The Washington times., 1919-10-18
DUAL TRAGEDY
PROMPTEDBY
JEALOUS RAGE
Eternal Triangle Played Part in
Death Of YeOmaa and His
Wife, Police Believe.

Gossip played the leading role in the
tragedy enacted yesterday afternoon
at First street and Massachusetts ev-
enue northeast. when Frank L. Roth,
q chief yeoman On the navy. shot ana
killed his wife, Mrs. Anna Mitchell
Roth, and then turned the weapon up
on himself
The tragedy centers around the
eternal triangle Of two men and a
woman. Jealousy, abetted BY rage,
was said 70 be the motive that prompt
ed the crime.
Hundreds Of persons were passing
the spot where Roth and his wife
were standing just prior 20 the shoot
ing The time was shortly after
O'Clock, and workers were hurrying
90 the Union Station. q GCant block
distant.
witnesses noted the disquisted ap-
pearance Of the two and overheard
bits Of the heated words that passed
Between them.
suddenly the woman was heard to
CRY out:
~Here I stand; shoot mel"
She spoke a8 if Oh response to
threat Roth reached for his pocket.
but hesitated.
T dare you to shoot me-" cried che
Woman IN tones that were audible
70 persons many fest distant.
EIres shot.
without 9 word Roth drew the gun
from his pocket and taking careful
ain. shot The woman sank 70 the
ground and Roth ded. Twenty yards
away he stopped, apparently debat-
ing his course OF action. He started
- - sHEHf
gun in his hand After q few PAGES
he again stopped. and then with cool
deliberation placed the muEEle 70 his
right temple and fired.
Meanwhile q hundred persons hal
stood horFihed in their tracks while
the double tragedy was enacted. When
the climax came and Roth sank 70 the
ground, dead, By his own hand, a
score or more rushed to him. The
police were called. and the two were
removed 70 Casualty Hospital. Ex-
animation showed that they both died
instantly. They were ideuti6ed by
Mrs.. Evelyn Oliver, Of B14 First street
southeast, and william Lang, Of the
same address.
AncuVuUu1 Letter.
An Anonymous letter found among
the effects % the dead man gave mute
evidence of the motive for the crime.
Addressed 60 Roth gt the Boston
navy yard where he was stationed
the letter rocited instances Of the at
tentious alleged 20 have been paid
sailor Friend"
NFB. Roth, or Mrs. l1teheIl. for this
is the name she gave TO persons who
met her In Washington, lived at the
OtVer home. She was divorced frorr |
her drst husband ia 1913. and uo,s, |
afn9FWard married Roth, who Ma
serving in the navy
Roth was seen in the vicinity Of |
tne oliver home yesterday by both
La1g and AFa. Oliver. the police IN. |
Vestigatton showed Mrs. Roth De.
parted from the store where - v-sr
employed Gt 2 o'clock yesterday Az /
LeFnoon' and the police believe mel /
holh by appointment What tran.
splred between them On the interim /
ls . mystery that wiz never b |
Inspector Clifford Z. Grant. chief ~
aetecuVea' this morning declared tbaf 4
ne tetgeF had undoubtedly prompted /
I'oth % come 20 WashinFton. HC
hee been working here as q motor i
man Tor the Capital Traction Corr
pany and was GbOut 70 return 70 Pog- /
ton Tor further naval service. Thai 4
blra Roth, oF Mrs. Mitchell. knew o. /
MS presence IN the city for some time
past u fact Of which the police are /
hat1sued. Perhaps she had met him
on previous occasions. they saw.
Certain Il is, according TO the DO /
nee tnat Jealousy arising out OF the /
letter and EubBtantiated BY Dame Ru-
NOR was the motive for the crime.
Crime Premedltuted.
Arthur .Aarlle, q telegraph opera
tor employed IN Washington, told tho
police he had met Roth on a train
coming 20 Warrington from New
YORK about ten days ago. At that
Tine, Roth told him Of the ALLEGED
inhoeElty Of his wife, which culmI /
mated in the double tragedy. Thi~
fact the police believe substantiateg
the theory that the Staying was pre-
meoitate1, the result OF long broodInp
MrB. Roth was the daughter Of
Thomas Purcell, IOlS Twenty-sixth
street northwest. formerly a mem
Der Of the IRE board Of the Dis
irict FIRE Department. She was thfr-
~ years old. A child By her frat
1aFriage died last spring. Roth wa
,i,irty-tWo years old.
That Mrs. Roth was contemplating
divorce from her second husband
IS q fact verified by an agreement
.ound il Hoth's effects. This agree
raent constituted a waiver on all
aims for an allotment from the
Government and further recited that
ne would not contest a divorce
ctiOu. This agreement Is in the
possession Of the police.