The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-22
SHOT DEAD BY A WOMAN
Il MYSTERIO TRAGEDY IN VEST
NATICK, MASS.
Killed BY MiSs Lizzie Morse, "A Veal
thy Resident of the TOwn-She is
Placed Under Arrest - Claims the
Shooting Was JustiflnbIe.

Natick, Mass, Dec 21.-Lewis Perry,
Spanish war veteran, was shot and
killed this afternoon by Miss Lizzie
| Morse at her home in West Natick.
Four shots We're fired, two of them TAX
ing effect, one in the heart. Miss Morse
was shortly afterwards placed under
arrest and claims that the circum-
stances justified her in shooting down
Perry. Perry was about 35 years of age
and in company with Arnold Stappen
who is about 35 years of age, both Of
whom are married, left their home on
Speen street with their bicycles this af-
ternoon. Miss Lizzie Morse and the
members of her family claim that Per-
ry and Stappen arrived at their house
about 1:30 o'clock and demanded ad-
mittance without stating their business.
The inmates of the Morse homestead
included Mrs. Willard Morse, about so
years of age and Miss Electra Morse,
As, Miss Lizzie Morse, 3S, Willard w.
Morse, 49, and Rufus d. Morse 40 years
of age, children of Mrs. Willard Morse.
The family is one of the best known
and Wealthest in town. The sons were
at work in the barn when the two men
arrived. The men demanded admission
to the house and upon being refused
smashed several windows, Miss Lizzie
Morse, the younger daughter, went to
the bureau drawer and loaded % cali
bre revolver She claims that the men
went around to the front of the house,
where Perry finished smashing the glass
in one of the front windows and climb
ed in in spite of her remonstrances>
After gaining an entrance he grabbed
Miss Electra Morse and wrenched from
her a cropuet mallet, with which she
tried to protect herself Lizzie rushed to
her sisters help and informed Perry
that she would shoot him if she did not
leave the house. He gave her a ter
rife blow with the mallet and felled her
to the floor. She managed to get up
again and told Perry to get out of the
house when he dared her to shoot. She
then fired four shots at Perry, who
managed to climb through the win
dow and then fell dead.
Stappen in the meantime had at
tempted to get into window, but was
prevented by Willard Morse, who had
heard the noise. Stappen then threw
several stones at the windows, and as
Perry fell out through the window he
said to the wounded man, Lets get
out Of this Perry replied, 'You can
go, but can't" and then expired The
members of the Morse family claim that
Stappen then tried to get into the house,
but upon being prevented he mounted
his wheel and went to the West Natick
engine house and telephoned for the po-
lice. Stappen was taken to the Natick
lookup. Chief Sweeney later placed
Miss Lizzie Morse under arrest. She
will remain at her house in the custody
Of an officer until tomorrow morning,
when the hearing will take place.
Medical Examiner Robbins Of Fra
mingham viewed the body and will
complete his examination before the
hour of the preliminary hearing in the
morning. Miss Lizzie Morse claims that
the circumstances justified her in shoot
ing the man and in that way protecting
herself and other members of the fam
lily. Friends of Perry are unable to ac-
count for his actions during the after
noon. He came to this town from Rox-
bury, Mass, about two years ago, and
last summer served in Porto Rico, be-
ing a member of Company e, Sixth
regiment, M " M. OF late he had
been out of work. He was a member
of the West Natick Hose company. The
wives of both men are prostrated over
the events of the afternoon, and are
at a loss to understand the ac-
tons of their husbands.