The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-02
lnReligious Mania T J. Wat
kins Wanted to Garry Wife
With Him
z errihc Struggle
In the Tiny Home
Wife Fights Crazed Husband.
Who Finally Ends Struggle
With Bullet Into Brain-He
Talks About Bible.

After declaring that they should
both die together. T. J. watkins. of
h222 East Marshall street, last night
about $40 o'clock, following an i'm
successful attempt to end the life of
his wifa turned the pistol upon him
self and fred a bullet from a large
S2-callhre revolver into his right tenn
pie, dying almost instantly.
Few IN the neighboFhood knew Of
the fight pat up by his small wife for
her life after she saw from the giar-
ing eyes ~ her religieusiy INSANE hus-
hand that he meant 10 carry oat his ter
rible threat
with windows and all the doors Sc
curely fastened through which no
eound could b. heard outside. he turned
upon her. Throwing her across the
bed with one hand. he attempted 10
beach has revolver, AAllh- NaA-l-h44t
beneath The riiiew, with the other. Eu-
heard and anseen. struggle for q
human life began,
The hand which went unaer rre Pill
icw- was grahnei and from ths little
toon, tHto the narrow han tRe strug-
Cling pair stumbled
Unable 70 bring the pistol 20 bear
upon hi.nsrlf or his wsfe. he bent his
head down ara With the pistol pointed
a3s life aud seil directly across the
narrow hail Screaming al the top Of
b@r voice. he Attle woman struggled
T. Us front Goor Opening II, and ran
are 80 store on the corner. sire
e&apea eut between tears the story a.
hsr tnrrihle experience.
Policeman Harris VAS first 10 reach
I'll sccae and NE crowd WIS quick -
gather I'M front os the little home
Ia .ge "a =
WIN people Captain 1oweh ~ the
T.fsG precinct was notified ana within
d very few minutes arrived on ehe
scene \ guard WAS placed AZ The
gate 10 prevent the entrance ot curl
osity seekers.
Within the home. TN the littie com
hinat!on bed and sitting room. Mrs
Watkins, surrounded by several train
ed nurses from the Memorial Hospital
Nurses home JUS, across the street.
sat Ia plain view of tho form Of her
dead husband lyng with his feet in
the doorway. aad explained to the
officers now X happened.
Il had noticed Saturday night shat
the actions OF Mi Watkins were a
little strange, bat had not thought
that his condition MAS So serious or
that ne contem Plated such deed g
she stated 10 the officers
On Saturday night she declared that
Mr.. Watkins had calied lii priest
for the pnrpose, il WIS afterwards
discovered. Of having him explain 10
him several passages Ia the Bible
lie seemed very much better Sunday,
but a\ain sunday afternoon teienhon-
ed the priest that he again desired
that he make him visit
DIR. William II. Parker visited Mr..
Watkins yesterday afternoon and left
q prescription to be filled. ne having
complained Of having headache.
Yesterday his wife states that he told
her that ii was about time for them
to SO, meaning that he contemplated
suicide. She. states, also, that he felt
prepared, Last night at supper he
appeared normal. Just after supper.
while sitting in the living room OF tye
little home, re declared that he felt
a little chilly, and arising he began
TO close the windows and doors. ey
flaming to his wife that the time for
them to go was at hand, Il sat as
one dumbfounded, afraid to move. Z
declared Mrs, Watkins. "and afr he
had closed all entrances to the home
he returned and took his seat. His
eyes never seemed 10 leave my face.
and we both sat looking at each
other. He seemed TO be in a deep
study, and his mind seemed to be
roaming. ] was afraid ito move and
uttered. Then arising, he started
towards me and ] moved around TO
the foot OF the bed He lunged sud
denly forward grabbed me and threw
me across the bed. and attempted 10
draw the pistol from beneath his pill
low at the same time. ] struggled and
screamed, but no one heard my cries
f4s help Finally We struggled 10 tina
doorway leading into the hall. and
throwing me behind him he fred. l
thought that the bail had entered his
stomach on account of his position,
but afterwards learned that he had
bent his head down to meet the up
turned barrel of the pistol. After he
fired | opened the front door and
ran.
Father r. J. Magri, who visited the
man both on Saturday night and
again on yesterday. after learning of
the suicide. stated that he felt that
tho man had lost his mind over re-
iigious matters. He stated TO me in
both of my conversations with him