The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-27
MURDERED FOR MONEY.
A New Westminster COurtesan
Strangled to Death.
MAY HUNTERS LAST VISITOR.
An Italian Miner Fatally Shoots q
Man at Wilkeson and Escapes.
Farmers Alliance Agitator Sues a
Newspaper for Exposing Him-Two
Actors of the "WiIkinson's Widows"
Company Have a Fight.

NEW WESTMINSTER, Feb. 26.-[Special. /
Ihe city was startled today at noon by a
report that woman of ill-fame had been
murdered in her room on Blackie street.
One OF the women of the house rapped at
the door of the room occupied bv MAY
Hunter, alias May Todhunter, and. getting
no reply, tried to enter, but the door was
locked inside. Becoming alarmed, the in
mates summoned the police and Constable
Box responded. In the meantime a
Chinese servant had entered the apart
ment by side door. which communicates
directly from the street, and found the
door of the bedroom locked. He m
locked it, and when the constable entered
he discovered that terrible tragedy had
taken place.
Lying on the bed, face downward. with
her feet on the pillows, was the lifeless
body of May Hunter, an unfortunate
woman of ill-fame, who has been a resi-
dent of Swantown for about eighteen
months. Her feet were tied with a small
towel Just above the ankles, and the flesh
OF the lower part of the legs was discolored.
evidently by stagnation of blood. Her
head was almost over the foot of the bed.
the clothes OF which were in general dis
order. Very little clothing was on the
pody, and to all appearances a violent
struggle had taken place. The face was
very much discolored, while from the nos
trils small quantity of blood had oozed
ana clotted. Traces of blood were also
visible on the cheeks.
From the appearance of the face it was
evident that death had been caused by
suftocation, and the distortion and dis
coloration OF the lips led to the same SUD-
position. The body was still warm. The
room in which the body lay was in a state
oil great disorder. Wearing apparel was
strewn over the chairs and lying scattered
about the room. A small drawer in the
dressing table had been forced open and
the broken lock was hanging inside. In
TINS drawer the deceased usually kept her
money and other valuables but only 25-
cent piece was found. 1t is known that
she had large amount of money in notes
yesterday, and the murderer's object was
robbery. In the drawer were found
small Bible, several passages of which
were marked, two empty purses, both
open, and lot ofletters. No other drawer
in the room had been opened. which
would make it clear that the murderer and
robber knew where the unfortunate
woman kept her valuables DR.. Mclean
was summoned by the chief of police, and
after making brief examination and
finding life extinct made statement that
he did not think death had been caused
by poisoning.
The house was occupied by two other
women, Birdie Kazar and Edith Smith,
who were both placed under arrest. Edith
says she knocked at May Hunters door at
II 80 this morning. shortly after she had
come downstairs, but could get no re-
sponse. Noticing that the door was locked
from the inside, she redoubled her knocks.
and Birdie kazar and the Chinaman, COM
ing to the door, raped also, but could get
no reply. The Chinaman then went to the
side door, but could not open it. The
women then left the house and went over
to livery stable to summon the police,
and few minutes later the Chinaman,
going to the side door again to force an
entrance, found it unfasteued, and enter
ing, unlocked the inside door
Deceased woman went to bed at / O'Clock
this morning. She was in an excited con-
dition last night, and evidently expecting
some person to come for her and take her
out. Her bonnet, cloak and gloves were
laid out ready for use, and she wore a
handsome walking dress. Up to l O'Clock
her expected visitor did not put in an ap-
pearance, but as her room communicated
directly with the street it is possible she
admitted some one after that hour. The
other inmates of the house heard no sound
OF q struggle or other noise to excite their
suspicion during the night or this fore
noon.
May Hunter, alias Todhunter, was of
German extraction, and 35 years of age.
Her parents reside in Chicago, where it is
believed her husband and children are
also living at present. She is supposed to
have deserted her husband several wears
ago, and has led life of shame ever since
a photograph album found in her room
contained pictures of her father, husband
and child and number of friends. She
was a woman of prepossessng appear
ance, slightly built and of medium height.
Her hair and complexion were light and
her eyes dark blue. On the street she was
always carefully dressed and gave little
outward evidence of the life she led. An
inquest Will be held tomorrow,