Home of City Patrolman Scene Of Knife Play After Lover’s Quarrel
“Disappointment in love was blamed by police today for a suicide and attempted murder about 7 p.m. Saturday when Carl Royal, 32 of 913 11th st, died by his own hand and Miss Ruth Downes, 28, of 1215 11th st, suffered serious knife wounds.”
“Cecil Johnson, 22, colored, of 1232 Robinson ave, Farley Square, was credited with saving Miss Downes’ life when he applied fingertip pressure at the base of the throat to check the loss of blood.”
“Miss Downes, daughter of James Downes, veteran city patrolman, is improved in Portsmouth General hospital and has a ‘good chance’ to recover, hospital attaches said. She was administered blood plasma to replace lost blood.”
Dies On Front Porch
“Mr. Royal, an army veteran, died on the Downes’ porch as Dr. D. A. Berndt arrived to administer first aid. He was a student of the veterans training school conducted in Portsmouth trade school. He was learning about metal work. He was a son of John Royal of near Minford.”
“The tragedy began in the home of Patrolman Downes when Mr. Royal stopped in after a telephone conversation with Miss Downes in which she informed him that she desired to sever relations with him. They had kept company several months.”
“When police and Lynn’s ambulance arrived they found Miss Downes lying in the front yard of 1211 11th st, next door where she fled to escape the knife wielder.”
“Mr. Johnson was holding the veins and without losing his grip, climbed into the ambulance.”
“En route to the hospital Mr. Johnson became ill, but was encouraged to retain his hold by Driver Howard Henson. “I’m getting sick,” he told hospital attendants who encouraged him to keep his position until Dr. Berndt arrived a few minutes later. Hospital attendants and police credited Mr. Johnson with saving Miss Downes’ life.”
Flamer Assists
“Patrolman Downes revealed today that Joseph L. Flamer, 1203 11th st, colored barber, assisted Mr. Johnson with the first aid.”
“‘The physician told me that my daughter would have bled to death,” Mr. Downes said, “if Mr. Johnson and Mr. Flamer had not administered first aid immediately. I deeply appreciate the services of these two men in saving my daughter’s life.'”
“Mr. Downes said that Mr. Flamer assisted Mr. Johnson immediately after the cutting when they went to Miss Downes” aid.”
“Patrolmen Norman Vogel, Elmer Feazell, and Homer Albrecht talked with Miss Downes at the hospital and she related her version of the cutting.”
Became Too Bossy
“She told police, they said, that Mr. Royal became ‘domineering and bossy’ and that she decided to stop keeping company with him and advised him so when he telephoned her at home Saturday evening. After the phone conversation she bathed and then heard a knock at the door.”
“Putting on a housecoat, I opened the door,” police quoted her as saying, “Mr. Royal was on the porch and stepped back as though to hide. He had a knife in his hand. I asked him what he wanted.
“He replied: ‘I want to talk to you.’ ‘I told him I didn’t want to have anything more to do with him.'”
“He said: ‘I’m going to kill you,'”
“‘I ran into the living room, screaming for help, hoping the neighbors would hear me and respond. Carl followed me into the house and caught me. He cut my throat.'”
Slashed Second Time
“‘I broke loose and ran to the front door. He caught me and slashed my face and finger. I got loose and ran into the next-door yard where I collapsed.'”
“Jackson Irvin, 1219 11th st, and Joseph Antis, 1231 St, Patrick ct, who happened to be passing the house, told police that Mr. Royal stabbed himself in the living room, fell, got up, staggered to the porch, stabbed himself again and fell.”
“When Patrolmen Vogel and Feazell arrived in response to the call they found Mr. Royal lying unconscious on the porch and Miss Downes lying in the yard. They summoned Lynn and Glynn & Brock ambulance by radio through the police desk sergeant.”
“Dr. Berndt happened to be passing the scene and stopped to give medical aid. He told police Mr. Royal died as he was placed on the ambulance cot. Dr. Berndt then hurried to the hospital and attended Miss Downes.”
“She was slashed low across the throat. The wound was about six inches long and missed the jugular vein by less than one sixteenth of an inch. She also was cut across the left jaw and a finger on her left hand was cut.”
“Mr. Royal was stabbed four times in the left chest, near the heart. He used an ordinary heavy pocket knife with a blade about three inches long.”
“Coroner Virgil E. Fowler gave a verdict of suicide following attempted murder.”
“Patrolman Downes said he was home when Mr. Royal telephoned and summoned his daughter to the phone. He left the house and walked to the Eagles’ club room at Gallia and Sinton sts and about 10 minutes later was summoned home when the cutting occurred.”
“‘I didn’t know my daughter was having difficulties with Mr. Royal,” Mr. Downes said, “But today she told me they had quarreled and that he had threatened her life.'”
“Since the death of Mrs. James Downes three years ago, Mr. Downes and his daughter have lived together in their home at 1215 11 st.”
First Aid Saves Victim
“Mr. Johnson, whose alertness, quick thinking and knowledge of first aid were credited with saving Miss Downes’ life, acquired his skill in the Boy Scouts and the navy.”
“Telling of the incident today, he said he was standing at the corner of of 11th and Waller streets when he saw the crowd gathering.”
“‘I went over to see what the excitement was about,'” he related, ‘and I saw Miss Downes sitting in the front yard, about to fall over.'”
“‘I knew something had to be done quickly to stop the bleeding. First I tried to find the pressure points to stop the blood. I tried the arteries, and that didn’t do the trick. Finally I found that pressure on a vein at the base of her throat was what was needed. I kept pressing there with my fingers.'”
“‘Mr. Johnson, who is married and has a baby boy, spent two and a half years in the navy from July, 1943, to December, 1945. He was a radar operator. He is an employee of the Harbison-Walker Refractories plant here.
Born In City
“Mr. Royal was born on Eighth st Jan. 4, 1915, and attended Portsmouth schools. He joined the army in June 1942, and was promoted to sergeant in the infantry. He served three years overseas in England, France, and Germany and was discharged in November, 1945.”
“While attending the trade school he roomed at 913 11th st.”
“He visited his father’s home Friday night and planned to accompany his father home from work at Portsmouth Steel Corp., where he is a yard master, Sunday morning to spend the day at the farm.”
“‘Carl was in good spirits,'” Mr. Royal said, “when he visited my home Friday night. I knew he was keeping company with Miss Downes, but he didn’t mention anything about a break in their friendship.”
“‘I don’t know why he did it. It’s hard to believe. I know he drank occasionally and maybe wine caused him to lose his reason.'”
“Mr. Royal was at work in the steel plant yard when notified of the tragedy.”
“Carl Royal’s mother1 died in 1930. Beside his father and stepmother, he is survived by two brothers and two sisters. Leroy Royal of Lorain, Mrs. Roy Rockwell, 2116 1/2 Gallia st, Mrs. Lorain Chadwell of Louisville and George Royal, who served three years in the navy, during the war, and enlisted in the army. He is stationed at Ft Sill, Oklahoma.”
“The body will remain at Glynn & Brock funeral home, where funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 Tuesday. Interment will be in Mt. Zion cemetery, Ky.” 2.
- June Kammer Royal
- Murder attempt climaxed by man’s suicide. (1947, June 30). Portsmouth Times.
