The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-29
W. W. Wilson Believed to
Have Committed Suicide in
His Room at Capitol Hotel
Woman Who Was With
Him and Was Awakened
by the Shot, Doesn't Think
1t Was Suicide.

w. w. Wilson, who until last Thurs
day kept saloon at 449 East Seventh
street, was found dead early yesterday
morning in his room at the Capitol
hotel on Wabasha street. A bullet hole
in his head revealed the cause Of death.
Whether Wilson fired the shot is a
question the police are unable to
answer.
His wife, with whom Wilson had not
lived for some time lives at $40 Payne
avenue with three small children. She
was, for some hours after the tragedy,
ignorant Of it all and called at Wilson's
saloon to tell him of the fact that their
10-year -old daughter was suffering
from broken arm. When she arrived
at the place of business she found that
he had sold 1t to a man named Stephen
Griswold, on Thursday last, and that
the new owner was in possession.
They knew nothing at the saloon of the
whereabouts of her husband, and 1t
was upon her way UP town that she
heard the dreadful news She is grief
Frustrated and under the care Of DR..
Robillard.
Wilson since selling the saloon, has
been associating with a woman some
times calling herself Josie Kalvern, and
at other times Josie Waterhouse. On
Tuesday night Wilson, Josie, J. F..
Brown, Wilson's erstWhile bartender,
and another woman unknown, dined
together in a Wabasha street restau-
rant, and the Kalvern woman and
Brown declare that Wilson, at that
time, appeared in the best of spirits.
When they separated Wilson and the
woman went to the Capitol hotel to
his room, No. IL, and the first thing
she remembers after retiring was be-
ing awakened by hearing a shot fired.
At this point she tells her own story:
The Woman's Story.
GAS soon as I was fully awake the
thought came to me that the shot
sounded as though fired outside Of the
room; but Of course that might be with
having been asleep. l rolled over and
said: Did you hear that shot, Billy?'
Getting no reply punched him in the
side, and still getting no answer 1
placed my hand on his forehead. 1t
was fearfully wet, and when 1 drew it
away 1 saw it was covered with blood.
Then l screamed and ran for the door.
1 managed to get into the hall and con-
tinued my screaming until the people
began to come; and then all was confu-
sion
But I don't believe that Billy shot
himself-he always slept with a re-
volver under his pillow and I think it
slipped out from under and he rolled
upon 1t, and set It off that way"
This explanation is looked upon by
the police as very fimsy. The style of
gun with which Wilson was killed
could not be exploded in that man
ner. 1t is known as a safety revolver.
The manner Of the wound indicates
that it could not have been inflicted in
that way. 1t extends from the left
temple to the base Of the right ear.
The woman and the bartender were
held by the police for a brief examina-
ton, and then released under surveil-
lance pending the result of the inquest
to be held by Coroner Miller today.
Woman Has a Record.
The woman has a record with the
| police. Her maiden name was Shea
and her parents live in Saltwater and
| she was divorced about five weeks
ago from her husband, Waterhouse, &C
cording to O'Neill.
| The suicide theory is supported by the
fact that Wilson had marital troubles
| of which, apparently, the Waterhouse
woman was ignorant. His wife had
| called frequently at the saloon to ask
him to give her up, which he refused
| to do.
The inquest will be held today at the
| county mOrgue.