The San Francisco call., 1898-07-28
SOUGHT TO
 TAKE HIS
 WEES LIFE CoWardIy Crime of w.
 H. Stallard. SHOOTS HIS VICTIM TWICE THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED IN A FIRST STREET CAFE. To Justify His Act the Would-Be Assassin Seeks to Blacken the Woman's Reputation-Not
 Dangerously Hurt.
THE TRAGEDY OCCURRED IN A
 FIRST STREET CAFE.

Infuriated at her refusal to endure his brutality any longer, William H. Stallard deliberately shot his wife twice, shortly after noon yesterday. The shooting took place in the Royal Restaurant, If First street, when the place was filled with patrons, and that the woman was not killed is due to her assailant's poor craftsmanship and his seizure before he could fire again.
 The tragedy was the continuation of many years of marital infeicity, owing to the husbands excessive indulgence in intoxicants, which had developed all the latent brutality and viciousness of his nature.
 The couple were married in Denver in 1874, where Stallard was employed as switchman In the yards of the Union Pacific Company. They have one son, 29 years of age, who is still in Denver. For a time the Stallards lived happily to- gether, but gradually he fell into evil ways and began to maltreat his wife in a shameful manner, while his conduct toward his son became so intolerable that the youth was compelled to leave home.
 Two years ago Stallard's incorporate habits caused his dismissal from the rail- road company's employ, and then he gave himself up entirely to drinking whisky and beating the poor woman who was struggling to earn a living for them both. Not only did he kick and strike her al most daily, but he would forcibly take her earnings and purchase liquor.
 So uncomfortable became the life she was leading that Mrs. Stallard fled from the brute a year ago last March, coming to San Francisco, She had a married sis ter residing at 624 Fourth street, and there Mrs. Stallard took up her residence. She secured employment In the Emporium and lived in comparative peace and con fnund out.
 The usual promises of reformation were made the usual reconciliation ensued, and Stallard and his wife began life anew in the Fourth-street house. He obtained a position as switchman in the Southern Pacific yards, but hardly had he started habits. And now he found a new source of torment for his wife. About the time Mrs. Stallard started for San Francisco an old Denver neighbor, named Budd, accused his wife of having eloped with him. Nobody knew the charge was base less better than Stallard himself, yet he would work himself into frenzy over what he termed his wifes perfidy and vent his rage upon her in the most brutal manner. Frequently Mrs. Stalard $ house found 1t necessary to interfere to save her from her husbands violence<
 Stallard again lost his position because of his habitual drunkenness, and last April he returned to Denver, his wife having refused to have anything more to do with him. Mrs. Stallard soon after resigned her position in the Emporium to accept the position of forewoman in a factory at an increased salary, but she only held the new position a few weeks when her predecessor returned to work and she was thrown out of employment
 Two months ago Mrs. Stallard obtained a place in the overall factory of Neubauer meager, and she was obliged to give up her rooms in the Fourth-street house. going to board with some friends named Ram at 1863 Tennessee street. Here she