The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-25
BEAT HIS WIFE.
John Travis Was Not a
Modes Husband.
KNOCKED HER DOWN ONCE.
inquest in the Strange Case of
Kate Travis.
TESTIMONY POINTS TO A CRIME.
Wrote Her Son, "What a Nice Time
Wen Have When You Come
to Town."
KNOCKED HER DOWN ONCE
TESTIMONY POINTS TO A CRIME.

Whether Mrs. Kate Travis committed
suicide or was Shutdown in cold blood was
the question which Coroner's jury was
called upon to decide yesterday. Mrs.
Travis was found by neighbors last Tues
day evening lying dead in her home at
500 Baker street. 1t was said she shot her.
self. At least such is the story told by
her husband, John Travis, who keeps
saloon at the corner. Subsequent devel-
opments. however, leave room for doubt
in the Coroner's mind regarding the exact
nature of her death.
The friends of Mrs. Travis are remark
ably positive in their assertions that she
was murdered, and it was on account OF
statements made by them that an official
investigation is being held. It developed
yesterday that further evidence beyond
that already secured can be had, and, con-
sequently the inquest was con tinued.
Mrs. Alice Mckenzie of 72S Eleventh
street, Oakland, was the first witness
called. She said she was sister Of Mrs.
Travis 81 saw her in Oakland the day of
her DEATH" said the witness. "The last |
saw of her was on Washington street, Oak
land. a few blocks from the station when
she was going to catch the 4:30 o'clock
boat"
"Was she despondent?" asked the
Coroner.
mo, Sir"
Did she speak of committing suicide?"
Never"
"What did she say to you on Tuesday"
THAT she went shopping, ana what took
place with her husband then was not
pleasant. She said she was expecting her
son up from the country, and was cheerful
and happy that he was coming"
did she ever tell you she had trouble
with her husband?"
''She said her married life was not pleas
ant, and if he only was kind to her she
would live with him, and they could work
together and be happy and contented."
do you know if she kept pistOi?'
mo. She told me her husband had
pistol in his business L don't remembe rthe
circumstance that caused her 10 mention
the pistol. That was two or three months
ago."
"What was the unpleasant way her nus
band acted on the day of her death?"
"She said he had made some unpleasant
remark while she was buying the shoes.
which was very unpleasant but she did
not say what il was" replied the witness,
accenting Every" very positively.
/ Mrs. Eliza Reid. living at 72S Eleventh
street, Oakland, testified that Mrs. Travis
was at her house the day she died. The
deceased said her husband, or John. as she
called him, was aggrieved, was angry at
her for what she had bought. She left
shortly after o'clock.
did she say where she was goingP"
"She said she was going home to get
Johns dinner and was ia hurry"
did she ever talk to you about pis-
rol?"
Yes, when we were speaking about
| burglars some time ago. She said John
had pistol in the barroom."
". J. Reid, husband of the last witness,
stated that Mrs. Travis went to his store
in Oakland few minutes before 80 P. NJ.
Tuesday last, but missed the 4 80 O'Clock
train. She told him that her son as COM
ing TO town Christmas and she wanted
to get place for the boy.
Walter Thorne, a locomotive fireman.
son CT the deceased, was called. He came
up from Fresno on hearing of his mo Their 3
death. Said he:
II got letter from her last Friday ask
ing me when l was going to come to town
to see her. She wrote she was happy and
what a nice time we'd have when | came
down. and hoped l would stay two or three
weeks. / first heard of her death on
| Wednesday morning"
do you know of your own knowled ge
any OF the uDpeasaptness your mother
had with her busband?" juror asked.
eyes, sir. He was easily exasperated
aud abused my mother"
Had liquor anything to do with it?"
"Sometimes; not always"
How long did you live with them ?''
the Coroner said.
Eight months"
"Did they quarrel?"
Eyes; saw him strike her once. When
I came home one night found her crying,
and while L was eating supper he pushed
her up against the table and knocked her
down on the floor, and she lay there for
half an hour. This happened In Greeley,
Colo. He was intoxicated, / believe, on
that occasion. Another time he abused
her for not taking buttermllk to him when
| he was out in the fields working. She
forgot l.. and at night he abused her before
| the hired man. He abused her frequently
| and used to swear at her. l went TO Fresno
because l wouldn't live in the house"
| Mrs. Annie Harmon of 1410 Grove street
told that she went into the hall of Travis
house on learning that Mrs. Travis was
shot. She found the woman dying, with
| her hat on and her gloves by ner side.
Mrs. Travis was lying on the right side.
There was parcel containing a pair of
shoes beside her head in the hall The