The herald., 1895-07-27
MRS. LUCK Slips OPENED
For the First Time Since
the Tragedy She Talks
OF THE ALMOST FATAL ASSAULT
She Processes Ignorance as to
the Cause
RELATIONS WITH OTHERS
WITH OTHERS
As Far as They Went Were Known to
Her Husband
Silent When Asked Regarding Third Party
in the Affair
She Is Still Ignorant Of the Fact That Her
Husband Is Dead snd Sends Frequent
Messages of Regard and For.
givencss s-Her Condition


swer to a request that she make a stat ts-
ment of the recent tragedy in which her
husband, John G.. Luck, came so near
killing her and then took his own life,
she gave the following account of the
affair and the circumstances leading up
to it:
John ana never quarieled during
our married life. There was an ncompat.
ibility of temperament between US which
had been manifest for more than two
years. We both recognized the fact, and
on that account had agreed to separate,
and in fact had formally separated, and
he had moved, taking his belongings
with him, to the Revere house. / was
willing to be his friend, and never once
dreamed that he intended to do me harm.
1 had been sick for five weeks when this
happened.
Thursday evening, July 18th, John
came in to see me. He was drinking,
which was something l had never known
him to do before. We talked together in
a friendly manner, and lie went away ap-
parently happy. Friday morning at 6
o'clock he came again to my room. Mrs.
Metcalf, my nurse, was sleeping with me.
She went to the door, and John asked
her if she would leave the room, saying
that he desired to see me alone. When
he came in he looked so badly felt sorry
for him. placed a pillow for him on
the bed near me, and after little time
he became quieter. He wanted me to
promise that l would live with him
again, and always. We finally decided to
go down to San Diego to visit my sister
and talk the matter over with her.
"He ate breakfast in the room with me.
l sat up in bed and ted him. He ate very
heartily, no. having taken any dinner
py, and as he left the room to go to the
stoie kissed me as he said good.by. That
was at 7:30.
At 8 O'Clock he returned to the room.
He said he was not feeling well. and re
quested Mrs. Metcalf to go to the store and
tell his employer that he would not BIZ
back until - O'Clock.
II think he came back with his mind
made up to kill me because no looked and
acted queerly. When talked to him he
would not answer, and he gazed at me so
strangely. He said little except to ask
me to promise to live.with him again for
ever.
In course Of time I asked him to go
out and get me pitcher of water. He
took the pitcher and fairly ran from the
room. Soon he returned without the
pitcher. but went back to get it. AS he
came in he put down the transom and
my bed, still grasping the pitcher handle.
l could not believe my eyes when he
raised the pitcher to strike me. l was
dazed by the first blow. but l remember
being struck after wards on the back of
the head. In a second I came to, jumped
off the bed and reached the door, where l
saw him take the razor from his pocket.
Then realized that he intended to mur-
der me. | screamed wildly. He caught
me about the waist sand attempted to
throw me back on the bed. I clung to
the door knob and succeeded in unlocking
the door. AS he opened the razor he said,
'Ill fix you.'
He tried to cut my throat, but l threw
my head forward. Then he caught me by
the hair. which was Endres ed, and sawed
back and forth on the side of my neck, as
though he intended to cut my bead off.
=! think he came up with the intention
of killing me IN the early morning, but
his courage failed him."
When questioned regarding third
party in the affair, Mrs. Luck said she
did not desire to make any statement.
further than this: That she never de-
ceived her husband in anything. Her
relations with others, as far as they vent,
were fully known to Mr.. Luck. and were
at no time tho subject of dispute or
trouble.
''In fact" said she, 1--WE never had
any trouble-tnat is, violent or quarrel
some trouble. Our disagreement came
about gradually through long succession
of events. l cannot assign any motive
tor Mr.. Luck's fearful assault 2"
Thus far Mrs. Luck has been kept in
ignorance of her husbands death. She
makes frequent inquiry regarding his
welfare, and often sends MIN messages of
regard and forgiveness. Her condition
has 50 far improved as to ielieve her
friends Of further anxiety for her recov-
cry. though she is still very low and suf-
fering great pain.