The herald., 1896-08-25

moored to the end of the small pier
from which II Is reached by means OF
gangway, the whole affair being called
Duffy's landing. Upon the barge john
son was standing as the slSiff drew up
alongside, and, although unseen to Mrs.
Lane. he had his revolver in his hand.
Ed Duffy, one of the proprietors of the
ferry, was standing on the pier near the
rangway when he noticed Johnson as
the boat touched the barge unwrappfng
something he had rolled up in news
paper and had been carrying in his
hand. He saw the revolver as 1t was
exposed, and started at once to inter
fere. AS Mrs. Lane stepped on the float
johnson approached and asked her
when she was going to pay him that S2oO,
his share of the property he had been
allotted. She replied, Wait spell;
I'll give it ito you as soon ASH can get
it,
Duffy meanwhile had anticipated what
was coming and was rushing down the
gang plank toward Johnson. The lat
ter then raised his gun and pointed II at
Duffy. as though about to fire. Then ne
remembered the boatman, Cormack'Who
had stepped onto the float from the
skiff. and wheeled toward him. Mrs.
Lane. meanwhile, was trying to screen
herself behind the frail support OF an
awning which was hung out over the
Noat AS Johnson wheeled toward the
boatman Duffy grappled with him and
endeavored to wrest the weapon from
his grasp. The men staggered and
ttaa
oring to throw his opponent into the
water, and Johnson trying to free ms
pistol arm.
At last he did so, and aimed shot at
Mrs. Lane with deadly effect Ihe pui-
let struck the unfortunate woman IN the
left arm, passed through and entered
the chest at the side just below the heart,
and cut a clean path from one SIDE OIL
the body to the other, making its exit
almost directly on the same line on the
opposite side. With shrek she Iei
over into the water, but was dead' 1or
her body did not sink, but floated with
ont motion.
For moment Duffy was paralyzed as
he heard the shot, but did not at the
time know what had been done with
great effort he threw Johnson from MN
the meurderer also falling off he barge
but landing in the skiff which was ueu
there No further attention was pald
to him at the moment as Duffy and Cor
mack devoted their attention to pulling
the body of Mrs Lane out of the water
When they laid her form on the float she
was y corpse.
THE SUICIDE.
.yoS ba;pr 6ro eyed
from the steamer Johnson turned his
murderous weapon on himselt as ne
struggled to his knees in the bottom OF
the boat. Placing the muzzle to his head
he pulled the trigger three times, the car
tridges missing fire each time Al the
fourth trial the weapon exploded, the
bullet entering the right side OF the
head above the temple. Still anotherr re-
port rang out and Johnson dropped dy-
ing to the bottom of the boat, the last
ball having gone clear through the
brain from point back of the right ear
When he was lifted from the skin he
was still alive but unconscious and MS
bleeding body was carried to the jail
where he expired some three hours later
The body of Mrs. Lane was removed
to the office of DR.. w. A. Weldon and her
husband was notified of the tragedy. Mr..
Lane was almost prostrated with his
grief and the sNane when he was con-
fronted with the body of his wife was
heartrending. Johnson was considered
a good but worthless sort of
fellow, but his former wife was beloved
by all who knew her. many of her
friends expressing their qualification
when the ties that bound her to johnson
were broken and she was united to Lane
who is we'll thought of in San Pedro
Coroner Campbell was summoned by
telephone and went down on the lao
train, holding both inquests on his ar
rival. The story of the tragedy was told
by the eye witnesses and a verdict was
quickly arrived at. Johnson was ac-
cused of the murder of Mrs. Lane and
certificate stating that the cause of
death was gunshot wound inflicted
with suicidal intent was issued in his
case. The body of Mrs. Lane will be
brought to this citytor interment, that
of Johnson will probably be buried by
the county as he left no funds.