The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20
His Wife SIashed and Hacked
in a Most Shocking
Manner.
THEN CUT HIS OWN THROAT.
There Is Good Prospect OF the
Wife's Recovery, but Little
Hope for Luck.

store, aged 26, attempted in a fit OF jealous
rage to murder his wife and commit sui
eide.
Shortly after o'clock this morning the
inmates of the Johnson House, private
hotel on Fourth street, adjoining the
Westminster, were startled by cries of
''Help! Murder! Murder! Help, for Gods
sake!" uttered by woman's piercing
voice. coming from the room occupied by
the Lucks.
Miss Jennie Schaffer, whose room was
Immediately underneath, and Wella A.
jacobson, the 14-year-old daughter of the
proprietress of the house, rushed up the
stairway.
The Jacobson girl opened the door and
was confronted by most horrible spec
tacle. Luck was partially disrobed, his
face was adame with anger and his whole
demeanor betokened the rage of maniac.
He had his wife by the hair, her head par
TALLY bent forward, and was hacking and
slashing her neck with razor in a f1endish
manner. Blood was streaming over the
clothing of the unfortunate woman and
soaking the carpet, and at every effort she
made to free herself or cry out the blood
would squirt out afresh.
The little girl, with a bravery beyond her
years, rushed in and pushed the man aN ay
from his victim, and Miss Schaffer grasped
Mrs. Luck's clothing and pulled her into
the hallway where they supported her un-
til she could be removed to room.
They had Just rescued Mrs. Luck when
George D. Ruddy, who occupied one of
the adjoining rooms and who had heard
the cry of murder, rushed into Luck's
room only to be confronted with the sight
of Luck slashing away at his throat with
razor. He attempted to disarm him, but
had hard struggle to do so, Luck making
several savage attempts to slash him and
resisting fiercely until Ruddy succeeded in
wrenching the razor from his hand. He
then placed him on the bed, thinking he
was dying, and ran out for medical assist
ance.
No sooner had Ruddy left the room than
Luck arose, and going to the window
opened it and threw himself out head
foremost. He struck on his shoulder and
rolled over, covered with blood and groan-
ing. He was picked up by the attaches OF
the patrol wagon few moments later and
removed to the Receiving Hospital.
In the meantime Mrs. Luck was receiv-
ing attention at the hands OF three physi-
clans, who staunched the flow of blood and
sewed up the wounds. She was entirely
conscious, sand her chief concern seemed
to be about her husband, insisting on his
being cared for first, and exelaiming: "He
is only temporarily insane, and will be all
right in few moments. Go and get him.
My God, what has John donep'
The woman's head was almost severed
from her body, but fortunately no arteries
were cut One cash extended across the
back of her neck severing every muscle,
and was deep enough to expose the spinal
column. Another extended from the right
ear, under the jaw, almost to the chin.
On Luck's arrival at the hospital it was
discovered that he had cut himself deeply
enough to sever the windpipe, and the
operation of tracheotomy was hastily per-
formed by DR.. Bryant, after which his
throat was sewed up and he was made as
comfortable as possible.
Despite the desperate condition of both
they refused to make any statement re-
garding the affair, he expressing indiffer-
ence to his fate, she insisting that she
would live.
just before the tragedy was enacted Luck
was seen entering the hotel, having left his
place of business to go to his wife room.
Shortly afterward he was seen entering
her room with a pitcher of water, which, it
transpires, he smashed over his wife's
forehead, almost Immediately after closing
the door, cutting deep cash in her fore
head, deluging the bed with water and
scattering fragments of the broken pitcher
over the floor. With the crash of the
pitcher came the cry of murder.
What the immediate cause for the crime
was it is impossible to learn. Luck and
his wife have been living apart for some
time, and she has but recently recovered
from a long illness. Mrs. Lena Metcalf
has been her companion most of the time,
and it is said that she is in some way more
or less responsible for this mornings
tragedy.
Mrs. Luck is a very handsome and at
tractive blonde and in company with Mrs.
Metcalf has attended many public balls,
entertainments, etc., giving her husband
no end of trouble and exciting his jealousy.
About six months ago she was intro
duced to wealthy traveller from Chicago,
who became infatuated with her, and they
were frequently seen together. Luck, hear
ing this, threatened to kill both; but the
Eastern man hastily took his departure.
Mrs. Luck corresponded with him, how
ever, and it is surmised that letter from
him which she was reading when Luck
entered the room unawares this morning,
was the direct cause of the murderous
deed.
Luck is a native of Nashville, Tenn, his
father being wealthy manufacturer there.
Four years ago he married his wife, who
was then Miss Lillian Jones, at Santa Cruz.
The couple came here about year ago,
when he secured employment as a sales
man in the Peoples store, where he has
been ever since. He is well spoken of by
associates, and while they deprecate the
butchery OF this morning they feel that
Luck had more than sufficient provocation
for almost any deed. Two of his intimate
friends have prevented him on several oc-
casions from carrying out threats to kill
his wife, and it was only last night that
Luck asked one of them for revolver, say
ing he had stood his wife's actions as long
as he cared to, and was going to finish her.
Mrs. Luck's parents reside at La Grange,
San Joaquin County.
A telegram was received from Luck's