The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-05
HE is SHOT AT HIS HOME
Williams or Beale Puts Three Balls
Into Him.
HE SLANDERED A FRIEND OF THEIRS
So They Assert Adding Thai the Girl is Heart
8foksn. The Story Published States
That She Played Tag in Her
Roha &c Nut.
Robe &c ku I.
(By the Associated Press.)

San Francisco, Sept. Aired Marriott,
the publisher of the San Francisco News
Letter, was shot three times and seri-
ously wounded at his home last night.
His assaiIants were Thomas H. Will
liams, Jr., President of the California
Jockey Club. and Truxton Beale, former
United States Minister to Persia and
Greece, and a well known club man of
this city. Neither will say who did the
shooting, but Marriott says it was Will
liams. The following account of the
shooting was given by Marriott before
he was put under anesthetics at the hos
pital:
AN appointment was made by tele-
phone for a meeting by Truxton Beale.
About 8 o'clock Beale and Williams
came to the house and l answered the
door myself. Instantly Beale struck me
heavy blow in the face and made
another slash at me with his fist.
Smash him -" cried Williams.
retreated as the blow on the forehead
almost blinded me. 1 then started up
stairs and Williams began shooting"
The first shot fired shattered Marriott S
left leg below the knee and he fell to
the steps. AS he rolled to the bottom
of the stairs. two more bullets struck
him. One cut through the thigh, few
inches below the hip. passing clear
through the leg. The other struck him
in the right hand.
Mrs. Marriott heard the first shot and
came to the head of the stairs in time to
see her husband fall. She started down
l.
was turned in her direction and two
more shots were fired. One passed with
in four inches of her head.
Williams said: 1--WE considered it our
duty to punish Marriott for publishing
an article last week rejecting on the
reputation of a young lady"
Beale said that, although the lady S
name was not mentioned, her identity
was so plainly indicated that he felt
bound to resent the publication. After
the shooting Williams and Beale went to
the Pacific Union Club, where they were
placed under arrest. Marriott will re-
cover unless blood poisoning sets in.
Williams and Beale were released on
$4,000 bonds each.
No affair in recent years has caused
such sensation. Both BeaIe and Will
and socially for years, and they probably
are as well known in other parts of the
country as in California.
Marriott inherited the News Letter, a
weekly publication, from his father, who
established the paper many years ago.
Marriott was also publisher of the Over
land Monthly.
While the alleged slanderous story pub
lished by the News Letter, which caused
the shooting, did not mention the young
lady's name, it was generally known to
whom it referred. The young woman
was heart-broken over the publication
and appealed to Beale, an old friend of
her family for assistance. Beale asked
the advice of Williams, and together
they went to Marriott's house. The
shooting followed
In speaking of the affair Beale said
The attack was made on a particu-
iarly warm friend of mine, who lives
with her mother in San Rachael. She is
Wen known in society, and not the lea st
word of scandal has ever been attached
to her name. The article appeared in
last Saturdays News Letter 1t told OF
her playing tag in night-gown at
Mount Tamaulipas with party of friends
We felt perfectly justified in taking the
measures we did and have nothing to
regret"
Neither man would say who did the
shooting. and each seemed perfectly
willing to shoulder the blame.