The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-21
FAMILY TROUBLE
NEARLY CAUSES A
SUNDAY MURDER
Edward RoCkhill Shot
by His Wife.
SHE CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE
SAYS HE STABBED HER WITH
A BUTCHER KNIFE.
Almost Fatal Sequel to a Row That
Started Over a Woman's Re
fusal to Cook Turkey Din
ner Last Thanksgiving.
SHE CLAIMS SELF-DEFENsE
SAYS he STABBED HER WITH
A BUTCHER KNIFE.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,


90S Broadway, Aug 20.
The bitter aftermath or an incident that
occurred last Thanksgiving day. when
Mrs. Edward Rockhll refused TO serve
her husband with a turkey dinner. almost
eliminated in a murder this morning at
their home, corner of Forty-third and
Linden streets.
The climax Of Mr.. and Mrs RockhilT S
domestic troubles was signaled by the
loud report of a shotgun in their barn
shortly after the couple had engaged in a
desperate encounter at the breakfast
table, in which Rockhnl claims his wife
attempted to assassinate him with a
kitchen butcher-knife.
Later the wife went to the barn. The
husband followed her, and while ne was
standing in the barn doorway the infuri-
ated woman leveled a shotgun at him and
fired the contents of one barrel, goodly
portion Of the charge Of No. shot lodg-
ing In Rockhill's left shoulder.
Without attempting TO renew the strug-
gle the injured husband ran for his life.
scaled fences and finally escaped.
Ne!ghbors summoned the police and
Rockhill was taken to the Receiving Hos
pital where Dr.. Stratton dressed the
wounds which were pronounced not seri-
Gus. About thirty shot had penetrated
The flesh. He was later taken TO the City
Prison. where he Will be held awaiting
Mrs Rockhfll went to her room after
firing the shot and had DR.. Depue of
Golden Gate summoned. She was treated
for several inCised wounds on her chest
and back which she declares were inflicted
by her husband. She was not arrested.
My husband has treated me brutally
for a long time" said Mrs. Rockhill this
afternoon. and I could stand 1t no longer.
! ran first to the neighbOrs and then to
our barn for protection, and had to defend
my life against him
Several Of the neighbors aver that the
husband had frequently handled her
roughly and that only this morning he
chased her from the house and threatened
Rockhil declares. that trouble has been
brewing between himself and his wife for
My wife has terrible temper" he said
after being locked up in the City Prison
and this morning at breakfast she quar-
relied because l had gone out to get a
drink. She picked up a butcherknife and
threatened TO carve me. | wreStled with
her and finally wrenChed the knife from
her grasp. If she is cut at all it must
have happened while we were struggling,
for l had no intention of injuring her.
Afterward she went to the barn. and
come out and go into the house and be-
have herself, she stood in the horse STALL
and before | knew it leveled the shotgun
and fred. l knew l was hit, and ran for
my life. If she files an information
against me I'll do the same against her.
l can bring witnesses to prove that she is
III Ille WIHNE. IL never SpenO another
night in that house with her.
THE whole trouble was caused over a
girl named Arelta; the fifteen ,[yyear-o7lId
has always devoted more time to directing
this girl in her dancing for the stage than
to her. household duties. This girl has
stopped with us for years. and when she
saw me shot she said it served me right.
That's the thanks l get for feeding her.
II have no fear Of the outcome Of this
affair. My wife had me arrested last
day because, as she said, I
struck her for not COOKING a turkey din
ner; but she never proved the charge.
We've had trouble ever since. Several
months ago she filed a homestead on my
property which I owned before l married
her thirteen years ago"
RockhiIl is employed as a heater in the
JudsOn Iron Works. He is 49 years of
tempted twice to-day to assassinate him
is his second wife. BY her he has no
children. but back at his old home in
Pittsburg. Penn. he has five children,
ranging in ages from 16 to % years.