The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-21
MAN KILLS WIFE;
CUTS own THROAT
Dining Car Conductor Uses Four
Razors in Accomplishing
Double Tragedy.

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most severing his wifc's neck with IL
razor AZ she lay sick In bed ut her
home. 9I2 Fifth Street Northeast.
about O'Clock last night. Louis $.
Watt. dining car conductor, siashed
his own throat and fell lifeiess beside
her dead body.
Investigation by the police and rel
atives Of tho man and his wife has
failed to show tho cause for the deed
A report that both Watt and his wife
were in the last stages OF consump-
ton was denied to-day by physicians
who had attended them. Mrs. Watt
had been sufferer from gastritis
and since Christmas had been abcd
most of the time.
French NJ. Fritter, nephew, of Mrs
Watt. with his bride. occupied part
of the house, and were at home last
night when the tragedy was enacted
Fritter went TO the sleeping apart
| mcnt of his aunt when he heard her
scream. he said. Watt appeared at
the door with a razor In his hand,
Fritter told the police. and made
move which suggested an attack upon
| him.
Il ran back TO my ROOM" Fritter
told Policeman Dcllamico. "and fas-
tened the door, remaining until
thought 1t was safe to go in search
of policeman"
Policemen Thomas and Schraedcr
were found in the neighborhood and
summoned to the house, Policeman
Deliamico responding from the station.
Lying on the bed was the body Of the
woman, her head almost severed from
her body. while on the floor near the
/ bed was the body of Watt DIR. Shirk
responded to a call sent to Casualty
Hospital. but there was no sign of
life in either body when he reached
the house
Four razors had been used by Watt
! In f1A
tragedy. Part of the blade of ono of
the weapons had broken off in one of
the numerous gashes in the wife's
throat. Two of the blood -smea red
weapons were found on the dresser,
one on the floor near Watts body and
the fourth one on the bed at the wo-
mans feet.
! 1t is believed by relatives and
friends of the family that the deed was
the result of Il sudden impulse, Watt
never having made any remark which
suggested unha ppiness or a desire to
die. The police think 1t probable that
/ Watt and his wife had misunder-
standing last night after he served
her supper, and that he was unable to
control himself when he became angry.
| Coroner hewitt and the police feel
certain that the woman was attacked
| while in bed. and that attack was
made so suddenly that she was un-
able to make an outcry until the first
cash had been inflicted. Her feeble
attempt TO summon assistance was
! quickly hushed by another cut, how
ever, and the work of killing her had
| been Finished when her nephew went
| to her room.
Watt had also cut his own throat
before Fritter reached his room. It
| was the sight of the blood and his
! uncle starting toward him that made
MN rear he would next be attacked.
When Fritter returned to his room
Watt inflicted additional gashes in his
own throat, and fell upon the floor.
and 1t was after noise in the Watt
room ceased that the young man went
in search OF the police
Watt came to Washington from New
YORK city about a year ago and re-
sided at 1910 Sixth Street, Northeast
! Later he purchased the house in which
( the double tragedy was committed IL
/ IS stated that he was divorced in New
ork several years ago and remarked
/ a year later. his second wife having
been resident of Garrisonville. Va.
His former home was at Richmond.
| Ind.
/ 1T is said there was nothing unusual
In the conduct of Watt last night when
he returned home from his run OH the
pennsylvania Railroad. although he
ATE sparinBiy OF supper and said he
would not bother about banking the
furnace fire. He asked il the net dog
mad been fed. and then went 20 the
room in which his wife was confined
10 her bed.
Relatives of the dead couple were
notified of their deaths. Mrs ienn;c
Cliff. aunt of the husband, resides at
30 Sout!, Twelfth Street, Richmond.
Ind. Watt met Miss Jennie Fritter i'm
this city about seven years ago, and
they were married Arrangements for
the double funeral have not been COM
pleted. The bodies were removed to
an undertaking establishment last
night.