The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-30
Letters in Pockets of Dead Man Indicate Domestic
 Troubles as Cause
HAD RETURNED FOR
 A RECONCILIATION
Mrs. Honeycutt Seriously Wounded, But Expected to Recover-Mrs. Lander Not Seriously Wounded.
 All Parties Lived Here

In the midst of the alter noon's rush on First avenue near Twentieth street, John E. Honeycutt, a white man about 26 years of age, committed sui eide by shooting, himself through the heart following an attempt to kill his wife, Mrs. Ola Honeycutt, and her sister, Mrs. c. R. Lander, in the lobby of the Wheeler Business college building. His wife was serious ly wounded, while Mrs. Lander was only slightly injured.
 Honeycutt arrived in Birmingham Sunday night from Akron, O., where he had been employed recently by the Pennsylvania Railroad company as brakeman. The shooting yesterday afternoon occurred about 4:10 o'clock and followed apparently three months of domestic trouble between Honey cutt and his wife.
 According to the best information available, Honeycutt and his wife had been separated for about three months. Following the separation, Honeycutt departed for Akron, while his wife remained here with her sis ter, Mrs. Lander, who resides at 2818 Juniper avenue, south.
 Honeycutt, prior to the shooting, paid visit to friend, Bob Stokes, of the Maynor Loan company. "Honey- cutt came up to zee me this morning." said Stokes. q asked him what he was doing back in Birmingham and he explained that he was overburdened with trouble and worry and had come here to straighten it out.
 DOMESTIC TROUBLES
 "He told me his brother-in-law, MT. Lander, was the cause of all of the trou- ble between himself and his wife, and that he was going to kill him. talked to him and tried to persuade him to let the motter drop. He seemed determined to follow out his plan. He asked to use the phone He called number and a few minutes later he turned to me and said: See, I can't even get to speak to my wife Whoever it was, hung up the phone immediately after he told who he was. That was about noon.
 "He then left and I was to meet him about 7:30- o clock last night to get him in the meeting of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. That was the last I heard of him until the shooting occurred"
 According to a statement made by Mrs. Lander before her wounds were dressed. she answered the call of Honeycutt at her home shortly after noon. T answered the call and would not tell Honeycutt where he could find his wife," said Mrs. Lander Something seemed to tell me that trouble was in the air, so I de- cided to go to Wheeler Business college and warn my sister. I hurried down ana sent word to her to come to the door in the lobby rather than disturb the classes.
 She came to the door and I sat down on a chair and was talking to her. About that time Honeycutt came in. He smiled when he saw her. He came up to her, laid his hand gently or her arm and said, I would like to speak to you Not another word passed and few minutes later. without warning, he pulled out his pistol and fired twice at her. At the firing, I jumped up and he then fired twice at me. saw him start down the stairs. That was the last I saw of him."
 SUICIDES IN STREET
 Honeycutt kept the pistol. which was a .32 calibre Smith & Wesson, in his right hand and rushed down the three flights of stairs. Several men on the stairs attempted to stop him but he succeeded in reaching the street. With out hesitation he darted toward Twen- tieth street.
 Officer Wideman, who was standing at Parker's corner when the first shot was fired, started in the direction from which the report came. He saw Honey cutt rushing up the street with the pistol in his hand. He prepared to stop him and when about 16 feet away, Honeycutt, without any warning, placed the weapon to his own heart and fired the fatal shot. The act was committed in the sight of hundreds of people. He apparently saw he had no chance to escape
 Ambulances were called and Mrs. Honeycutt was rushed to the South Highlands infirmary by Shaw's ann bulance. She was pronounced to be in a serious condition. One shot took ef- feet in her right forearm while the second crushed the right jaw bone. Mrs. Lander was not As seriously in jured and was attended by pr. Cecil