The herald., 1898-10-20

A DRUNkARD DEAD
HORRIBLE END OF A NOTORIOUS
WOMAN
BURNED IN HER BED
MRS. MARY WILLIAMS INCINER-
ATED WHILE INTOXICATED
A MAN WAS WITH HER
Who May Have Murdered Her and
Set Fire to the Building-The
Charred Remains Recovered

The notorious Mrs. Mary Williams was
burned to death last night in her store at
the corner OF First and Dakota streets,
Boyle Height. 1t is nyt known how the
fire started, but as the woman was seen to
20 home in beastly state OF intoxication
It is probable that in her drunken condition
she knocked over the lamp, which ignited
her bedclothes and caused her death.
Mrs. Williams was seen about o'clock
last night on East First near San Pedro
street BY Police Officer Hubbard. The OF
;ceu did not notice whether she was intoxi-
tatad, i1s abe w1as On the opposite side OF
the street from him and alone. Some time
between and Q o'clock Mrs. Williams and
some man were seen together on Boyle
Heights electric car. The woman was then
very drunk and hardly able to navigate,
while the man did NOT seem to be 80 much
left the car at the end OF the line and
walked east two blocks on First street and
vent to the front door of Mrs. Williams
store. The building is a single story, but
stands about eight feet above the sidewalk.
A woman passenger on the car saw them
climb the stairs but being frightened at
Mrs. Williams did not notice whether she
and the man went into the house or not
The supposition is that they did.
The building consisted of one large room
and q small addition which was used as
kitchen. The large room was divided by a
partition in the rear, the front being used
apartment. Mrs. Williams bed was in the
cutheast corner of the cramped quarters.
What became of the man has not yet been
learned. He may have got into quarrel
with the woman and been driven away, or
else he may have been present at the time
the fire started and have made his escape.
Alfred Ribail and X. +. Murray, a couple
OF young men were in the yard of RibaiPs 8
home on Dakota street, within fifty yards Of
the store, shortly after o'clock, and sud
denly one of them happened to glance to-
ward the store and saw smoke and burst
of fame coming from the rear roof. They
hurried to the store and Ribail started to
open the side door, which was close to the
bod of Njna. Williams, but his companion
said that they had better not let in any air,
as that would serve to fan the flames. They
left and turned in the alarm. Conductor U.
Let's of the Boyle Heights car line also saw
the blaze and telephoned an alarm.
The Boyle Heights company responded
promptly and D. V. Hellman of the hose
company was the first to enter the building,
but was driven back by the smoke. By the
time a stream of water could be brought on
Jue uCe Tue udulcp ueA OuAACA oweJ esa<
roof and destroyed all the contents OF the
store. The firemen thought that the wo
man might have been burned in the build
ing and were searching about the place when
one Of them, Ben Brock, called out, "Hers
she is now"
Investigation showed this to be correct
The woman was burned beyond all posi-
bic recognition and was a horrible sight. She
was lying on her back in bed. The position
of the body would indicate that she may
have been asleep at the time the fire started.
On the other hand, as she was very drunk,
she might have knocked over the lamp and
then, unconscious and Indifferent to her
danger, fallen back on the bed in drunken
stupor. There is also a possibility that her
male companion murdered her and then
set fire to the place to conceal the evidence
of his crime. If this was his purpose he
probably succeeded. The ruins of the build.
ing were carefully searched for the body OF
her male companion, but as no trace of him
could he found it is probable that he left
before the fire started. Coroner Campbell
was inclined to the belief, however, that the
woman had actually caused the fire her
self.
Who her companion was cannot be stated
She formerly employed man named Billy
Dexter as clerk, but they had dispute over
his wages. He obtained q Judgment for $0(
against her. No one was found last night
who had seen the deceased and Dexter to-
gether recently. The woman and her hus
band were a source of much annoyance tc
the nciehborhood, as they were continually
drunk and raising disturbance. They