Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-02-27
HE SHOT HIS MISTRESS
COMMITTED MURDER BECAUSE HE
HAD BEEN DISCARDED.
Example Set by the Offended Hus-
band of Anaconda Found an
ImitntOr in MissOuIa.

Missoula, Mont, Feb 81. - The most
shocking tragedy in the history OF Mis-
soula occurred last night at IL O'Clock,
which came neal being a double murder
and a suicide. 40 4 IS a woman lies on
the slab at the unuertaker's rooms, The
man who committed the crime Is In the
same place, with his throat cut from ear
to ear.
The murderer is William Worley,
gambler about &c years OF age. He Is a
native of Pennsylvania. He came here
from Butte two months ago with Blanche
Renaud, who took quarters in "HelIs Half
Acre Worley lived on proceeds of her
life of shame. He lived secluded the great
er part of the time A few days ago the
woman grew tired of him and began pay
ing attentions to Texas" a bartender
making Worlcy exceedingly Jealous nav
ing no effect whatever upon the woman.
who gave him money to leave town. He
gambled the money away, and Worley
again returned. She refused to have any
thing to do with him. Last night Bess
McCune, colored, called to see Blanche,
and the two were drinking beer when
Morley entered and asked Blanche TO
have a drink with him. She answered:
No, thanks"
Then came the reply rs that SOP" At
the same time he pulled a revolver and
fired. the ball striking Blanche in the left
neck. She reeled, stumbled and ran be-
hind the colored woman. a second shot
struck the colored woman in the back,
causing little injury on account of the BAH
striking a whalebone in her corset. Both
women made a rush into the next room,
the murderer following and discharging
four shots, one striking Blanche above the
right breast, killing her Instantly She
fell head first into corner covered with
blood.
During the shooting, intermingled with
shrieks of the unfortunate women "HelIs
Half Acre" was turned into a bedlam
causing a reign of terror. The colorcd
woman first emerged from the den of car
mage, followed by the murderer who
aimed the revolver at his own head with
out effect, the ball puncturing his hat,
which he left behind on his mad course to
the Missoula river, less than a block
away. An officer came upon the scene and
removed the murdered woman to the I'M
dertaker's.
A search was made and tracks were
found leading to the waters edge. Moth
ing more was found until this afternoon
at 2 o'clock when the murderer was
found in the river 300 yards below the
track, with his throat cut from ear to ear.
evidently having done it after jumping
into the river He was found lodged
against the ice frozen stiff
An Absinthe Fiend.
The murderer was an absinthe fiend and
drank heavily. For 13 years he was en-
ployed at Thompson Falls, this state, as
a faro dealer; going to Denver and other
Colorado points thence east, where he
claimed he served in the penitentary In
North Carolina from whence he escaped,
arriving in Butte last summer He was All
intimate friend and employed in the same
gambling house with Frank Dresser, who
murdered his wife and Sherman Ransome
at Anaconda three days ago.
On table Of Worley's room was an &C
count of Dresser's crime, showing he had
concluded to do likewise, for he said he
was going to make some one bite the dust.
The murdered woman was about 30 years
Of age, a native of Austria, and came from
Paris a few years ago. On neat calling
card found among her possessions was
Blanche Renaud, No. 108 South Ninth
street, Omaha, Neb."
Those who knew her best say she was
enticed to America by a man living IN
Great Falls, who took her from a respect
able home to a life of shame, forsating
her In Butte last October, when she began
living with Worley, arriving in MissouIa
two months ago.