The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-24
A CASE FOR MUCH INQUIRY.

Coroner Hughes will make = searching
inouiry into the death of Mrs. Kate Travis,
and will attempt TO solve the mystery sur
rounding it. All of the neighbors in the
vicinity of 500 Baker street, where Mrs.
Travis was found dead with a bullet
wound in her head, will be summoned to
the inquest to throw what light they may
throw on the case.
John Travis, the husband OF the dead
woman, asserts that she committed SUI
eide. Alice Mckenzie, sister OF Mrs.
Travis, declares that she did not. says she
was the victim of muTGer and demands
an investigation.
Statements made by John Travis shortly
after his wife was found dead are posi-
lively denied by others. Travis declared
that he walked across the street 10 the
building of the Aid Society for the purpose
of telephonng for doctor, but that he
could not arouse any one IN the building
10 secure an entrance.
This is fatty denied by those in charge
of the aid society. The death of Mrs.
Travis took place between 6 and o'clock
Tuesday evening Up to 7:30 o'clock some
one is always in attendance in the Office
of the aid society, which opens directly
from the hall near the front door, and up
to O'clock IN the evening there are al
ways attendants in the front portion of the
building. The bell, which is rung by an
electric button. is q loud one and can be
heard in almost any portion of the house.
1t is positively denied at the premises of
the aid society that this bell was rung on
Tuesday night.
Mrs. Harmon, the wife of Police Ser
gesnr Harmon, residing at 1410 Grove
street, was aroused about o'clock Tues
day evening by caller at her house. who
declared that woman had been murdered
at the Travis saloon.
81 went over 10 the building" said Mrs.
Harmon, "but did not GO in at first. as
there seemed to be no one but men inside
the building, but after little l entered. l
asked Mr.. Travis or some one there to
bring some water. that might battle the
womsn'S head and revive her. l did not
know then where she had been shot. She
was lying on her right side on the floor.
Some one had placed a pillow under her
head. AS l bathed her face / noticed that
it was warm. l then felt her pulse, but
the hands were cold and lifeless, and l was
satisfied that the woman was dead. While
L was Lu6IO 6NGly Ouo SCoIbu W USIloN6
that it was case of suicide"
Sergeant Harmon, who accom- panied his
wife to 500 Baker street. is disposed to re-
gard the death as a suicide, though he
admits his opinion may be wrong.
THE wound" said he, was in the right
side OF the head above the temple 1t could
have been easily seIf-inf1icted. The woman
fell on her right side and the pistol was
lying beneath her on the floor. The face
and head were so covered with blood that
could not say whether the wound was
pOwder-burned or not. l asked Travis
if he had ever had trouble with bis wife.
He told me that he had not. He declared
that she was not drinking woman, and
that ne could give o reason why she should
have killed herself. l asked him if she
ever appeared Eighty. and he told me that
she had at times"
Mrs. Harmon added that she noticed
particularly that the woman had not re-
moved her hat or veil. but that she had
taken off her gloves. ''for l remember no.
ticing that she wore ring" said she.
DR.. Henry Meyer, who was summoned
to attend the woman, stated that the
wound could easily have been self
infected. 81 answered the call immedi-
ateIy when summoned" said he, ''but
found that the woman was dead. AS [
could be of no assistance l left shortly
afterward. The head was so covered with
blood that l could not say whether any
powder burns were near the wound or
not"
The inquest will begin to-day and will
he watched with much interest.
The saloon which Travis keeOs ia the
one of which Paddy RYAN, the pugilist,
was for some time the proprietor.
One of the stTangest features of the case
is that Travis told Sergeant Harmon that
he did not hear the shot which killed his
wife, but entered the room and found her
dying or dead.