The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-05-30
Laura Shoots a Densist.

has become mixed up in an Og
den scandal. The dispatch dat.
ed at Ogden, Utah, May 21st
reads
B. Fl. Fisher, the we'll known
dentist, was shot today by Miss
Laura S. Geertson, a schoo
teacher formerly of Ogden bur
lately of Richfield. The two
were alone in DR.. Fishers Office
and there is an element of mys
terry in the affair, as their state
ments conflict. The woman
says she was trying to discharge
his pistol to prevent him from
using it. Fisher says she delib-
erately tried to shoot him and
that he struggled to get the
weapon from her.
1t was discharged three times
and one cap bore the imprint o1
a hammer as though it had beer
snapped on and not exploded
Fisher received one bullet under
the left arm which struck rit
and glanced around to the mus
cles of his back, where it was
cut out.
The girl was arrested and a
charge of assault with intent tC
commit murder. She spent the
night in custody.
The girl says DR.. Fisher hac
promised to marry her and thai
she had been associating with
him with that end in view for
more than two years.
Fisher declares he never made
such a promise, though Miss
Geertson has many times threat
ened to take his life and her own
unless he married her. Such
are the outlines of an affair tha
set all Ogden agog yesterday af
ternoon.
The shooting occurred abou
2:45 in the Office of DIR. Fisher
which is on the second floor ano
in the southeast corner of the
Utah Loan & Trust building.
There were perhaps fifty people
in the building at the time. Few
if any of them heard the shots
butthe woman's screams brought
everybody to the place.
Among the first to reach the
Office were Janitor Debry, of the
building, Joe Whitaker anc
Evan Evans. Miss Geertson was
in Mysteries on the floor of tht
north room. In the next room
was DIR. Fisher. His coat was
burning about bullet hole un
der his arm and blood stainet
his shirt front. A curtin between
his dental chair and laboratory
was also on fire.
The wound bled very little bu
was extremely painful, it having
struck the rib and glanced. Mis-:
Geertson was hysterical all the
while and once made rush fol
the laboratory, where she seizeC
some bottles. A vial of carbolit
acid was there and DR.. Fisher
gave warning that she would
kill herself. She was held bacl
but protested that she only want
ed some medicine with which t.
quiet her nerves.
After a time she became more
calm and refused to speak of tht
affair. DIR. Fisher sent for hi.
attorney and friend, 81. A. TAFT
who took the wounded man t(
his room, which is in the home
of Mr.. Crocker at 2454 Adams
avenue. Before he left, Mis-:
Geertson asked to speak a wore
with him in private. Fisher re
ferred her to TAFT, who refused
The woman was persistent anC
besought Fisher again and agaiI
for just one word in private. HI
did not consent, and once said
Suppose you had done wha
you tried to do, would you have
been able to talk to me then p
She made no reply, but, watch
ing her chance, whispered a few
words in his ear. This probably
referred to whether or not h,
would prosecute her, for he said
mot if you behave yourself
But | want you to go away anC
stay away"
Miss Geertson tried to tall
further, but Mr.. TAFT interferec
and finally pushed her away, or
dering her to leave the place a
once DR.. Fisher walked to tn,
entrance, supported by friends
aud was taken to his room. The
woman's hat and gloves were il
one of the rooms, on the bed, an(
she had also left her pocketbool
there, but could not find it.
She was very much concerned
over this. as they keys to hel
trunk and all her money were il
the purse. There was a certifi