Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-27
WIFE SLAIN ASFNE
CHILDREN LOOK ON
Shooting Occurs in Scuffle
Over Revolver in Home
at Burdette, Md.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md. May 27.-As her
five young children watched, Mrs. Beu-
lab F. Refit, IS years old, OF Burdette,
Md, was shot through the heart last
evening in attempting to wrest from
her husbands hand a revolver with
which he was about to shoot himself
according to police.
Her oldest son, Lloyd, 16 years old,
thrice prevented his father, John F.
RENT, SO years old, taking his life
after the bullet ended Mrs. RENTS life
Refit Is being held in the Rockville
Jail, pending a complete investigation.
but authorities say they think the shoot
ing was accidental. Both father and
son tell the same story. Chief of Police
Alvie A. Moxley stated
Acting on instructions from States
Attorney Prescott, Chief Monkey this
morning swore out a warrant charging
Reffit with murder. He explained that
while there have been no developments
damaging to Remit the States attorney
thought it would be best to have the
matter thoroughly investigated at pre-
liminary hearing before Judge Charles
w. Woodward in the Police Court at
Rockville. The date for the hearing
had not been set. In the meantime
Reffit will remain in jail.
The couple were having marital diff
ficulties. A suit by Mr.. Reffit against
Delaney F. Brown, huckster, of Pardum
Md, for $4,000. charging alienation
OF affection is now pending in Rock
vile Circuit Court Last February Ref
fit filed suit for absolute divorce from
his wife, naming Brown as correspond
ent, but this action was withdrawn by
the plaintiff March 3. Friends said
that Mr. and Mrs Refit effected
reconciliation at that time.
Suicide Attempts Fooled.
Chief Monkey. States Attorney sted-
man Prescott and Corp. Roy Bodmer
reconstructed the following account of
= he shooting from the stories told by
Reff1t and his son.
Mrs. Refit and her five children,
Lloyd John. IA years old: Margaret.
IL years old; Harold, IL years old. and
Paul years old. were in the kitchen
of their home about 1880 O'Clock last
evening when Refit entered with a
gun in his hand.
III end all this" he exclaimed and
placed the gun to his temple as if to
shoot himself.
Mrs. Rehit grappled with her hus-
band and during the struggle for pos
session of the gun it was discharged
Mrs. Refflt was dead when medical aid
arrived.
AS his wife fell to the floor Refit
stood as If dazed with the revolver
dangling from his hand. then slowly
raised it again to his head, and was
about to pull the trigger when LLOYD
seized and gained possession of the
weapon.
Refft turned toward the stairs to
get a shotgun on the second floor, he
told police Again his son forestalled
him and reached the gun first Later
he attempted to plunge a knife into
his chest, but again was saved from
self destruction by Lloyd.
Husband Taken to Jail.
Neighbors summoned police. Chief
Moxley and Corpl. Bodmer responded
Reffit was taken to the Jail in Rockville
and the body of his wife sent to Ernest
Gartner, GaitherSburg undertaken.
When police arrived Margaret was
kneeling beside her mothers body, her
hand pressed against the wound to stop
the flow of blood. The child did not
realize the mother was dead.
Friends living nearby took care OF
the children during the night Chief
Monkey said that he would go to Bur-
dette today to question them. Lloyd
went to Rockville this morning and
told authorities what he knew of the
tragedy.
Reffit. huckster, is Republican off,
Ger of registration for the Clarksburp
district. Before her marriage Mrs. Ref
fit was a Miss Hawkins of the Damas-
Gus district.
There is a sixth child, a daughter.
Mary, II years old, who is said by
neighbors to be working in Washington.