The San Francisco call., 1899-10-11
WIFE MURDERED
IN A HOWARD
STREET SALOON
Charles Richardson
the Slayer.
PERHAPS IN SELF-DEFENSE
DEAD WOMAN WELDED HEAVY
G-STARTER.
Neighbors and Witnesses Say the
Pair We're Constantly Quarrel
ing and the Killing Was
the Result.
PERHAPS IN SELF-DEFENSE
DEAD WOMAN WELDED HEAVY
BUNG-STARTER.

Charles Richardson, keeper of a low
saloon at 94S Howard street, ended a long
series Of family quarrels last night by
killing his wife, Ellen Richardson. The
scene OF the murder was Richardson's s
saloon, the weapon with which 1t was
done a 3S-caliber bulldog revolver Of OBJ
solete pattern, the bullet from which en-
tered the dead woman's head at the left
temple, killing her instantly.
The murderer was placed under arrest
by officer Askew, who arrived on the
scene a few seconds after the fatal shot
was fired. John J. BrOwnlee, who re-
Gently returned from Manila in the Gov
ernment transport service, was the sole
witness to the affair, and was also taken
into custody. The stories Of the two men
differ widely upon certain points, but
both agree that the shooting was done
in self-defense. a heavy iron bung-
starter, which was lying at the dead
womans side when officer Askew arrived.
in measure bears out their contention.
Concerning the affair Brownlee said:
Richardson and his wife had been
quarreling all the evening over trivial
family affairs. They, in fact, spent most
of their time Quarreling, and on three or
four occasions Mrs. Richardson has had
her husband arrested on different charges.
She had him arrested about five weeks
ago for beating her but later had MIN
released. They got pretty angry, and
finally Mrs. Richardson told her husband
he could quit her whenever he wanted to
and he said it would take little to make
him do IL.
with. that" continued Brownlee, "she
picked up the bungstarter and said --
, I'll beat your brains out, but made
no advance toward him. Richardson pulled
his gun from his coat pocket and / showed
ii aside and told him not to be a fool.
His wife was standing at the end of the
bar and he was behind 1t. Then she
waved the bungstarter at him again, and
he fred. That was the only shot fired,
but it killed her instantly. She dropped
where she stood
According to Brownlee's further story,
Richardson then placed the gun to his
own head and was about to take his life
when Browulee jumped across the bar and
held his hand telling him at the same
time that there was no need of il, as his
wife was still alive. Richardson showed
the gun at him and told him to get back.
at the same time saying, Il could not help
it, had to do 1t,
At this point officer Askew came in and
Richardson threw his gun under the bar
and submitted to arrest. AT the police
station he said in his own defense that
his wife precipitated the quarrel that re-
suited In her death. and that she attacked
him and struck him with the bungstarter
which was found at her side. He said
he warded off the first blow. but that
"She came at him again, and in Self-de-
Tense he was Obliged to fire.
Neighbors Of the pair say that they
We're constantly lighting, and that some
times one ana sometimes the other got
the best of their hand to hand encounters,
and that the tragic end last night was
only TO be expected. Richardson was for
merly a whaler and had the reputation of
being a brutal man among the men of his
crew, and since he bought his saloon last
MAY he has earned the same reputation
among his customers. Both ne and his
vile We're hard drinkers and disturbing
elements in the community.