The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-24
KILLED HER HUSBAND.
FOUR SHOTS, FIRED WHEN HIS BACK
WAS TURNED, DID THE WORK.
She Claims That His Brutal Treatment Had
Wrought Her Up to Such State That
She Failed to Recognize the
Enormity of the Crime.

GALVESTON, Tex, Sept. 2l.-This
morning about 6:15 o'clock Kessie
Williams shot and killed her hus-
band, Mike Williams. They are ne
grOes, and the shooting occurred at
their house on Avenue o and One
half, between Twenty-tifth and
Twenty-sixth streets. When the po-
lice arrived at the house, shortly after
the shooting, they found Williams
lying on his back with four bullet
wounds in his body. One shot had
struck him in the back of the head,
two had entered his back between his
shoulders, and another passed through
one Of his thighs. BY his side was
found new 48 calibre Colts revolver.
When Mrs. Williams was interro-
gated by the officers she said she was
standing by the bureau when she
heard shot which startled her so
that she fell in a swoon. The other
shots followed in quick succession.
When she recovered consciousness
she saw her husband down
on his hands and knees. Her
little daughter coming in at this time,
she sent her over to her fathers resi-
dence for him to come over, which he
did, and took Williams, who was
dying, and laid him on his back so he
could breathe easier.
All the shots being in the back, the
police discredited the woman's story
and took her into custody. After
being arrested she admitted she did
she said that she
married Williams five years
ago, after getting divorce from her
former husband, Carr; that until
about three weeks ago their married
life had been happy and peaceful
one. Then Williams began to neglect
and abuse her, and accused her Of in
fidelity, and got pistol and told her
he was going to "kill negro with
it," Then he bought a pistol and re-
peated the same threats and began to
rink and abuse her more frequently
and threatened to leave her. She
thought it strange that he should
jreat her so. Last night he left, osten- [
,ibly to go to church, and she deter
mined to see whether he went or not.
after he left, she started to J
ook for him and found him at Geo.
Davis on Avenue Ell, paying assiduous |
attention to another woman. She t
vent in and told him she wanted him 7
o come home with her, when he {
lmped up and seized and threatened e
o whip her, if she did not go home. r
She refused to go unless he went, il
nd held onto him until they got 2
inside the gate, when he drew his S
,volver and threatened to kill her. a
fter much persuasion and frequent "
treats on Williams part that he u
ould kill her, she got him home, and I
Q went to bed, putting the revolver a
nder his pillow, vowing he would il
ave her in the morning and go and %
We with the other woman. She set v
p, afraid to go to bed for fear he t,
light kill her while she was asleep. i
Finally he compelled her to come t.
bed, and while he was asleep W
lie slipped the pistol from beneath |
is pillow and hid it in the lounge. a.
This morning when he got up and il
und his pistol gone he began abus- 81
Ig her and told her that he would b
md for his mother; that he was 60 il
e with the other woman and never Il
ould have anything to do with her tC
gain, and wrought her up tt
such a frenzy that when IL
is back was turned she W
,ized the pistol and fired until every Il
ariel was empty, and then dropped Il
| a swoon, hardly realizing what She
ad done. Mrs. Williams is comedy b,
oking mulattO, 26 years old, while to
or husband was q years old, and w
orked on the Mallory wharf. She is n;
cid on a charge of murder and will of
ave a preliminary examination to- w
Orrow. sr
-.->e- tin