July 3, 1931, Washington D.C. – In a shocking act of violence, 70-year-old dredge captain Williams Owens turned a gun on his 14-year-old paramour, Elsie Bryant, shooting her four times in the streets of the nation’s capital. The girl’s fate hangs in the balance as she teeters on the brink of death, her spine severed by a 32-caliber bullet that pierced her chest.
According to eyewitnesses, the shooting occurred at 456 M Street southwest, where Owens’ wife, 67-year-old Maggie Owens, was mere feet away in an adjacent room. The wife, seemingly oblivious to her husband’s illicit affair with the young teenager, remained silent as police took Owens into custody at the fourth precinct police station.
Elsie’s sister, 17-year-old Gertrude Campbell, was also caught in the crossfire, suffering three wounds to her arms. Despite her injuries, Gertrude’s condition is considered not critical by physicians at Casualty Hospital, a stark contrast to her sister’s dire prognosis.
Physicians at Emergency Hospital paint a grim picture of Elsie’s future, stating that if she recovers from her wounds, she will be paralyzed for the remainder of her life. The brutal assault has left the community reeling, and police are still investigating the motives behind Owens’ actions.
As the nation grapples with the implications of this senseless violence, one question lingers: what drove a man in his twilight years to commit such a heinous crime against an innocent child?
Elsie’s family is still reeling from the attack, with some sources suggesting that the young girl’s parents were aware of her relationship with the older man. Whether or not this was the case, one thing is certain: Williams Owens has left an indelible mark on the city, and his actions will be remembered for years to come.
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Key Facts
- State: National
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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