The Washington herald., 1911-05-25

| to get away.
A few seconds later Crossing Policeman
w. ]. Creamer arrived. He took the re-
volver from Macdonald and placed him
under arrest.
What did you do It for?' demanded
| the policeman.
TITS nobody's business what I did 1t
Of mock bravery.
| Mrs. Billop had been sitting upon the
| marble seat at the foot Of the main
stairway Of the building awaiting her
sister. She heard the shots, but feared
nothing until she saw the crowd and the
policeman scurrying into the elevator.
Then she realized what had happened.
| She attempted to get into one Of the
| elevators, but was told that nobody
would be permitted to ascend. There
upon she dashed up the five flights Of
stairs. At the fifth floor she found the
group gathered about Macdonald and
his wife, lying upon the floor uncon-
| scious.
Identified by Sister.
1t was Mrs. Billop who informed the
policeman as to the identity Of the dy-
ing woman and the murderer. For the
first time Macdonald displayed a spirit
Of anger. He struggled to escape from
the clutches of Creamer.
You're the cause OF all this trou-
ble." said Mrs. Billop. You're respon-
s!ble. It's you that has brought all
the trouble into our family
Shut upr' shrieked Macdonald, again
attempting to evade the officer "Why
in hell do you want to make a fool Of
yourself and tell everybody our busi-
ness?"
You're the man who shot her." in
| ha
body Of her sister, the tears streaming
down her face and her nails biting into
| the palms Of her clenched hands.
You bet 1 did" announced MacDon-
aid. again starting toward his sister-in-
| law. He was dragged back by the po-
| liceman
A few moments later the ambulance
, from the Emergency Hospital arrived.
Mrs. Macdonald was conveyed to II upon
stretcher. The murderer was taken
in the patrol wagon to the First precinct
station.
At the hospital Mrs. Macdonald was
laid upon the operating table. The first
| examination of her wounds made at the
scene of the shooting was instantly con-
firmed by the second examination. She
lived but twenty-five minutes after arriv-
ing at the hospital.
Carried Himself Proudly.
At the station house Macdonald ap-
peared at first to be quite calm He was
pallid but carried himself proudly He
was asked his name by the desk sergeant
NO name" answered Macdonald.
What address," asked the clerk
NO address, answered Macdonald
the second time with a laugh Of derision
'Oh, 1 guess we don't have to depend
on you for those facts" said the police
man.
A search of MacDonald's pockets
brought TO light a number Of letters ad-
dressed to Edward J. Macdonald, 92s
street northwest. Among them was one
from Columbia Lodge No. 10. Independ-
ent Order OF Odd Fellows Of this city. 1t
was later shown that Macdonald had
been a member OF the lodge for the last
five years.
Following the search Macdonald was
led to cell. As he turned toward the
cell corridor he heard one OF the police
men at the telephone say:
Yes: shot her three times through the
head. She is not dead. but she is dying"
Finally Breaks Down.
The air of bravado left Macdonald.
His eyes filled with tears and, as the cell
door changed upon him, he broke into
sobs
Not a word would Macdonald say as
to the cause of his crime
There were reasons: 1 had good rea-
sons" was all that he would volunteer.
Don't think too hard Of me-" he plead
ed as the policeman turned the bolts.
In MacDonald's revolver, a five-cham-
bered weapon. there were three empty
shells, one with the cap dented which
had not exploded, and one fresh cartridge.
In the pocket of his waistcoat were found
fourteen more cartridges. twelve of which
were suitable for his weapon, and two
of 32-caliber.
You re sort of walking arsenal" re-
marked Clerk Taymon.
Yes: and I'd have used every one of
them If it had been necessary" replied
Macdonald.
Following the death of Mrs. MacDon-
aid. the body was taken from the hos
pital to the morgue. Mrs Billop re-
turned TO her I street home To re-
porter for The Washington Herald Mrs.
Billop said,
My sister married Mr.. Macdonald
against the wishes of the family. He
was a soldier in the regular army. She
seemed to be fascinated by him. an un-
shakable fascination which We strove to
conquer. but without success. She was
so young. only seventeen when they were
married. She was not quite twenty-four
when she was killed. Macdonald has
never done well. He was an educated
man.
Deserted the Army.
Shortly after the marriage or my sis
ter. Macdonald deserted the army. He
was captured. court-martialed. and SEN
fenced to serve a year In the fortress o,
Castle William on Governors Island
After he had served his term. my hus-
band obtained for him a position as
clerk in the Potomac yards Of the South
ern Railway.
His last position. one which he also
lost through drink. was that Of bartender
at Martin McDonald's place. at Twelfth
and ID streets northwest. Shortly before
then he drove a milk wagon for the
White Cross Dairy Company.
Mrs. Macdonald was forced to leave
him. Sometimes he would beat and
choke her. For the past three months
she had resided in New York. Last Mon
day she returned to Washington, and. as
Macdonald had been living at our home,
they were reunited for a short while.
Macdonald told my sister he was ex-
pecting money from his mothers estate
1t was his purpose to have his wife
make cath that his habits had been good
of late. She went with him in perfect
confidence. She said to me yesterday
morning: I am not afraid OF Mac any
more. I have been. but I do not think
he means any harm now
'NfacDonald WAS endeayorfnp IN per-