Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-11

James W. White, thirty-nine years
old, of the harhor police command
last night shot and seriously wounded
his wife. Mrs. Myrtle H. White, and
then ended his own life.
The tragedy occurred about II
o'clock in his residence at T47 9Th
street southeast. After firing at his
wife, the bullet passing through her
neck, White shot himself in the head
and neck. He died at Casualty Hos
pital two hours later. Mrs. White
is at the Casualty Hospital and it is
recover.
Employed at Hotel.
Jealousy on part of the policeman,
the police say. led TO the tragedy.
Mrs. White was employed in the
Burlington Hotel. where, it is said.
she occasionally did extra work in an
effort to earn money to assist in pay
ing household expenses. The hus-
band, it is stated, had objected to the
performance of the extra work, which
made her late returning home, but the
wife continued to work.
Yesterday afternoon, when Mrs.
White failed to return home after
her regular working hours, the po-
lice were told, the husband went to
Der rlace of employment and learned
the delay was caused by her wash
ing curtains for an occupant of an
apartment in the hotel. They quar-
relied at the hotel. it is stated, and
renewed the dispute when they
reached home.
White and his wife were seated on
a bed in the second story front room,
engaged in discussion of the for
mer's alleged grievance The wife
said her husband gave no intimation
that he was going to shoot her and
she was surprised when he drew his
police revolver and sent a bullet
through her neck.
Wife Calls for Help.
Leaving the room. Mrs. White
called from window to neighbor
to summon a physician, and about
that time she heard the report of a
second shot fired in the front room.
After calling to the neighbor, Mrs.
White went to the room in which
Merlin and James Grayson. her sons
by former marriage, were sleeping.
She heard the report of third shot.
1t was this third shot that sent a
bullet crashing through the police
mans brain. which resulted in his
death. The first bullet had inflicted a
wound near his right eye.
L. 7. Posey, occupant of an ad-
joining house, went to the assistance
of Mrs. White and rushed her to
Casualty Hospital. while the wounded
man was taken there by a brother
policeman.
Detective B. W. Thompson visited
the hospital and obtained signed
statement of the shooting from Mrs
white.
Lieut.. Yulee Hodges of the fifth pre-
cinct, one of the first members of the
force to reach the scene, took possess
sion of the weapon and assisted in the
removal of the wounded man to the
hospital
White. a widower and father of six
children. and Mrs. Myrtle Grayson, wild
ow. with three children, were married
seven months ago. Mrs. Grayson's first
husband was killed by a street car, ac-
cording to the police, and Whites first
two years ago.
Merlin and James Grayson, twenty
one. and nineteen years old. respec-
lively, resided with their mother and
stepfather, while William Grayson.
seventeen years DID, brother, is in
Utah. Whites children, ranging from
two to nineteen years old, are with
h~Hthar Of their father a few miles from
Colonial Beach, Va.
Wnlte was appointed a member of the
police force about three years ago and
was assigned to duty in the eighth pre-
cinct. More than a year ago he was
transferred to the harbor precinct.
where he did duty on the police boat
and about the river front.
1t is thought by the police that White
did the shooting under a sudden i'm
pulse and that the taking of his own
life resulted when he realized what he
had done. A little more than a wear
ago White was shot by a colored man
and SO seriously wounded that it was
feared he would die.