The herald., 1898-12-31

George Bloom King, the chief deputy in
the city engineers office, was shot shortly
before O'Clock last evening by Teresa Kerr,
a woman with whom he had formerly lived.
King had tried to break off his relations
with the woman, but she resisted his at
tempt to desert her, and fired bullet into
his vitals, causing what is thought will
prove fatal wound. The shooting occurred
on the first landing of the stairway of the
city hall, just after King had left his office
after completing his work. The woman had
waited about the building a good portion
of the day in the desire to see King. 1t is
the old story Of a mans becoming entangled
with desperate woman, who had formerly
been leading life of shame.
| The acquain tance of King and the woman
| dates back a year or more. Where he be-
came acquainted with her is not known. II
was probably while she was an inmate of
one of the houses of ill-fame in this city
Within the past two years she had boarded
at resorts on Alameda, New High and San
Pedro streets. Her last place of residence
as a woman of the town was in Madame
Vans resort on New High street. King had
met her before she went to that establish
| nient, and was known as her friend to the
inmates. They appeared to be fond of each
other, and the man was very kind to
Teresa, who was known under the name of
Mabel Bowen. About eight months ago she
went to Seattle. To some she said that her
people resided there and to others she as
serted that her home was in the east. Teresa
remained in Seattle until last August 1t
was currently reported that the relations
between herself and King had been broken
off. King was said to have been instrumental
in sending her away. According to report,
he found himself becoming too seriously
enamored of the woman, and thought the
best remedy was to send her away where
he could not see her. His parents were
said to have learned OF his relations with
the woman and had desired him to leave
her and, some said, to marry respectable
woman. After the woman returned in
August she claimed that King himself had
solicited her to return. In endearing letters
he had protested his love for her, and even
offered to make her his wife. The woman is
said to have returned to Los Angeles in
company with another man, but this fact
WAS kept secret from King. 1t is probable,
If such was the case, that she soon severed
her acquaintance with the new man, for
she resumed even more intimate relations
with King than before her departure.
\ THE MANS INCONSISTENCY
They went to board with Mrs. Mary T.
Straube at 276 North Fremont avenue. They
represented themselves to be s'Mr and Mrs.
Kane" and both went under that name
during their residence at Mrs. Straube's
house. They conducted themselves well, and
Mrs. Straube says she had no cause for com
plaint against either. They appeared to be
in love, and King was always very atten-
tive to the woman. He took his breakfast
and supper with the family and slept at the
house every night For while the couple
appeared quite happy. About the only
cause for complaint which the woman had
was the desire of King to remain out late
at night. She did not like to be neglected
and protested against his playing cards. She
seemed to have no fear that he might be
absent in the company of another woman.
Everything continued smoothly until No
vember I'd, when two men went to the
house to board. Their arrival threw
damper upon King and he became very reti-
cent, and was evidently i'll at ease. He evil
IDENTIFY feared that they might know who
he was and disclose his mode of life. He
ceased to take ilis meals in the house after
the new boarders arrived and would only
sleep there. Mrs Straube thought this con-
duct rather strange, especially in hus
band to his wife, but nothing was said, as
Teresa did not refer to the occurrence Mrs
Straube states that she did not observe any-
thing out of the way in the woman's actions.
and never knew her to be intoxicated. She
only received company once during her res
idence at the Straube house. when fine
looking woman called, but her name was
not learned.
The direct causefo Kings trying to break
with the Kerr woman is not known, but he
had evidently begun to tire Of her and
sought an early opportunity Of severing
their relations Mrs. Straube had no init.
nation that anything was wrong with the