The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-09

San Francisco September Fred
Marriott. the publisher OF the san
Francisco News Letter was shot three
times and seriously wounded at hts
home last nignG. His aSsaila1<s were
Thomas H. Williams. Jr., president OF
the California Jockey Club. and Trux-
ion Beale. former United States minis
ter to Persia aL1 Greece. ard a we'll
known club man. OF Tins city. Neither
will say who did rs shooting. but
Marriott says il was Williams. Tho
FOLLOWING account Of the shooting was
Igiven by Marriott before he was put
under anaesthetios at the hospital:
An appointment was made BY tele-
lrhone for meeting TruNton Beale.
About 9 O'Clock Beale AID williams
lCame to the house and l answered the
ldoor myself. "hen reaching TO take
their hats, Beale struck me a heavy
blow in the face and made another
slash at me with mis- fist. Smash him,
the -.' cried Williams. l retreat
ed, as the blow or the forehead almost
blinded me. | then started up stairs
and Williams bePan shooting"
The first shot fired shattered Mar
%rlott's left leg below he knee and he
fell to the steps. As he rolled TO the
DolNOdli VI the SlelFS TWO more outlets
struck him.. One cut through the
thigh a few inches below the hip. pass
ing clear through the leg. The other
struck him in the right hand.
Mrs. Marriott nearing the first shot
come 10 the head Of the stairs in time
to see her husband falling. She start
ed down to him. Then. IL is averred,
the revolver was turned in her dlrec-
ItIon and two more shots were fired.
One passed within four nches Of her
head.
Williams said
w considered il our duty to punish
Marriott for publishing an article last
week rejecting on the reputation Of a
lyoung lady.
Beale said that, although the lady's
name was not mentioned. her identity
was SO plainly indicated that he felt
hound to resent the publication. After
the shooting Williams and Beale went
to the Pacific Union Club where they
were placed under arrest. Marriott
will recover unless blood poisoning sets
in, Williams and Beale were released
lon $4,000 bonds each.
No affair in rcIen years has caused
such a sensation. Both Beale and Will
Hams nave been prominent financially
and socially for years and they prob
ably 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
Iago. Marriott was also publisher OF
the Overland Monthly.
While the alleged slanderous story
published by the News Letter. which
lcaused the shooting. did not mention
the young lady's name. IL was general
lily known to whom 1t referred. The
young woman was heart broken over
the publication and appealed to BeaIe
an old friend Of her family for as
distance. Beale asked the advice Of
Williams and together they went to
Marriott's house. The shooting follow
leo. In speaking of the affair, Beale
lsaid:
The attack was made on a particu-
larry warm friend OF mine. who lives
with her mother in San Frael. She If
well known in society aid not the least
word of scandal has ever attached to
her name. The article appeared I'm last
Saturdays News Letter. 1t told OF her
playing tag in a night gown at Mount
~lTamalpais with a 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.