The San Francisco call., 1899-07-26


Methever, a shoe dealer of this
city, shot and killed Miss Doro-
thy Mckee at an early hour this
morning. The murder was care
fully planned, Methever meeting the
young woman and a friend while they
were cycling, and firing three bullets
into her body. Then he turned the
weapon upon himself, infiicting an ugly
wound in the head, but which is not
likely to prove fatal. The crime
aroused the community, and it was
found necessary to take Methever to
lynching.
Methever owns shoe store at the
upper end of the main street. Half of
the building has been occupied by S. E.
Mckee and his wife and daughter.
Thrown together in this way, a friend
ship sprang up between Methever and
the McKees, and of late Methever has
been attentive to Miss Dorothy. He
taught her to ride bicycle and in
many ways evinced a decided prefer
ence for her society. He was known
to be a married man, his wife living in
San Miguel, and as he was some thirty
years older than the girl, it was sup
posed he entertained no warmer feeling
for her than friendship. So far as can
now be learned, he never intimated to
her that she had awakened his love,
but friends can now remember many
signs which tend to prove that he had
been passionately devoted to her for
some time.
A few weeks ago Miss Mckee became
acquainted with l. Baker, one Of the
young men about town, and the two
soon became warm friends. Last night
they went for a bicycle ride on the
beach, accompanied by a visiting
friend, Mrs. Scudder of Los Angeles.
The party were out some time and on
returning to the house took lunch to-
gether Methever's room was so near
that he could easily hear their merry
making, and it is supposed that it
famed his jealousy into a flame.
This morning the two ladies arose
early and went for another ride on the
beach After wheeling about mile
west from the main wharf they started
to return, and found Methever ap-
preaching on his wheel. They ap-
preached him without a thought of
fear He did not say word, but de-
liberately ran into the wheel upon
which Miss Dorothy was riding. AS
she dismounted in surprise at his ac-
ton, he drew a revolver and fired three
shots at close range, all of them taking
effect. One passed through the head
and two through the body, causing al
most instant death. He then turned
the weapon upon himself, the ball en-
tering in front of the right ear and
coming out at the eye. citizen named
Hawthorne happened to be near and
disarmed him, but he drew a second
revolver and attempted to make sure
of his work He fell unconscious be-
fore he could fire the second shot.
All this was done without Methever
or the women having spoken word
and with calmness and deliberation
on the part of the man which showed
that the tragedy had been carefully
planned. All passed so quickly that
Mrs. Scudder hardly realized what was
occurring until she saw her friend fall.
Her screams soon brought a crowd to
the scene.
The body of the girl was tenderly
cared for, while her murderer was
dumped down in the harness room of
livery stable to recover consciousness
at his leisure. An examination made
later developed the fact that his wound
was not dangerous and his physicians
hope to have him ready for a speedy
trial.
Feeling ran so high here this after
noon when it was learned that Meth
ever would recover that it was deemed
best to take him to Los Angeles for
safe keeping. If he had not been such
a pitiful sight, with his face torn by
the bullet, the crowd never would have
allowed him to be brought from the
beach.
Miss Mckee was a modest and unas-
suming girl of more than the usual
charms of person and manner, and was
very popular among the young, people
of the place.
The Coroner's jury returned verdict
of premeditated murder against Meth
ever this afternoon.
eAoAeAA+@%0~0~0Ne
Three thousand more men are expected
to quit work in Brooklyn this week.