The Washington times., 1921-08-04
IS
bRUT ALLY
BATTERED
WITH AXE.
James Rison. Held by Police,
Draws Gun on Officer
Who Arrests Him.

VINO ArreStS him.
Battered almost beyond recogni-
ton with a hatchet and a flatiron
by her husband early this morning,
Mrs. Regina Rison died at Emer-
gency Hospital at noon.
Husband Is Held.
James Thomas Rison. her husband,
a foreman on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. is being held at the Sixth
precinct. Mrs. Rison's skull had been
split In several places and there was a
hole two inches wide at the top.
The attack. which resulted in the
death Of the frail Mrs. Rison, took
place in the second floor front room at
317 Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
where she lived with her husband.
Points Gun at Officer.
Policeman r. H. johnson arrested
Rison shortly after Mrs. Annie A.
Rothrey. of 315 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest. reported that a woman was
screaming in the house next door to
her. Rison pointed a gun at johnson
when the officer forced the door of
his room. In the struggle that took
place, while Mrs. Rison lay meaning
on the bed in agony. the gun was
wrested from Rison.
johnson Immediately summoned an
ambulance, which. took Mrs. Rison to
the hospital. He asked Rison why he
had attacked his wife and what he had
struck her with.
Rison's reply was: 'T hit her with
the same thing she hit me with" Ac-
cording to johnson, this was the only
statement Rison would make. When
taken to the Sixth precinct he would
not say a word about the fight.
Threatens Suicide.
When asked IL he had anything to
say the mans words were to the effect
that he would commit suicide of he had
chance, according to Policeman
johnson.
A guard was placed over Rison in
the cell. and he would answer no
questions about the attack. Detective
II. X. Wilson questioned him for a
time, but Rison only mumbled the
words, II have nothing to say"
He said that he had several broth
ers In the city.
The ages of Rison and his wife are
given as forty. Their room was the
second floor front at 317 Pennsylvania
avenue. Officers investigating the
crime found the room looking like a
shambles.
Weapons used in the attack which
were taken from the scene of the
Ad hat ~
carpenters spirit level, parts Of a
lamp, and two revolvers. One of
the revolvers was held by Rison
when arrested. the other was In a
bureau drawer. Neither had been
fired. The hatchets, spirit level and
flatiron all were stained with blood.
The shirt which the arrested man
wore was wet with blood stains.
Police believe the man kept strik.
ing his wife with everything at
hand until he was exhausted Their
lamp was found shattered to pieces
at the bedside.
Policeman's Story.
Johnson's story is this: "I went
alone to the house at 317 about $40
o'clock, when Mrs. Rothrey had re-
ported screams next door. heard
moaning and went to the door of the
front room. No one answered my
knocking. saw a woman down the
hall and asked her about the means.
Then went back and said at the
door: This is the police. What's the
trouble here?'
THE sounds ceased and there was
no answer. So 1 threw my body at
the door, forcing II open. There was
Rison, his eyes blaring. near the mid
Ole or the room, coming at me with
revolver pointed. 1 jumped at him and
wrested the revolver from his hand.
He didn't say word"
For hours Rison lay on the iron
bed In his Sixth precinct cell, clench-
ing his hands and mumbling TO
himself His whole body shook with
nervousness, as he seemed to be
living over the fight he had with
his wife. At intervals the officers
went to question him, or to give him
chance to eat. but he refused.
His audible words were always the
same. Il win say nothing"