Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-09


(Edmonston Photo)
| Following quarrel with his wife, from
whom he had been separated for several
years, Samuel Shipley. a boilermaker.
fatally shot her last night and then fired
bullet into his head, dying almost in
stantly. The tragedy occurred at IL 80
o'clock at the home Of Mrs. Shipley, who
with her four children lived at ola 9th
street southeast.
William Shipley, the fourteen ear-o old
son of the couple, witnessed part of the
tragedy, but was unable to prevent the
double killing. The boy let his father
into the house about two hours before
| the shooting occurred. Shipley used his
revolver shortly after his wife returned
home.
Coroner's Inquest Held.
A verdict of suicide and murder was
reached by a coroner's jury at the morgue
| today.
William Shipley, the son, was the most
important witness at the inquest.
The boy said mis- father was asleep when
his mother returned home. His mother,
he said. scolded him because he had let
his father in.
When she woke him up the boy
said, ''he looked at her hard
Witness was sent upstairs. He heard
his parents engaged in a quarrel, his
father making use Of an oath.
when l heard the Shots he said,
Il started down the steps and fell. My
father went in the other room and shot
| himself"
Was your father drinking man?'
He used to drink a good deal"
| Was he intoxicated when he called
| at the bOuSo last night o''
"I1e was not real FULL
Dr. Charles s. White, deputy coroner,
described the wounds received by the
husband and wife. and DR.. o. J. Posey
told OF the death OF the woman at the
Casualty Hospital.
Policeman Wise told the jury that he
had seen Shipley in the police station
several times. On one occasion, he said,
Shipley was locked up for alleged nom
support, and on another occasion he was
charged with drunkenness Witness saw
him Monday night and he appeared as il
he had been drinking.
1t is probable that the body OF the
woman will be inferred in Congressional
cemetery. while the body OF the husband
Will probably find resting place in Glen
wood cemetery.
Had Been in Panama.
Shipley. who was bolermaker and ex-
pert mechanic, had been separated from
his Wife for more than a year and had
been before the Juvenile Court for al
| legged failure to support his family. He
| recently returned from Panama. where
he went TO work on the canal He was
permitted to go away because Of a prom
Use he made Judge De Lacy that he
would send part of his earnings 70 his
| vie and children.
When he returned to WASHINGTON he
u,.spiased a desire to see and return to
not such as TO induce Mrs. Shiplev to
believe she would receive better treat
1nent from him than she had received
before he deserted her and went to Pam
ana. IL is said she had not the slightest
idea or being a party to a reconciliation.
In addition to his other faults, il is stated.
Shipley had been induIging in strong
drink and his wife feared he would
harm her.
Whistled for His Son.
| Mrs. Shipley was away from home last
| night when her husband called. His ef
forts to bring one OF the children to the
front door to answer the bell proved
futile. and the man. under the influence of
| liquor. with loaded revolver in his
| pocket. went to the rear of the house
Climbing the back fence. Shipley came
] To the rear door and whistled, as he had
done i'll his happier days when he wanted
/ to attract the attention of his children
Ills son William recognized the whistle
and went 70 the lower floor to ascertain
what his father wanted nor stonninc tn
dress himself
I'm wet and cold" said the father i'm
response to the child's inquiry, and
want to- come in to get dry and warm"
| lis plea induced the boy TO open the
door and admit him to the house
short conversation was engaged in by
! father and son and the latter returned
/ TO his bed in room on the second floor
| When he reached his room he recalled
I that he had been told not to admit his
father to the house, and he felt uneasy.
| FINALLY he got up and went downstai
accompanied by villa, his nine-year7old
sister The children remained there only
/ a few minutes, returning to the upper
| floor and retiring shortly before the re-
| turn OF their mother. When Mrs Ship
ley reached the house She was surprised
to find her husband there. He was lying
| on the couch in the back ROOM not hay-
ing given any thought To hat his wife
had left on the couch when she left the
| house earlier IN the night
| Not Bothered About Hat
Mrs. Shipley was not pleased to find
| her husband in the house, and she soon
called him to account for having RUNE |
her hat The intruder was not bothered
about the hat. he said.
! With little, ii any warning. the boiler
maker drew his weapon from his pocket
and fired at his wife. Before Mrs. Shin
| .ey had fallen to the floor, the son. who
had admitted his father to the house.
rushed into the room. He saw his moth
er fall to the floor, he told the, police
last night and he also saw his father
commit suicide.
| William and the other children scream
| ed with fright. 1t was but few seconds
before a number of neishbors reached
ltI fja f,ol
| Shipley stretched upon the floor of the
parlor. while in a rear room was the
| lifeless body OF the husband. Mrs Ship
ley was dying. Policemen from the fifth
precinct soon reached the house and took
| charge of the premises. They sent the
i the Ca Hos