The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-20
DOUBLE TRAGEDY
At W|NNEMUCCA
VIM. Lewis Kills Mrs.
HadIey and Himself.
THE MOTIVE A MYSTERY
ASSASSIN HAD KNOWN HIS VIC
TIM FROM INFANCY.
Fatal Shots Were Heard, but the
Bodies Lay All Night in an
Alley While Storm
Ragged.
THE MOTIVE A MYSTERY
ASSASSIN HAD KNOWN HIS VIC
TIM FROM INFANCY.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WINNEMUCCA, New, Nov. 19.-In-
tense excitement prevails throughout
the community over an awful double
tragedy which occurred here last even
ing about o'clock. William R. Lewis,
bookkeeper for Miller & Lux at their
distributing ranch, Quinn River. Hum
boldt County, this State, shot and in
stantly killed Mrs. D. J. Hadley. wife
of ex-Sheriff Hadley of this place. and
then committed suicide. Although the
crime was perpetrated at an early hour,
it was not known until this morning,
when discovered by young man pass
ing the spot where the bodies lay. The
tragedy occurred in an alley In close
proximity to Mrs. Hadley's home. The
position of the bodies indicated that
there was no struggle. Mrs. Hadley
was found lying fiat on her back, her
body perfectly straight, one hand
raised and partially in a position as II
she had thrown up her arm to ward off
the bullets. The tan cape she wore
covered her face and showed bullet
holes. One shot entered the right cheek
bone, ranging downward and coming
out at the neck little below the ear
The other bullet went in the ear and
passed through the head, coming out
at the neck a little below the left ear.
Lewis then seated himself by the body
of his victim and fired a third shot into
his own head. The effect was instan-
taneous. He fell over on Mrs. Hadley,
his head resting on her breast. The re-
volVer was found between his body and
left hand, presumed to have fallen
when his right hand relaxed it's hold.
The three shots were heard by num-
Der of persons in the vicinity, but the
weather being Indictment no one seemed
to be sufficiently impressed by the re-
ports to investigate the matter, and the
bodies lay at the mercy OF the storm
throughout the night.
The Coroner's jury found that Mrs.
Hadley came to her death by gunshot
wound inflicted by Lewis, and that
Lewis met his death by gunshot
wound inflicted by his own hand. No
theory is advanced as to the cause OF
the deed.
Mrs. Hadley bore a reputation above
reproach She had been a resident OF
this vicinity all her life. She was the
most excellent chief of the order of the
| Rathbone Sisters OF this place. She
was very cheerful and kindly of dispo-
sition and young in appearance for her
age, So years.
William Lewis was a young man of
exemplary habits, native Oh NeVdud
% years old. He was well known and
liked.
The families of both parties are emf
nently respectable and are Frustrated
by the dreadful occurrence. In her
younger days Mrs. Hadley was mem
Der of the Lewis household. ever since
which time a strong attachment had
existed between them. The young mar
who perpetrated the double crime was
a child when Mrs. Hadley first knew
| him, and in whom she has always
evinced a kindly interest. 1t is known
that he made a confidant of her an6
sought her advice as a friend when he
! deemed it necessary In his affairs, facts
which deepen the mystery surrounding
/ the tragic event. During the day pre-
! ceding the shooting Lewis was about
! town attending to his customary duties
preparatory to returning to Quinn
! River