Evening star., 1933-02-06
S[AY|NG-SU|C|DE
MOTIVE IS PUZZLE.
AS INQUIRIES FAIL
Police and Coroner Complete
Probes of Death of
0'NeaI and Bride.
TRAGEDY FOLLOWS PARTY.
HUSBAND HAD BEEN HURT
Wife's Relatives Scout Theory Of
Jealousy-Details of Saturday
Night Affair Lacking.

What caused Frank O'Neal to shoot
his bride of five months to death and
then kill himself still was matter OF
conjecture today, despite the fact both
the police and the coroner had COM
pleted their investigations of the case
O'Neal, 32-year-old employe of the
District Water Department, fired a 49,
canber bullet into his wife's right
temple about o'clock yesterday
morning, as she lay asleep in second
floor bed room Of their home, 1872
Owen place northeast
Then, still leaning over her, he point
ed the gun at his right temple and
pulled the trigger again. He fell dead
across his brides body.
A short time before, O'Neal and his
wife, Mrs. Grace Wilson O'Neal, 81, had
returned from Saturday night party.
Where the affair was held or what
happened there, neither the police nor
the coroner was able to learn. All that
members of their household knew was
they had left home in taxicab, with
the explanation that they were going
to a party and won't be home until
late"
O'Neals Lips Swollen.
Somewhere, somehow, however,
O'Neal had been injured. His lips
were cut and swollen, according to
Acting Coroner A. Magruder MacDon-
aid, and there was bloody handker-
chief in a corner of the room, In ad-
dition, DR.. Macdonald said. there was
q spot Of blood on the lapel of O'Neal's
oyercoat and another on his shirt.
Although O'Neals mother. Mrs.
James L. Clark, $40 Seventh street
southeast, and other members OF his
family expressed belief he had been
hurt in a jealous fight with another
msn, this theory was scof1ed at by his
vife's relatives.
Mrs O'Neal's brother, Joseph Wilson,
who discovered the tragedy after being
awakened by the revolver shots. said !:
'They were crazy about each other and
there was no reason why Frank should
he-e been jealous"
A similar statement was made by her
sicte-, Mrs. Mary Ramisch, 5408 First
street. Grace wasn't interested In any
ot.er man" she declared. He just got
crazy that way every once in while,
for no particular reason"
Said Party Was "All Right"
The ONeals returned from the party
about o'clock. A short time later
O'Neal went downstairs, where he told
q roomer, John Sutherland. who was
leaving for work, he was going to put
some coal in the furnace.
He was in the cellar when Wilson
came home from work few minutes
later. II heard him in the cellar and
went down." Wilson said. II asked him
how the party was and he said, AL
right just like that.
He started to shovel some coal into
the furnace and went upstairs and to
bed. The next thing knew heard
the shots"
The shots also were heard by his
6ster, Miss Georgia Louise Wilson. l8,
who was asleep In another part Of the
house. They summoned a Casualty
Hospital ambulance. but all that the
accompanying physician could do was
70 pronounce the couple dead.
Went to Basement for Gun.
Investigation by Detective Sergt WAL
Ter 8. Beck revealed O'Neal's real pur-
pose In going to the basement was to
get the revolver, an antiquated weapon
belonging to a relative, from an old
trunk there.
Although the couple was married last
September 8, Mrs. ONeal still was en-
ployed In the Department of Com
merce under her maiden name She
also Is listed in the telephone directory
as Miss Grace Z. Wilson"
Certificates Of murder and suicide
were issued by DR.. Macdonald. Funeral
services will be held at o'clock tomor-
row afternoon in the w. w. Chambers
chapel, following which the couple will
be buried in Fort Lincoln Cemetery.