The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-20

In small frame dwelling mile south of
the town OF Silverdale, kitsap county.
there occurred yesterday morning one of
the most horrible. cold-bIooded and CHASTITY
double murders ever recorded in this state
David Williams. ex-couniy surveyor. shot
and killed his wife, and then turning the
weapon upon himself. committed suicide.
These facts alone are enough to stamn
the occurrence as terrible, but IL is in the
details that the most striking features OF
the story are found. The news was brought
to Seattle yesterday by j. F. R!ddell. post
master AZ Tracyton. small village about
three miles south of Sslverdaie, and about
TWO miles from the scene Of the double
tragedy.
The Inmates of the House.
1t seems that the little house was ten
anted by David Williams, his wife. his
wire younger brother. and a little boy
VINO had been adopted by the family Will
iams was man of good standing, and
though half-breed, was well educated.
belonged to good family. had some musi-
cal skill. and had formerly served as the
surveyor for Kitsap county.
Williams was reputed TO be a man of
peaceable character, and had never been
known 10 have any trouble whatever with
MS wife. Young Mitchell, however. Mrs
Nliiams' brother. says that his sister told
aim before the shooting occurred tina. she
had noticed something strange In her hts-
band 5 conduct for several days past. and
as this is about the only statement ayaiia-
bic on the subject, the theory OF insanity
seems likely 10 be adopted.
Killing His Wife.
report OF s shotgun heavily loaded broke
the still air around the little dwelling.
Young Mitchell glanced toward the sound
and saw his sister fall a corpse a: the
feet of her husband, who held the smoking
gun in his hands. Mitchell was too horri
fled for speech: besides he was unarmet
and totally unable TO cope with the man
physically. He turned and fled from the
spot in Wild terror. but determined TO seek
the nearest aid and advice. The first man
to reach the house was Joseph Fowler who
after taking in the situation. feared to en-
ter the house alone. At this time # an
pears that Mrs. Williams was dead. and
that Williams had shot himself. but was
still alive. Fowler sought the aid OF Sher~
III Joseph Sackman but altogether It was
two hours before they got into the house
During this two hours that interviewed
between the shooting of Mrs, Williams and
me entrance or the men to the house. WILL
Jams had shot himself no less than three
times and that with a breech-loaiing shot,
gun. AS the third shot was fred. just be-
fore the sheriff ard Mr. Fowler went into
the house. II can easily be seen what strong
nerve &ud determination Williams had
shown.
The method by which he contriyed TO dis
charge the gun Is not known but he had To
Insert a shell in the gun for each Of the
three shots. TWO OF the wounds Looked az
II either Of them would have been necesxar-
NE fatal. One was a gaping aperture
through the lower part OF the chin or M
per part 81 the throat. This wound had
evidently been made with the gun pointed
upward. 4 second showed that A. heavy
load Of shot had been discharged dIrecflv
In the mouth. with the gun probably in the
same position as when It made the other
wound. AR. Rlddell does not know where
the other wound took effect.
a Wound in Her Side.
The wound which ended Mrs Williams
life thus suddenly and awfully. was in her
side. and from the account given BY young
Mitchell her death must have been lnstan-
3ane0us.
Mrs. Williams Is sald TO have been n vsrv
be woman, some years younger than
her husband. who was about a or s. years
cid. She was formerly M'ss Mitchell ana
belonged 30 the family after which Mitch
els PaEat. near Sidney. Is named she
WAS rather accomplished. and shared her
husbands musical tastes. he PLAYING The
violin and she the organ and ether iustry-
meats.
The only human eye that possibly VII.