The herald., 1898-02-28
DRUGGISTS PESTLE
THE WEAPON EMPLOYED IN A
MURDERoUs ASSAULT
H. G. voEcKELL'S JEALOUSY
Frank Percy Laid Out by Savage
Blows on Santa Monica
Electric Car

| Frank Percy, foreman atsthe Central av
enue planning mill, was murderously as
saulted last night on a Santa Monica cal
by Henry @. voeckell, the druggist a
Fifth and Main streets. The weapon uset
was druggists pestle, the BODY OF wnicf
is made of wood, with heavy KNOB o
porcelain at the heavy end..-.That the as
sault did not result In murder was not th'
| fault of the assailant, for had he not beer
seized by several men he would have KILLED
| Percy. Jealousy was the cause or th'
| assault.
About ten days ago Mrs. Voeckell filet
| suit for divorce. In her. complaint she
alleged that her husband had for some time
| treated her with habitual and unbearablt
| cruelty, applying the West of epithets to-
ward her and on oEesoceasion striking her
Just before the suit was filed, Mrs. Voec
kell left her husband and went to the homs
of a friend. They had been living on Ma
pie avenue between Sixth and Seventh, and
since the first of the year Percy had rented
room in their house. The departure oi
his wife and the service upon him of d
notice of the divorce suit greatly enraged
Voeckell, and he is said to have voiced
threats against her on several occasions
Percy continued to occupy the room after
the departure of the wife. He said there
was no reason for him to leave and 1t did
not occur to him that the enraged,husband
would connect his presence there with
their family trc:bles, especially as, he
says, there was absolutely no foundation
upon which to base such connection.
Voeckell questioned Percy closely after
his wife had left home, asking him where
she had gone, but this information Percy
could not give him.
A week ago Mrs. Voeckell went to Santa
Monica and made arrangements to board
with the family of Frank Peck, the plumb
er at the Soldiers Home. She declared
that her reason for going there was fear
that her husband would kill her.
Yesterday afternoon Percy had business
in Santa Monica, and having message
from Mrs. Voeckells attorneys for her, he
went to the home of Mr.. Peck and deliv-
cred the message. He had known Peck for
a year and frequently called there. The
message was such as made 1t imperative
for Mrs. Voeckell to come to this city, and
she decided to return with Percy. She
told both Percy and Peck that she believed
her husband would kill her and that he
was watching for her.
Soon after dark last night noise was
heard by those in Pecks house, which led
them to think that some one was prowling
about the place. Peck and Percy went out
and searched the place, but found nothing,
and soon afterward Percy and Mrs. Voeck-
ell boarded an electric car to come to this
city.
At the junction near Sherman the car
made a long stop. Soon after it started
again the other passengers noticed a man
come in from the rear platform and,
slipping up behind Percy. deal him two
hard blows on the head with pestle.
Before he could strike third time he was
seized and hustled back to the platform.
Percy was knocked to the floor, and in fall
ing turned and recognized Voeckell. The
latter's wife had recognized her husband
as soon as he had delivered the first blow.
and at once began screaming. As soon as
the car could be stopped Voeckell was
elected. He was almost insane from rage
and yelled several times, That's my
wife, He was accompanied by young
man who frequents his drug store and who
is known as "Dr. Smith," but the latter did
not take part In the assault but continued
on the car until this city was reached.
Percy and Mrs. Voeckell went at once to
the police station to report the case.
Percy was taken into the receiving hospital
where DR.. Hagan dressed his wounds. He
has two gashes in his scalp, one an inch
long and the other nearly four inches in
length. Mrs. Voeckell was afraid to leave
the police station and remained there for
nearly an hour. She finally went to hotel,
accompanied by Deputy Constable Quinn.
A complaint against Voecliell for assault
with intent to kill will be issued today.