The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-30
HEAVY FOG ClOAkS
MUROfRtR'S ESCAPE
Elijah Davis Shoots HIS Wife Dead
In Early Morning Hour
Yesterday.
MRS. DAVIS HAD SUED FOR
DIVORCE, CHARGING CRUELTY
Was About to Take Car On Way to
Her Work With British American
tobacco Company When Tragedy
Occurred

While preparing to board a street
car at Twelfth and Hull Streets on
her way TO work, Mrs Eleanor Davis.
thiTtyhve years old. OF 1909 Hull
Street. was shot and almost instantly
killed shortly before I O'Clock yes
ter lay morning. by her husband. ELI
Iah Davis. Five bullets from 81
calibre revolver were fired at the
helpless woman, two of them finding
their mark and the others going wild
into the side of a nearby building.
When his pistol vas emptied and his
wife was living dead on the sidewalk.
Davis fed. and the heavy fog in the
early morning aided In his escape.
cloaking his movements as well as
the darkest night
Mrs. Davis was on her way to the
plant OF the British American Tobac-
co Company, where she was employed.
when she was met by her husband
and forced to walk with him up the
street. After walking a short dis
lance. Davis whipped his revolver
from his pocket and began firing. one
bullet piercing the woman's heart
and another passing through her
neck As she sank to the ground.
the husband, the smoking revolver
still in his hand. turned and fed up
Twelfth Street in the direction OF
the river, where a detail of police
men a few minutes later could find
no trace OF him.
DIR. Ltpnick. of the city ambulance
service was the first doctor TO reach
the scene of the tragedy. but the
woman was beyond all medical aid
when he arrived. She died in few
minutes. and the body was removed
to the establishment OF b. III. Nor
1ntII
Streets. where an inquest was held
yesterday afternoon.
Had Flied Suit for Divorce.
The fact that Davis and his wife
had been living apart for many
months is said to have precipitated
the murder. Mrs. Davis fled suit
for divorce against her husband last
April, charging that he had choked
her on numerous occasions, and had
threatened her life. The court
granted her an Injunction restraining
Davis from moiesting her and requtr-
ing him To pay alimony OF $40 week
final decree were still pending.
1t is said that about two years ago
they were separated for the first time,
living apart for several months. and
then being united again. After the
last separation, Mrs. Davis has been
living with her fifteen-year-old son
and fourteen year-old daughter, at
1909 Hull Street.
Has Criminal Record.
I, was learned from the police yNs-
terday that Davis has a criminal rec
ord behind him. and that he has
served a term in the Virginia State
penitentiary for horse stealing. On
June 81. Of this year. he was put
under a $500 peace bond in the Ju-
venile and Domestic Relations Court.
when facing q charge OF threatening
to kill his wife. It 10 further shown
that In June. 1914. Davis was ar
raiEned before Justice Crutchheld.
charged with disorderly conduct and
with failure to support his wife and
two children.
Davis 10 about forty years old.
about Ave feet four inches tail. and
the murder he wore q blue felt hat.
a brown suit and no overcoat. He
was formerly engaged in the grocery
business and at one time operated a
saloon at Fourth and Hull Streets.
Mrs. Davis was the daughter OF Mr..
and Mrs. Charles Gibbs. Of 2S13 Hull
Street, and for some time has occu-
pied a position as clerk with the
British American Tobacco Company.
Mur0cf06 na0 M00C WILL
1t was learned last night, from
South Richmond police authorities
that Davis made his will and placed
It in the hands Of J. c. NunnAlly, .
South Richmond attorney, the day
before the murder. but up to this time
the contents Of the document have
not been made known. The police
have taken this to indicate pre-
meditated suicide.
1t was further stated last night.
however. that launch owned BY
Davis. on the James River not far
from the scene Of yesterday's crime,
was discovered to be fitted out with
number Of weapons of various
kinds, as II the man had contem-
plated attempting escape by q water
route and had stocked his boat for
resisting any attempts that might be
made-to arrest him. The boat 10 be-
ing guarded. and Immediately after
the report Of the shooting was made
known policemen were sent to watch
the launch. They evidently arrived
there before the man. ~ the boat
had been untouched. Up to IN early
hour this morning no trace OF the
mUpdAYAV haA ham found.