The San Francisco call., 1896-05-11
Her Victims Head Pounded to a
Pulp as He Lay Dead Upon
the Ground.
SHE WAS COOL THROUGHOUT.
Executed the Premeditated Murder
Without a Tremor of Ex.
element.

SAN ANDREAS, CAL, May 10.-Crimi-
nal annals of California do not contain
record of crime that equals the murder of
F. ]. Mitchell by his mother-in-law, Mrs.
C. Z. Halliday, at West Point, on Thurs
day. The aged woman, in avenging the
alleged wrongs of her daughter, who we'd
ded Mitchell when he already had wife
living, became transformed into demon
ess, taking the life of her victim in a
manner indescribably ferocious and re-
voting. Not satisfied with blowing out
his brains and sending charge of shot
through his heart, she clubbed his head
into pulp, striking it with her gun until
the weapon was in splinters. During all
this time she was apparently cool-a cal
culating, determined Nemesis.
Mrs. Halliday and her son-in-law,
Mitchell, alias Trewick, had been quarrel.
ing in the morning prior to his going to
work, and some hot words passed between
them. Mitchell took the lunch Mrs. Hal
laday put up for him and started for his
work. Shortly after his leaving the
woman went to a neighbor and borrowed
muzzle-ioading shotgun, stating that
she wished to shoot few quail. She then
went TO hardware-store and bought some
powder. She filled the palm of her hand
with powder and poured 1t into one bar
rel, then put a like amount into the other.
She called for buckshot, but the clerk said
there was none, SO she took the largest
size they had-No. 4. Both barrels re-
ceived handful.
After loading the gun Mrs. Halliday
started for the Granite mine. On the way
she met several friends and told them she
was going TO "fix' the man who had
ruined her family.
Mitchell and a companion were chop
ping wood near the mine when the woman
appeared. She called him and he laid
down his ak and went to her. They sat
down and talked for some time, being
close enough to Mitchell's companion for
him to hear all they said. Suddenly the
woman drew up the gun and before
Mitchell could stop her (they were but
four feet apart) she fired. Mitchell saw
what was coming and put his hand in
| front of his face as if to shield it. The
charge went through his hand and struck
him in the forehead. The next charge
struck him in the chest, making fright
full gap.
| The woman then took the gun and
1 u.
| She did not desist in this until the gun
was broken into many pieces. MitcheIPs
| head was crushed to pulp. Having sat-
isfied herself that he was dead the woman
started for town.
During all this time the murderess was
calm and cool. Mitchell's companion ran
away when the first shot was fired and
stayed in hiding for two hours. When he
was found he was still trembling from
fright.
A Coroner's jury held an inquest on
| Friday aud returned a verdict in effect that
the deceased came to his death from a gun
| shot wound caused by Mrs. G. f. Halla-
| day. 1t did not state whether she was
| justified or not in committing the deed.
Justice Wickam, in his ignorance of law,
swora in a jury and held the preliminary
examination. at which Mrs. Halliday was
acquitted. 1t is hardly probable that she
| will get off without punishment, as the
citizens now regard the murder as pre-
meditated, and propose to have the case
brought before the Grand Jury at It's next
meeting.
Mrs. Halliday is a big, robust woman,
about so years of age. She lives with her
husband, who is a miner at West Point.
| Mitchell, or "Trewick," had an uncle
living in that neighborhood, whom he
used to keep books for; but owing to some
crooked work his uncle discharged him.
Mitchell was in trouble most of the time.
! His uncle got him out of several scrapes,
but told him short time ago he would
have nothing more to do with him. A
companion of Mitcheli's who had worked
with him for four months says he was a
very agreeable fellow, and did not appear
| to be seeking trouble, but unfortunately
always got into it.