The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-22
Attacked Miss Morse and Sister, Telling
Bulh With CrCqlst MaIle.
VICTIM WARNED To LEAVE THE HOUSE
Refused 10 Do So and Vas Shot AMI Killed.
CrawIsd through Window and Died on
foToh Siou of Farm | and.

Natick, Mass, Dee. 22.--Lewis Perry,
Spanish War veteran, who came to
this city about two years ago and en-
gagged employment with the Dennison
Manufacturing Company OF South
birmingham, was shot and almost m
stantly killed yesterday afternoon by
Miss Lizzie Morse at her home in West
Natick Four shots were fired, two of
them taking effect. one in the left
breast, which pierced the heart. and
the second leaden missile penetrated
the stomach. Miss Morse was shortly
afterward placed under arrest and
claims that the circumstances justified
her in shooting down P';ry
Perry was about 80 years ola, and in
company with Arnold Stappen, who is
about 80 years old, both of whom arc
married. left their homes on Speen
street with their bicycles about 1
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Miss Liz
zie Morse, the alleged murderess, and
the members of her family claim that
Perry and Stappen arrived lat their
house at about 1880 o'clock and de-
manded admittance without stating
their business. The Nor rse homestead
is one of the most prominent in this
section of the State and contains a
large family. all OF whom are highly ro-
spected by the community.
BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.
When Perry and Stappen arrived at
the house, the occupants consisted OF
Mrs. Willard Morse. about so years, and
Miss Electra Morse. As; Miss LIZZIE
Morse. 3S Willard w. Morse, IS, and
Rufus ID. Morse. 40 children of Mrs.
Willard Morse. The two sons have
been IN poor health, and remain ed on
the farm with their mother AM sisters
to assist them as far as their <eealth
would permit While they were engag-
e1 at their labors i'm the barn. II is
claimed the two men arrived at the
house on their wheels and demanded
admission to the house, and upon being
refused smashed several windows, when
the women became alarmed and fed to
another part of the premises Miss Liz
zie Morse who is the younger of the
daughters went to the bureau drawer
and loaded a .22-calibre revolver. She
claims that the men went around the
front of the house, where Perry finish
ed smashing the glass in one of the
windows and climbed in, in spite of her
remonstrances 20 the contrary. After
gaining an entrance he grabbed Miss
Electra Morse. who was in the act of
protecting herself with croquet mall
let which was wrenched from her
hands, and with ii Perry hit her over
the head. Lizzie rushed to her assist
ance and informed Perry that she
would shoot him If he did not leave the
house He gave her terrific blow with
the mallet and felled her to the floor.
FIRED FOUR SHOTS.
She managed to get up and again
told Perry TO get out of the house when
he dared her 10 shoot. She then fired
four shots at Perry. who managed TO
climb through the window and then
fell dead. Ii is further claimed that
Stappen in the meantime had attempt
ed to get into window, but was pre-
vented 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 10 the wounded man. Let's get
out of ths,' 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 ne
mounted his wheel and went to the
West Natick engine house and tele-
phoned for the police.
officers Frank II. Bunker and Her
man Godenon of the Natick depart
ment responded and Stappen was taken
TO the Natick lock-up by Bunker. Chief
Sweeney soon after arrived and placed
Miss Lizzie Morse under arrest She
remained at her house i'm the Gus
tody of an officer until this morn
irfg, when the hearing will take place.
Medical Examiner Robbins of Farm
ingham viewed the body and will com
plete his examination before the hour
of the preliminary hearing.
CLAIM OF JUSTIFICATION.
lizzie Morse is strong in her claim
that the circumstances justified her in
shooting the man and in that way pro-
tecting herself and othef members OF
the family The friends of Perry say
that he was total abstainer. and are
unable TO account for his actions dur
ing the aft -fmOon. He came 10 this
town from Roxbury. Mass. about two
years ago. and last summer served in
9Th Regiment. VI. V. NJ or late he had
been out of work. He was a member
OF the West Natick Hose Company.
which recently erected new house and
was member OF the committee OF ar
Tangements of a Christmas sociable to
be held in the New England Hotel. on
Saturday evening. OF this week. The
presence Of the two men at the Morse
house is a mystery TO those who are
acquainted with them, as it is stoutly
claimed that neither OF them INDUCED
IN liquor.
Miss Lizzie Morse is about five feet
five inches in height and weighs about
16O pounds, and is prepossessng I'm ap-
pearance. The revolver she used had
not been DISCHARGE FOR 20 years.
Stappen is an insurance agent and has
resided in Nauck about seven years.
lie has n wife and three small children.
BowDN's STORY.
Charles Bowen. a hired man for John
walker. who, lives about one-half mile
from the Morse place Informed the Off
Gers that while out on the road vestcr-
day Afternoon in search for evergreons
n was met by Perry and Stappen. who
diemOunted. gr3bb 4 him by the throat
and demanded his money He succeed
al IN making his escape and arrived AT