Evening star., 1926-04-11


store AS soon as she reached the
street witnesses recounted, the sound
of shots coming with repid fire from
an automatic were heard.
The woman ran west up the street
a few PAGES, there was crash OF
glass as a stray bullet struck the
show window: she clutched at her
right arm: turned. darted into the
hallway which leads to the apartment
above the cigar store. The man
stopped his automatic evidently
empty. He turned and ran down
Nineteenth street; toward his home
at the Naples Apartments.
Lieut.. John Bowers of the eleventh
precinct, who lives in the neiShbor-
hood. and Privates Leahy. Sayer,
Swami and Ashton, who were at the
head of the crowd pursuing the fee
ing man, heard the lock of the door
click as EtheridSe dashed into his
apartment.
Some police went to the roof, others
to the basement and still others
searched the flrSt floor. Mrs. Edward
Whitehorne, in charge of the apart
ment building, showed police Ether
idCe's apartment The door was
locked and the fact that the family
opposite had seen nothing Of him en-
tering led them TO doubt that he was
inside.
Heard Woman Was Dead.
While duplicate keys were being
tried in the lock. he was listening.
From the conversation he learned
of the supposed killing of the woman,
for the nrst report was that she had
been killed.
For 10 or - minutes the Conversa-
ton between Mrs. Whitehorne and the
policemen continued. The climax was
her statement to the police:
We'll. | didn't think he'd harm
any one; and | feel rather sorry for
him; but If he has killed that girl, why
don't you break in the kitchen door
of the apartment and get him.
The plan was for the police TO break
down the door and then for her to
present herself, in the belief that he
would not shoot Eer.
Then came the crashing blows at
the kitchen door of the apartment and
the sound of shot. Those who first
entered saw Etheridge sinking from
a chair to the floor. He had evidently
been waiting, with pistol in hand, for
the attempt to take him.
He was rushed to Emergency Hos
pItal in the ambulance, but the bullet,
which entered his mouth and passed
through the lower skull, had been
effective.
Left Three Letters.
Three letters were left by Etheridge,
indicating that the occurrence yester-
day had been premeditated. One,
sealed and stamped. addressed to his
mother, Mrs. Anna Etheridge of Will
son, y. c., was mailed by 10y Poole,
assistant manager of the local branch
Of ha Ia al htIc nd
Insurance Co. of Boston, Etheridge's
roommate. The others were intended
for Poole. One said: What furniture
have, you may keep" The other
said: "In case | do get in trouble to-
day. will you send my clothes andA a
policy / told you about to my mother.
Mrs. Anna Etheridge, Wilson, n. CT"
Police learned that Friday night
Etheridge had an argument with the
woman at the Washington Hotel
Comments made to his roommate
after the occurrence as well as the
general trend of Etheridge's attitude
convinced Poole that he was intensely
in love with the woman he shot The
fact that she had been escorted to
number of functions by others than
himself, it was said by her friends,
caused jealous outbreaks from Ethe-
ridge.
Etheridge left his apartment at
about $3.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Outside he met Poole. He told Poole
he was going up TO the store to get
drink. Less than an hour later the
shooting took place.
Planned To Get" Her.
According to Poole, Etheridse de-
cared Friday night after his return
from the hotel that hes intended to
get" Della the next day.
At the hospital the victim refused
to talk to newspaper men about the
| shooting or about her acquaintance
with Etheridge.
Etheridge, according to Poole, had
been married for about three years
when his astranged wife died about
| two months ago.
Etheridge mad a child. about 2
| years of age, who resides with the
| mother-in-law, at Lynchburg, Va.
DR.. Daniel Borden. who treated Miss
| fudge at the hospital, said that the
wound was not of a serious nature
and that she would recover. Her 16-
year-old daughter attended a local
high school. Friends of the woman
believe that it was because of the
/ child that she refused to give her cor
rect name and age at the hospital.
4