Evening star., 1921-08-04
WIFE IS KILLED
IN DAYBREAk FIGHT
James 7. Rison Is Charged
With the Crime After
NIGHTS Quarrel.

With Ave pieces of her skull and a
hatchet, fiat Iron and two revolvers
held by the police as evidence OF a
murderous attack made upon her early
today. Mrs. Regina Rison. forty years
old, of 317 Pennsylvania avenue died
in Emergency Hospital at noon today.
while her husband. James T. Rison. is
held by the police, charged with the
crime.
Motorcycle Policeman X. H. Johnson
of the sixth precinct, responding to a
call for help. broke into the room
occupied by the Risons shortly he
foree o'clock this morning and ar
restsd the Husband - the latter at
Rison gave up without struggle
when he found himself covered" by
the officer. His wife was taken to
Emergency Hospital.
= Came From Baltimore.
The Rison's lived in Baltimore until
about three months ago. when they
came here and rented a room in the
Pennsyivania avenue house. Rison
was employed as foreman in the
local shops of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company. Their Baltimore
address was given as 946 West Fayette
street, the wife's maiden name being
Regina Knell. 1t is said the couple
had no children.
About 5:45 o'clock this morning. the
time kison usually got up to g6 to
work. T. j. Tighe. the landlord. heard
cries from the room. Because of the
noise of passing street car, he
from newsboys. but a moment later
he heard the word murder" fol-
lowed by scream for help.
Hurrying to the door of the room
occupied by the Rison's. he raped
on the door. The clicking Of a re-
voler was the only answer he re-
ceived. and he stepped aside and
sought a policeman. Policeman John
son answered his call. When he en-
tered the room. followed by Tighe,
her head terribly mangled. Her hus-
band. loaded revolver in hand. ap-
preached the open door. and was in
the act of raising his weapon when
Johnson rushed him, grabbed the
weapon and put him under arrest.
Rison Ia Silent.
Rison was silent and. refused to
answer any questions, the policeman
stated. He was taken to the sixth
precinct police station and placed in
a cell, a physician dressing a super
cial wound on his head he probably
had inflicted during the alleged at
tack.
The room in which Mrs. Rison was
attacked showed signs of severe
struggle, although it is probable that
she had not left her bed A big lamp
had been shattered on the floor. and
dishes on a table were scattered.
Bottles that had contained what ap-
peared to be liquor also were on the
table.
Two cages, containing three canary
birds, hung on the wall unharmed.
A late search Of the room today re-
vealed a second f1atiron. the few
bloodstains 1t contained making 1t
possible that 1t also had been used by
the wife's assailant.
II will commit suicide If 1 get q
chance" Rison is said to have re-
marked to the police, and the only
request that the police notify his
brother, Henry Rison, 1743, Covington
street, Baltimore, Of his arrest.
Capt. Doyle asked the prisoner If
he wanted to make statement, and
his response was in the negative, and
he also said he understood what it
night mean to him If he made a
statement. -
Had Room Three Months.
!. Mr. Tiehe told Star reporter that
the Risons came to his house about
three months ago and rented the
room. They did their cooking, eating
and sleeping In it, the wife using a
small gas stove, which rested on a
table in one end of the room.
Mrs Rison. he said, had been in the
habit Of visiting Baltimore relatives
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