The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1898-11-23
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

| 1uo WlHnenucca silver OtaLe says.
The community was shocked and horri-
fed Saturday morning at about 7:30
o'clock to learn that Mrs. j. d. Hadley,
wife of ex-Sheriff Hadley, and William
R. Lewis, son of Richard Lewis of this
place, had been found dead in the open
alley, near the road which runs into
First etreet, back of J. A. Robinson's g
residence.
From the position of the bodies when
found it would appear that preyiousato
the awful tragedy the parties had stand
ing in Conversation. and while In that
position, without warning, William
Lewis had shot Mrs. Hadley twice, one
shot Mrs. Hadley twice, one shot pene-
tratifg the cheek bone to the right of
the face. ranging downward and coming
out little below the right of the eur,
and the other entering the ear, passing
through the head and coming out at the
neck little below the left ear, and then
seating himself by the fallen body had
fired third shot into his own head, the
ball taking immediate effect, as it missed
the right temple only by degree, and
then fell to one side, resting in an easy
position on his victims body. The
weapon, with which the deeds were
done, was q Al calibre Colts revolver,
and laid between the left hand and the
body of the young man, and judging
from the position of his right hand it is
presumed that it fell into that position
when the hold of the weapon was re-
laxed.
There seems to have been no struggle,
as the clothing OF both parties showed
no signs that force had been used in the
perpetration of the horrible crime. The
hat of William Lewis laid on the ground
few feet from. his body, and that OF his
victim had merely fallen from her head
where she laid. A tan cape of soft ma
terial covered her face, giving the i'm
preston that she threw up her right
arm as the revolver was AIMED at her
head to save herself from the merciless
bullets, which passed through the cape,
missing the arm with the above result.
The tragedy must have occurred last
night between the hour oil and $50
o'clock, as many persons in that vicinity
heard three shots fired about that time,
but the night being dark and stormy it
seems no one ventured out to ascertain
the cause of the gun reports, and all
night amid the wind, sleet and rain the
bodies laid there unmolested until this
morning, when they were found by q
school boy, who gave the alarm.
No motive is assigned for the terrible
deed.
Mrs. D. ]. Hadley bore an excellent
reputation in this community, and was
of a jovial, happy disposition and had
many friends. She was aged 3S years,
but appeared much younger, and was
very prepossessing woman. She was the
most excellent chief of the order OF
Rathbone Sisters of this place.
William Lewis was a young man 20
years old, OF quiet disposition and very
gentlemanly, and also bore good repu-
tation.
CoRoNRR's INQUEST.
Paul Rutherford, the lad who discov-
cred the dead bodies, WAS the first wit
ness examined at the inquest. He testi-
fed as follows:
"Last night friday l was standing
in front of Berk's butcher shop and
heard three shots. started down in the
direction from whence they came. l
went only a short distance, however,
and as l didn't hear anything mole
turned and came back.
"This morning Saturday l was in
the locality where the bodies were
found. One of the residents of the
neigh borhood asked me if | heard the
shots the night before and said they
sounded as if they were in the rear Of
their residence. went on through to
the rear and noticed that two persons
were lying together on the ground, both
apparently dead. l Immediately gave
the alarm and summoned an officer.
The bodies were identified as those Mrs.
D. ]. Hadley and William Lewis
On being questioned the witness stated
that the lady's head was covered with
her cape when he discovered them.
DR.. T. G. Hanson was the next wit
ness called and he testified that he was
called to examine the bodies and found
no uonnds on Mrs Ha1lev eXceDtinC