Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-14

Ddnlel Is. fiOfeHce last nlSnt lHuucee
his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Florence, to &C
company him to an upper room at his
home. 72O F street northeast. and there
shot her. afterward turning the revolver
on himself Both are under treatment a
Casualty Hospital. the woman suffering
from a wound in the back of the head
where the would-be slayers bullet fiat
tened against her skull, while the hus
band is dangerously wounded in the lef
side. The shooting occurred about L
o'clock.
Milburn Florence, the fourteen-year-ol(
son, the only child of the couple, wit
messed the shooting. He screamed for as
sistance D. w. Fitzpatrick of 91S N
street northwest, a caller at the house
ran from the basement to the upper fool
when he heard the first report of the pis
toll. He reached there in time to grapple
with Florence, but was unable to prevent
the latter from shooting himself.
Couple Had Quarreled.
The shooting, it is stated, followed ar
estrangement and attempt at reconcilia'
ton, the husband having sent for his
wife to return home last night to discuss
their domestic troubles. Mrs. Florence
had been at the house of her sister, Mrs
Harlan, 100 F. street southeast, during
the past few days, having left>home be-
cause Of quarrels with her husband.
Last night she returned to the house in
response to a letter she received yesterday
from her husband. He requested that she
come to the house to talk over their
troubles, suggesting that they might
settle their little differences and live to-
%1nr. |, mil in
Mr.. Fitzpatrick was visiting members
of the household, two sisters OF Mrs
Florence and niece of her husband re-
siding there. He was about to leave
when the pistol shot was heard, and he
hurried to make an investigation. He
found that Mrs. Florence, who had been
shot in the back of her head. had fallen,
and the husband, apparently studying
what next move he would make, was
standing near her.
Turned Weapon on Himself.
Fitzpatrick grabbed hold of Florence and
demanded that he surrender the weapon.
Not only did Florence refuse to give it up,
but he turned it in the direction of his
own body while Fitzpatrick was graphing
with him. and pulled the trigger
Hurrying from the house to summon
assistance, Fitzpatrick ran to the nearest
ii
Casualty Hospital and the nearest police
station, an ambulance in charge of a
physician responding from the former in
stitution while Sergt. Davis and De-
tective Smith answered the call sent to
the police station.
The house being less than three squares
from the police station, the officers were
soon there to make an investigation.
They found the occupants of the house in
a nervous and excited condition, each
inc To a I'm chn If 10
trouble leading to the double shooting.
All were surprised at the act of the hus-
band. 1t was known by the relatives that
husband and wife had separated tenn
had entertained any intention of taking
life.
Wife Was Preparing to Leave.
Mrs Florence called at the house
earlier IN the evening, and had been in
the basement room with others discuss
ing her troubles with her husband.
Shortly before IL o'clock, when the cou-
pie seemed unable to effect a settlement
of their troubles, Mrs. Florence said sshe
would return to her sisters house in the
southeast section of the city and left the
room.
The husband followed his wife to the
second floor of the house. Mrs. Florence
ran from himl> as soon as the first shot
was fired, and it is not known if the first
or second shot hit her. Husband and
wife were hurried to the hospital. Both
were in a dazed condition, although the
bullet that struck the woman did not
penetrate the skull, but inflicted only a
scalp wound. Florence was unconscious
when the surgeons started to operate
upon him. They soon removed the bullet,
however, and he regained consciousness.
1t was stated at the hospital this morn
ing that both probably will recover. The
condition of Mrs. Florence, the physicians
stated, was not serious. Her husband is
not entirely out Of danger.