The herald., 1896-09-11
William j. Kearse Shot and In
stantIy Killed
THE KILLING UNSUITABLE
He Had Repeatedly Threatene Violence
to His Wife and Others
Slain While Attempting to Force an Entrance
to His Father.in.law's House. Liquor
Was the Cause Of the Trouble

Special to The Herald.
SANTA MONICA, Sept 10.-William
I. Kearse was shot and instantly killed
by his father-in-law, Capt. j. M. Nor
ris, about $50 tonight at the residence
of Capt Morris OH Fourth street. Mr..
Kearse has been on q debauch ever
since Sunday, and had repeatedly
threatened his wifes and father-in-
laws lives, his wife being compelled to
flee from home to her fathers house for
protection several times recently On
last Monday night Kearse followed ner
and threatened their lives with carv-
ing knife. Yesterday morning kearse
in drunken frenzy, choked his Wite
and threatened to beat out her brains
with a beer bottle. She fled from the
store at 208 Third street to the resi-
dence of her parents, where the nus
band followed with threats against her
and her father and mother. Officers
We're called, who induced KearSe to de-
sist in his attempt at violence. He went
back to the store, locked himself in for
time, and then went to the races.
About $3.50 the affair eliminated in the
tragedy by Kearse approaching the
rear door and forcing an entrance. He
was met by Capt. Morris, who shot him
twice in the right breast with double
barreled shotgun. Kearse dropped to
the floor of the rear porch and expired
after a few gasps. His remains were
conveyed to Guidinger's undertaking
parlors and the coroner was notified.
Capt Morris, being interviewed by
pynrngSpd
the step he had been obliged to take,
but said that his daughters life was
more precious to him than his own life.
(By the Associated Press.) William
Ivens Kearse was shot and instantly
killed by j. M. Morris, a cement con-
tractor, at the home of the latter here
about $3.50 this evening. Kearse was
the husband of Morris STEP daughter,
who has millinery store here. Morris
gave himself up. but was told by an
officer to go home. and would be sent for
when wanted. A few evenings since.
Kearse, while unde~ t-e influence Of
liquor, quarreled W IS wife and Mr..
and Mrs. Morris, q RS. Kearse went
home with her l..~-ler for safety.
Toward midnight Kearse broke into
Morris residence and attacked Morris
with knife. Morris shot once or more
at random, and officers interfered after
Morris. had struck Kearse with the butt
of pistol. Ever since then Kearse has
threatened to kill his fatherin-law.
and called several times this afternoon
at his home, but was told that Morris
was in Los Angeles. About noon Kearse
attacked his own wife, choking and
striking her and she escaped and fed
to her mother for safety. This evening
Kearse went to Morris house and at
| tempted to break in the door Capt.
| Morris warned him to desist, but lie
| continued the assault on the door, with
| the results above given The two fam
| lilies have resided here about a year.
Kearse was a man about 40 years ct
age, said to have been wealthy and of
Irish nobility but claimed to have lost
heavily in stocks about the time his
wife opened the millinery store. He was
very gentlemanly when sober, but
very fiend when drunk