The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-22

Aweng were found in small bedroom at
2O5 Seventh street last evening, at Z
o'clock.
The woman had been murdered bv
Shepherd, who for many months had
posed as her friend and protector, and he
| then committed suicide, using a keen
edged razor, the same weapon with which
he had murdered Mrs. Aweng. to do the
deed.
The couple had not been seen since 7
o'clock yesterday morning, and as no
sound was heard coming from their apart
ments during the day the suspicious o.
those occupying the upstairs rooms were
aroused. Last evening NJ. s. Norton and
Mrs. S. Derman concluded to investigate
They entered the front door OF the build
ing, but on reaching the bedroom door, at
the end of the hallway, they found it
locked. This being unusual, they forced
the lock and were Mortified at the CHASTITY
spectacle of the double tragedy.
Word was Immediately sent to the Gen.
trail Police Station and from there to the
Coroner's Office. Deputy Coroners ]. G..
Tyrrell and l.. McInnes went to the scene
of the crime and removed the remains to
the Morgue.
When discovered the body of the MUIR
dered woman was lying on the bed, her
face turned slightly to the left. She was
attired in her nightdress, and was proba-
BILE asleep when the crime was committed.
A fearful cash in her throat, which
nearly severed the head from the BODY,
showed only too plainly how she had met
her death. Mrs. Aweng had been an
invalid for some time, and near her
bed was large bouquet OF Gala lilies.
She turned toward the flowers, probably,
Just as the knife severed the veins and
arteries in her neck and the bouquet was
drenched with her blood.
Shepherd, the murderer and suicide,
was lying on his face between the bed and
the south wall of the room. He had cut
his own throat in a manner more shock
ing even than he did the woman's.
When an attempt was made to Eft the
remains into the receiver it was found
that death had taken place many hours
before the discovery of the body A razor
was discovered clenched between the stii-
fened fingers of the man. So tight was
the grasp that for time they absolutely
refused TO release the death-inflicting
weapon.
What motive could have prompted
Shepherd to commit the murder and then
kill himself? This is a mystery; but it is
presumed that the murderer was tempo-
rarily insane at the time he committed the
deed. Mrs. Aweng was addicted to the
use of morphine in life. and as it is known
that Shepherd was a spiritualist and op-
posed to the use of any drug. this fact
may have led to the murder.
In a notebook found by the side of the
murderer's body is scrawled note which
gives strength to this theory. 1t reads as
follows: blessing. Depend on God.
Christ the spirits; may his will be done.
God commands no morphine. Inspira-
tional doctor clairvovant."
Shepherd probably went into the
woman's room and detected her in the
act of taking dose of morphine, and be-
coming angered cut her throat and then
his own.
Shepherd often posed as Mrs. Aweng's
cousin, but it is not believed that any re-
lationship, other than mere friendship.
existed between them. Mrs. Aweng often
went by the name of Mrs. Hader, which
was her first husbands name. He has
been dead for many years.
l.. E. Aweng, the husband of the muir
dered woman, is at present residing in
the State OF Sonora, Mexico, and letter