The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-17
DEED OF AN INSANE MAN.
William Williams Suicided at the Age
of rs Years.
FIRED THREE sHOTSAT TWO DAUGHTERS
Miss Emily Williams Received a Painful
Wound in the Thinh--lnauest
by Justice Malsch.

The home Of Mr.. William Williams. cor
ner Of Crawford street and Lamar avenue.
was turned into house ~ mourning, Of
suffering and death last night shortly be-
fore 10 o'clock.
After firing three times at two Of his
daughters and seriously wounding one Of
them. Mr.. Williams turned the pistol
against himself and blew out his brains.
Neighbors, hearing the shots, followed
by the cries of distress that came from
the wounded Young lady aud her terribly
frightened sisters, went to the residence
from every direction.
Justice Walter Malsch was notified by
telephone OF the trdgedy. Drs. Stuart and
Knox We're called to attend the young
lady. Wall s. Stable were notified OF MFR.
Williams death, and the police depart
ment was Informed OF the dlreful tragedy.
Post reporter called at the stricken
home, arriving simultaneously with Justice
Malsch. The scene presented was a sad
one indeed. Miss Emily Williams. the
youngest OF the family, was suffering In
tensely from bullet wound In the left
thigh, the bullet having lodged. The ef-
forts of the doctors to locate 1t were at
tended with much suffering to the young
lady. Directly back of the room occupied
by Miss Williams the sleeping apartments
OF the venerable father were located ard
lying cold in the embrace OF death with
blood and brains ooziug from a wound
just above the right eye was the Old man,
a victim of death by self-indictcd means
The distress of Misses Leila and Minnie
Williams was touching in the extreme,
and moved the hearts of the friends and
rt.f,v 1.
Miss Leila Williams the eldest daughter,
and who barely missed the bullet winch
wounded her sister, was deeply affected
by the awful tragedy that had befanen
the household. "Just to think" she
moaned, that he should live lifetime
and then take his own life" A number OF
kind friends consoled the hereayed mem
bers of the family rs best they could.
Particulars of the deplorable tragedy, as
related In statement made by Miss Leila
Williams to Justice Malsch last night are
as follows:
Father, Emily and myself were sitting
OF the front gallery this evening Father
retired at about O'Clock and shortly be.
fore 10 o'clock Emma and myself con.
Guided to retire. We went to our room,
which adjoins that occupied by father.
JuSt as we had finished preparations for
bed, father walked to the door hctweca
his and our room, and began firing Mt mo
! dropped to the floor to avoid the shots.
Upd Emma, who WAS standing behind M.
Was wounded. THEE shots were fred into
cur room. Emma fell TO the door aud
ran out on the back gallery and screamed
for help. Father must have shot himself
ms ! ran out Of the room. After alarming
the neighhors, returned to our room
where Enma was lying | saw father
lying lr the door between his and our
room. spoke to him. and saw that he
was dead. Emma called to me to come
to her saying she was bleeding to death.
With the assistance Of two neighhors
placed her on bed and called physi.
clan. am satisfied that father was not
In his right mind when the act was com
mltted,"
Nh William Williams the victim Of the
above tragedy was 10 years old June Is
last, He has been a resident of Houston
| Tor more than iorty years. Mr. Williams
was born IN England, hut emlgratcd to
| New York when . years of age During
/ his long residence in Houston he has been
| engaged as contractor and carpenter and
was quite successful In his life work Dur.
] i''- '''' ihlH W Tue NhluNIttF lie ne
/ portmcnt of Houston. Mr. Williams was
/ very active fireman, and was chief OF
| the department a number of terms 1t was
| during his term as chief that the market
! housc v5s burned in 1876
/ MI Williams has been highly regarded
/ 10y large circle of friends to whom the
/ news Of his sad death VIII he received
| with much genuine regret Two years ago
/ hls health was badly impaired, and about
/ a year ago he was the victim of stroke
/ %. paralysis Since that time the family
/ mas noted the rapid decay of his mental
! faculties. Mr.. WnliAns has been engaged
/ Of late IN experimenting the erection OF
q new and commodlcuS residence adjoining
/ the one az present occupied by the family.
/ Tho labor involved In looking after the
I building was too much for the old man in
I his feeble condition and he worried over
{ Il great deal. During the past week he
has been especially childish aud fretful.
u Is supposed the strain on his mental
forces enfcebled by 75 years Of life. was
TOO great, and reason was dethroned. Mr.
Williams was a most iudulgent father TO
his children, Of whom there are seven Ilv.
ing, three daughters and four sons. Tho
daughters are Misses Leila. Minnie and
Emily Williams; and tho sons Lawrence,
william, Harry and Edward The last
named is a resident Of Beaumont The
others are all residents OF Houston. Will
liam and Harry being married.
~
! The weapon which wrought the havoc
detailed above Is five shooter Of 3s-
cal'hrc, All Of the chambcrs were empty
when the pistol passed into the hands of
| Justice Malsch.
The attending physicians do not regard
the wound of Miss Emily Williams as a
! serious one. although It is very painful.
! ana the bullet has not vet been located
1 The funeral of Mr. Williams viii occur
| this afternoon at o'clock. Interment Will
| he IN Glenwood cemetery.