The herald., 1896-11-04

blood and with malice aforethought,
Barthelman sending four shots from his
murderous revolver at his ex-wife, at
least two of which took effect, each in
fiicting fatal wound. After his dead
lY work. the assassin made good his es
cape, and although officers secured the
city and blocked every avenue of es-
cape. up to late hour Barthelman had
not been captured.
1t was three years ago last Christmas
that pretty Mabel Holden was welded
to John Barthelman in the home of her
parents on Emerald street. between Sec
ond and Third, the same house to which
she was conveyed. fatally wounded,
last evening. Barthelman is a German,
about 32 years of age, of good appear
ance, and a fluent talker, although he
speaks with a decided accent His wife
was raised in this city and welded him
at the home of her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. II. w. Holden He has for years
been employed by the Singer Sewing
Machine company as agent, and was
considered good man.
After their marriage the couple lived
With the old folks for several years, but
after the first few months did not get
along well together. Barthelman had
an uHSONerHaDle temper, ana although
he did not lay violent hands on his wife,
he often abused her shamefully using
the harshest and foulest language to-
ward her The couple finally left the
old home and took rooms in a flat at the
corner of Seventh and Broadway. They
have but one child a sweet little girl
named Dorothea. now almost years of
ege
Last March Mrs Barthelman, unable
to longer endure her husbands abuse,
left him and returned to her parents
home, taking with her her child. Di-
vorce proceedings were instituted and
about month ago she was granted her
decree on the grounds of cruelty by de-
fault, Barthelman failing to answer in
court. The custody of the child was
also awarded to her, although provision
wassmade by which the father was al
lowed possession of the baby one day
each week and to be allowed to see it at
reasonable times. This has been the
status of matters of late, and it was on
account OF quarrels arising over the
possession of the child that the fatal
shooting took place.
For some months Mrs. Barthelman
has been employed in the cloak and suit
department of the dry goods store of ].
IT. Steward and 1t was while on her wav
home from work that she was shot. Ever
since the divorce was granted Barthel-
man has often called at her parents
house and was there last Friday night.
He had the baby away over Sunday and
on Monday evening returned it and staid
for a time talking with Mabel and her
parents. 1t was his desire that he should
be permitted to tage the child himself.
but this the mother stoutly refused to
allow.
Mrs Barthelman had an intimate
friend. also employed in the store nam
ed Miss Lord, who often went home with
her and spent the night. This she agreed
to do last evening and as soon as their
work for the day was over the two girls
took the Second street electric car for
Mabels home. At the corner of Broad
way Barthelman got on and accosted
them. Miss Lord did not pay particular
attention to their conversation, but
knew that they were talking about the
baby, Dorothea. At thee orner of Ohio
short walk toward the Holden residence
Out in that section of the city. in the
hills, few of the streets are cut through
or graded Mr.. Holden's house lies at
the bottom of deep gully in the hills
about 200 yards south of Second street.
The house is surrounded by a dense
grove of eucalyptus trees and is reach
ed by g. winding path and wagon road
starting over the hill from Second street.
Up this path the trio started, Barthel-
man and his ex-wife few steps in the
rear of Miss Lord, and engaged in an
animated conversation. She heard him
ask. Mabel twice whether or not she
would give him the child which was re-
fused. They had reached a point half
way up the hill, nearly where the foot
path and wagon road join and about
100 yards from Holden's house.
Suddenly, on her repeated refusal to