Evening star., 1917-10-19
ATTACKS WOMAN,
THEN SHOOTSSELF
William E. Johnson, Principal
in Astoria Apartment House
Tragedy, Dies in Hospital.
HIS VICTIM MAY RECOVER

William L. Johnson, twenty-six years
old, this morning committed suicide in
an apartment In the Astoria. Sd and G
streets northwest, this city, by shoot
ing himself in the right temple. A few
minutes before firing the shot that end
ed his own life he shot Mrs. Nina E.
Hinton, twenty-five years old, in the
right temple. Both were taken to Emer-
gency Hospital in the same ambulance
Mrs. Hinton was conscious, but Johnson
had lapsed into insensibility and died
soon after reaching the hospital.
The double shooting occurred in Mrs
Hinton's one-room apartment adJoln-
ing similar apartment OCCUPIED
by johnson. In the house. II was
stated, the couple were known as
brother and sister, Mrs. Hinton having
frequently spoken to the janitor about
him as her brother. Police Investigation
resulted in a report being made TO
headquarters giving leatosuy as lhe
cause for the shooting.
An overturned chair in Johnson
room indicated to the police that a
scufTie had taken place just prior 70
the shooting. but Mrs. Iiinton's state
ment made to Detectives Warren and
vcrmfllion ali the hospital. negatived
such theory. and il is thought that
the wounded woman overturned 1t In
attempting to escape from the room.
Blood Stains on the Wall.
Bloodstains on the wall of Johnson's
room by a hand of one of the persons
involved in the shooting made 1t GER
tain one or both of them had been IN
that room Policemen who examined
the stains were not certain which mace
them. but the size of it made it appear
as if it We're the imprint of the mans
hand, indicating the police say. that he
followed her as far as his room
If there was any struggle 1t was not
heard by persons occupying the ad.
Joining apartment. and the absence OF
any noise as of the falling, of body
TO the floor suggested that he probably
was lying on the floor when he shot
himself.
Mr. and Mrs. William T. Hunt, occu-
pants of an apartment across the mar
row hallway from the room in which
the double tragedy was enacted, were
in bed when they heard a knock on
the door. followed by 4 woman's voice
pleading for help.
Z I'm shot" gasped Mrs. Hinton, when
Mrs. Hunt opened the door.
Who shot you?" the latter inquired.
The man over there she responded.
Police Ambulance Summoned.
Then the police and an ambulance
were summoned. Policeman Payne,
who was near Sd and G streets when
the shooting occurred. made a briel
investigation and then assisted IN piac-
ing the wounded couple in the ambu-
lance in which they were whisked off
to the hospital
Search of the two one-room apart
ments failed to disclose any writing
bearing on the tragedy. according 70
the police. but it is thought probable
that Johnson had contemplated the
deed. as it is stated that in the latter
part of September he purchased the
pistol with which the shooting was
done.
Mrs. Hinton, when questioned at the
hospital by Detectives Warren and
Vermillion, denied that there had been
any quarrel between her and Johnson
Immediately preceding tne snoolans, 'a
would not go to work today and shot
me-" she stated.
Woman Has Chance to Recover.
Physicians in Emergency Hospital
told the police the woman probably
would recover.
Mrs. Hinton is native of Poland. ac-
cording to her statement to the detec-
tives. and she has children. who are
living at the home of their grandpar-
ents. Mr. and Mrs. William Hinton,
Richmond, Va She said she had been
in this country ten years ana that she
resided in Richmond before coming to
this city. Her present employment,
she stated. is that of checker at the
Lafayette Hotel.
Johnson was married. according to
records of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company where he was en-
ployed as motorman from November Is,
1915, until March of this year. At that
time he Joined the strikers and quit the
company's employ. Recently he re-
turned to the companys school. passed
the necessary examination and yester-
day received reappointment as motor
man During his employment as mo-
tornan he worked on the lines OF the
eastern division.
He was native of Westernport. AL
legheny county, Md, where he was born
April 26, 1892. His mother, Mrs. Joe
R. Johnson, still lives there.
ARMY SENIORITY RULE