New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-03
SHOT AT "LUCKY" BALDWIN.
EMMA ASHLEY ATTEMPTS TO KILL HIM
IN COURT.
THE BULLET GRAZEs HIS HEAD AND HIS BROTH
ERIN-LAw wRENCHEs THE PISTOL FROM
THE wOMAN-A DUEL PREVENTED
BY JUDGE SLACK.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuS

[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
San Francisco. July 2.-No one can say after
to-day that Lucky" Baldwin Is not fairly
named for the old millionaire had one Of those
hairbreadth escapes from death which are so
often read Of in romances and seldom seen
In real life. Without warning and without any
chance OF escape ne fired upon in open
court this morning. and only the elevation OF the
barrel on the pistol due to hardness OF the trigger
caused the bullet to plough along the top Of his
head Just grazing the sl<in, instead OF lodging
In the brain. at which It aimed.
For three weeks the case OF Lillian Ash
ley against f. J. Baldwin for SO 900 for alleged
breach Of promise Of marriage has been on trial
in Judge Sack's Court. The Judge tried to have
the case heard with closed DOORS but az one
newspaper printed full reports he finally or
dered II heard In public. The testimony against
Miss Ashleys character has been damaging. but
she has seemed TO mind this less than her sister,
Emma, who for several days has acted Queerly
and has been noticed TO spend much time read
ing a Testament. which she carried In small
handbag. Two days ago Emma changed her
seat 80 as to be directly behind Baldwin. and
separated from him by about six feet and the
railing which incloses the space for lawyers.
Baldwin suspected that she pretended TO be read
Ing merely 10 edNeSuTOp, ana W0TneQ MS COunStl
against her
To-day she came IN as usual and took her seat
behind the rail. Baldwin sat Just in front, with
his back toward her. At side and nearer to
the woman sat H. A. Unruh Baldwins brother
in-aw. and general business manager, who has
charge OF all the millionaire's interests on this
coast. Unruh Is in his prime, tail. dark. thin and
nervous OF great strength and courage. he
has proved in a number Of ugly fights In Los
Angeles
DID EMMA TAKE A CUE?
Lillian Ashley on the witness stand. She
was explaining about n photograph Of herself
exhibited by one OF Baldwns witnesses. She
said it must have been snapshot taken without
her consent.
AS she repeated the words snap shot very
clearly, Emma pulled a revolver from the small
bag she carried. rose from her chair. took aim
with both hands and fired straight at Baldwin's
head The bullet Just clipped the hair on the old
mans head and lodged in the wall making a
hole like a Winchester rife ball
Quick as a fash rnruh jumped up. whirled
around and grab the woman she was pre-
pairing to fire a second shot.
She is tall. standing about feet inches
and powerfully developed. She made lively
fight to retain her pistol. but Unruh wrenched
It from her hands and held It aloft. ready to
drop it to a level and fire should any one attack
him. Mr. Crittenden, Lillian Ashley's counsel
shouted 10 Unruh to let the woman alone, at the
same time reaching for his hip pocket where he
carried a pistol. 1t looked as though there
would be a duel between the two men. but the
Judge leapei between them and ordered Crit
tenden to give up his pistol
BALDWIN RACES AND CURSES.
Meanwhile Baldwin. cursng horribly. jumped
over the railing and pursued Emma Ashley who
ran TO the end Of the room. Baldwin begged
for pistol shouting: Let me Kill her lie
evidently thought she still had her pistol, for
when he closed with her he seized her by poth
arms. and held her till hailih took her II,
charge Baldwin was in a fighting mood ana
he varied swearing at the woman by curslns
Mr. Crittenden. He finally taken away by
his friends. ~ ,,
In the matron's room. she astOnished all present
bv singing Nearer. My God. TO Thee. she re-
ouested that her Testament be given to her put
the police refused.
Her pistol was 3S-calibre doube-action
hve-shooter Four barrels were found loaded.
II works hard the trigger. and TO TINS CIT
cumstance Baldwin probably owes his IRE
When seen in 1ail this afternoon Emma Ashley
discussed her crime calmly. but expressed no re-
gret She said that she had eaten little TOT three
days. and had had no eleep as she sS nau Dseii ~
caring for her sisters sick child. She refused u
sav whom she bought her pistol from. but ad-
mitted that she had had II about three weeks
SORRY SHE DID NOT KILL HIM
She said "I am sorry that didn't Kill Bald
win I felt that had a divine commission 70
remove him. No one knew anything about my
purpose. and ! can't remember what prompted
me to shoot him to-day. For some time have
decided TO kill him. but ] guess the nasty ques-
tions they asked me yesterday must have nerVed
me to do It. They may send me to san eulnlah,
I ca1ft he On
am now and maybe ! can be a missionary In
prison and convert some of the convicts.
Lillian Ashley deplored her s: 9ters act when,
sba said voud hurt her case She added: mo
one knew that Emma thought of such foolish
thing We have money to hire lawyer for
her and don't know what 10 do.
RESCUE WORK GOING on SLOWLY.