Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-04-16

| HFtSs IL LILA MOLAt IL
coroner's jury today held Mrs.
Lydia Gertrude Molavi. twenty-five
years old. widow of Abdul IIassin
Molavi, shot to death in his room at
1914 Rhode Island avenue Thursday
evening. for action of the grand jury.
and declared that Molavi came to his
death as the result of d wound in
fiicted by pistol held in the hands of
Mrs. Molavi.
The jury's verdict was reached after
! testimony by Detective Fred A. Corn
Wen, who said that Mrs. Molavi con-
ieSsed last night that she shot her
husband after his persistent refusal
/ 10 answer her questions or converse
| with her. His testimony was strength
encd by like declarations from De-
! tectfve Flaherty of headquarters, who
| was present last night at the alleged
! confession.
| Throughout the testimony of several
witnesses Mrs. Molavi sat silent with
| member of her family. She exhibited
| lowered and shielded with her hand
| from the gaze Of crowd which filled
| the room.
Admits Firing Shot.
Mrs. Molavi last night about Z
| clock admitted firing the fatal shot,
! according to the police. She repeated
| her protestationS Of love for her hus-
| Dand, ana knelt in silent prayer be-
| side his body at the morgue, con-
4 Guiding: "God and Abdul please for
| give me-"
late yesterday afternoon, after she
mad been questioned by Inspector
| Grant and Detectives Cornweu and
fiaherty, the prisoner asked that she
! De returned TO the house of deten-
! IlOn, promising sha toll
story OF the fatality at o'clock. Her
request was complied with. She was
taken back to the house of detention
and cared for by members Of the
| wcmahs bureau
| II haG been learned from the ODea
detective agency that Molavi had said
his Wife shot at him some time ago
| while they occupied 18th street
apartment This was denied by the.
prisoner, who asserted that her hus.
band had been cruel to her
lie beat me-" said the young wom-
made"
! Mrs. MOlavi's Story.
Mrs. Molavi proceeded to tell the
story or the differences between her
self and her husband. She told Of
their failure to reach an agreement
IN the matter Of real estate deal
Whs4fi. she stated. resulted in her hus-
baAA refusing to speak to her all day
| Thursday. 'A'
He moped about the room all day."
she said. land left about o'clock"
The wife said she waited patiently
Tor him to return. hoping he would no
longer remain mute. and about 8
o'clock she went out. She went as
far as 18th street and New York ave
nue.. thinking she would get some
thing to eat. Her appetite failed,
however, and she returned home.
| About II o'clock. she said. she pre-
pared to retire. She still hoped for
her husbands return and renewal
Of his recognition: of her. 1t was a
few minutes after he returned, she
stated, and she asked where he had
been. He made no response, she said.
and she asked il he would have q Gun
of tea Again. she said. there was no
tresponse.
| Molavi Disrobed.
Molavi disrobed, donned his paiamas
the wife stated threw himself on the
bed and proceeded to read. He paid no
attention to her.
Il saw the revolver in the burea u
drawer" the prisoner is said to have
stated to the detectives. Il took it out
and pointed it at him. He looked at me
scornfully. but l did not realize what 1
had done until 1t was all over
He raised his head" she continued
rolled over the bed and fell on the floor
went around the bed to him and
| dropped the pistol.
Il asked him to speak," she added
| but he did not do So"
Mrs Molavi declared she had not the
| slightest intention Of harming her hus-
| band, and repeated that she did not
hear the report Of the pistol shot. She
did not mean to shoot. she said.
Made Nervous by Silence.
| Her husbands continued silence,
! she stated. had worried her and made
4 her nervous, and il was because of
her nervousness, she said. that she
partook of a small quantity OF slim
turned home. Hearing the empty shell
fall on the floor, she stated, suggested
to her that weapon had been dis
| charged.
! Having completed her version of
the shooting. Mrs. Molavi begged that
she be taken to the morgue and per-
mitted to see her husband.
| Il know I'll not be able to attend
his funeral" she told the detectives,
| and / do want to see him once more"
| The detectives tried to induce her
| to change her mind about going to
the morgue. telling her it was a
ings might affect her.
| I'm composed she said, land
want to see him. Please let me see
him."
Accompanied by the detectives and
Miss Bridwell Of the woman's bureau
Mrs. Molavi was taken to the morgue
where she knelt in silent prayer "a
minute or more and asked forgiveness
Of God and the dead man. She again
told the detectives she loved her hus-
band dearly. but his conduct had been