Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-17
SHOT WIFE AND SELF
James Reed Dead and Spouse
Badly Wounded.
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE
Couple Separated and Wife Had Re-
fused to Return.
GAVE NO WARNING OF DEED
Tragedy Enacted in Woman's Little
Store at Brentwood, Where She
Was Supporting Herself.
GAVE NO WARNING OF DEED
ndence Of The Star.

BRENTWOOD, Nd, November Il. 1909.
Made desperate. by her refusal to allow
him to visit her. James p. Reed, a me-
chanic twenty-seven years of age, yes
terday afternoon shot and dangerously
wounded his wife, Mrs. Sarah Knowles
Reed, and turning the 32-caliber revolver
upon himself sent bullet through his
head, the ball penetrating the brain and
coming out on the left side of his head.
His body fell across the lap Of his wound
ed wife, who had fallen In The arms of
her aged and crippled mother. Mrs.
Knowles
Neighbors summoned DIR. Harry Nal
ley of Mount Rainier, who found that
Reed was dead and his wife seriously, II
not fatally. injured.
The injured woman was placed i'm
wagon belonging to Jeffrey Van Solver
and driven to 18th and III streets north
east, and there transferred to an ambu-
lance from the Casualty Hospital Reed S
body was removed to the undertaking es
Establishment of Francis Gasch in Bla-
densburg, and Justice of the Peace A. H.
Dahler. acting coroner, will hold an in
quest this afternoon at $50 clock. The
foreman of the jury is Harry Mccormick.
the other members being John McCor-
IDlCk, N1lIldfn D hOBcTs. JOSeDU ar
den, Julius Reiners. Thomas w. Scott,
Benjamin Harvey. X. +. Hodges. r. b.
Stokes, George ID. Green, Thomas Uns-
worth and f. c. McGill.
The scene of the tragedy was the sleep
ing apartment of Mrs. Reed in the rear
of small grocery store at the corner of
Wells and Campbell streets, which has
been conducted by the wounded woman
for several years, and from which she
supported both herself and crippled
iS n od
separated from his wife. about three years
ago, he failed to contribute anything
toward her support.
Mrs. Reeds Statement.
According to a statement made by the
apartment shortly after = o'clock. and
after speaking to his mother-in-law In
polite manner, placed his left arm af-
fectionately about his wife's waist. With
out any word or warning as to his inten-
tons he drew a revolver from his coat
pocket and fired two shots in rapid sue
cession, one bullet striking his wife in
the neck and the other entering the left
side and passing into the lower lobe of
the liver. This latter wound, the ply
sicians declare. is the most serious. The
wounded woman fell to the floor, and
Reed. thinking he had killed her, turned
the pistol upon himself and fired the fatal
shot.
Reed ana hts wife had not been living
together for over two years. They were
married about six years ago, and one
child was born. The child died about two
years ago. Although Reed was a good
mechanic. 1t is said that he seldom
worked at his trade. The Star reporter
was informed that he was from time to
time addicted to drink, but was by no
means drunkard. 1t is stated that Reed
called at his wife's home Sunday last.
and asked her to go TO Washington to
live with him. This she declined TO do,
giving as an excuse the fact that she
had to support her aged and crippled
mother. Jealousy and her refusal TO
comply with his request is believed to
have been the cause of the shooting.
Victim an Attractive Woman.
Mrs Reed is about twenty five
years of age, and is an attractive wom-
an 1t is said that she was at one time
on the stage. She has a brother living
In Canada, and her aged mother, who is
a paralytic. lived alone with her. Since
separating from his wife Reed had lived
with his parents on Evans street.
Mrs. Reed, mother of the deceased
man. declared this morning that her son
had been acting strangely for several
months and that she feared that he in
tended to do injury to himself and wife.
She was Frustrated over the act Oh ner
son, and physicians were with her all
night
Physicians at the Casualty Hospital this
afternoon said the condition of Mrs. Reed
was critical, with only slight chance
for her recovery. She is very weak, but
retains consciousness. The bullet which
entered the abdomen and cut into the
liver has not been located. and if the
patients condition warrants it the X-ray
will be used. II is stated at the hos
pital that the bullet probably lodged in
the spine. The patient is reported as
possessing remarkable vitality and nerve.