accident
Physician Witness.
DIR. D. G. Smith testified that when Hol-
lis reached his house he shouted to him:
For Gods sake come quick; terrible
accident has happened" Life was extinct
when he reached the house
Lieut. Slattery testified that the re-
yolver was handed to him by DR.. Smith.
Everybody about the house with whom