Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-12-28
ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUI
eide.

Considerable excitement was caused
Ia the southeastern section of the city
shortly before eleven O'Clock last Sstnr.
day night by the attempted murder o.
Miss Jenuie W Bssudstte, 81 years old
By Lawrence W. Peters, aged %, and
the suicide Of the wOuld-be slayer of the
Young woman. The tragedy was enacted
ia the house of William MCGOWAN, 7lS
south Lee street, where Miss Bsaudette
had recently been boarding.
About ten O'Clock the M,Gjwsns re-
tired, leaving Miss BsaudetIe aud Peters
(gho bad called on herr 10 room on
ms first floor, where they were eating
cake. Az hour later they vera startled
bv two pistol shots. They gave an
alarm. snd Frederick and Arthur S s.
son. Eho live 10 the ueighborhOod, broke
open the door and found Peters sitting
on the floor in an upright position, with
q revolver 10 his right hand. Miss Beau
de,te wss on the stairway. her face
was bleeding prOiusely. She was carried
to a nearby home, where her injuries
we're dressed by DR.. German. An exami.
nation disclosed that the bullet, which
was a .38.caliber, entered the woman's
left temple, piercing the forehead.
Peters had shot himself in the right
temple and was dying.
At present it is difficult to gather all
the circumstances which led up to the
attempted murder and suicide, as Miss
Beaudette (wh0 alone can give all the
details) is dangerously wounded, and her
Abatement is about all the authorities
have before them.
According to the story told by the
Vouuq woman, she Is a native OF Hart
ford. w., and Peters formerly resided Ia
Providence, r. l. Last March the
couple came to Virginia, Peters having
been employed on dIedger, which at
that time was at AccOtink, Is miles
south of this city. Until two weeks ago
the couple resided in that section. Miss
Bsaudette, as she alleges, kept house
for Peters. When the machine was
moved up the river, Miss Bsaudette as
serts she came to this city where she was
enployed 10 the shoe factory aud later
In the silk mill. sac went TO board at
the home of MtGJWan.
On Saturday afternoon, Mss Beau
dette received q message from Peters,
asking her to meet him at Union station.
This she did not do, and Saturday even
ing Peters called at her boarding house.
Miss Bssudette says that prior to the
sbon ting Peters had proposed marriage.
She r. iected bis offer, wheu he struck
her win his fist over the temple. She
ran from tie room screaming, but be-
fore she con ID get out of his clutches he
pulled her bac!< into the room and feed,
then turned the Weapon upon himself.
There are, however, other versions OF
the affair and circumstsLH ices Wnicn call
for further explanations.
According to the police and 8. ''ne %
those who we're first TO enter the hou.
sitter the occurrences, Miss Beaudette
had been occupying folding couch 10 a
room on the first floor of McGowsn's
house where the family when they re-
tired left the couple. After Peters had
shot the young woman aud himself and
the alarm had been given, the Messrs.
Sisson soon arrived on the scene and
broke open the door when they found
Miss Beaudette on the stairway, her head
bleeding profusely. Peters, as above
stated, wss sitting on the floor in a cor
ner attired, it is said, in but one gar
meut with the pistol in his right hand
moving the weapon to and fro. He was
unconscious and dying. The pistol was
taken from him, and the woman was
subsequently conveyed to the residence
Of Mr.. james POsey, who lives near Mr.. |
MCGOWAN.
Peters having expired in the mean
time, bis body was yesterday morn.
ing removed to Domaine & Sons
undertaking establishment. DR.. Moore,
the coroner, deemed al ioguest unnec-
essary. Peters remains Will be held a |
few days, and should no one appear to |
claim them, they will be inferred by the |
city.
Mss Beau dstte's condition had ma
terislly improved this afternoon.
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