The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-03-16
JILTED LOVER KILLS GIRL
PROTIDENCE YOUNG WOMAN
SHOT ON WAY TO CHURCH.
william Stevens Morse, Formerly of
New Britain, Follows Miss Julia
Toombs Almost to- the Doors of the
Edifice and Then Murders Her-The
Han insane-oncs Tried to XIII His
Little Sister.

Providence, March 15.-Miss Julia
Toombs, twenty-three years old, was
shot and Killed to-day by William Ste
vens Morse, a rejected lover, who. dur
ing the past three months has been
twice in an insane asylum.
The young woman started from her
home this morning to attend church, a
mile or more distant, and had almost
arrived there, when Morse, who had
evidently been shadowing her, overlook
her He walked short distance with
her and Miss Toombs appealed to a cit
izen to escort her to the church.
Morse, however, is big. strapping fell
low and he acted in so threatening a
manner that the citizen turned about
and left the pair
The girl started on alone but Morse
followed, and. drawing revolver fired
four shots at her, every shot taking eff
feet, one passing through her heart.
She expired almost instantly.
Henry W. Blake, near whose home
the murder took place, chased the man
and after long run overlook and cap
tured him. Morse had thrown away his
revolver in the chase, He was turned
over to the police of the Seventh sta
ton. The body of Miss Toombs was
taken into Blake's home and this after
noon Medical Examiner Jay Perkins
performed an autopsy
Morse, who has an interesting his
for Of E,.;+n
twenty-nine years ago When ten years
of age he made a desperate attempt to
kill his eleven-year-old sister with a
butcher knife and several several years
in the Connecticut state reformatory in
consequence.
He came to this city about two years
ago and last summer secured work as
a motorman on the street cars. 1t was
while he was running on the Broad
street line that he fell in love with
Miss Toombs, who lived near the car
barn. He waited on her for some time.
At length he asked her to marry him,
but she refused. Morse continued to
insist that she marry him, and once he
gave it out that he had committed sui
eide.
After being away for few weeks he
turned up again and soon became
threatening in his manner toward Miss
Toombs. The girl was terrorized and
afraid to leave her home. Finally Morse
was arrested and committed to the
State Hospital for the Insane. This
was OH October 12, 1902, and on January
13 he was released on parole He en-
listed almost Immediately in the navy
and was sent to the Charlestown navy
yard, Massachusetts,. In two weeks
time he returned to this city on leave
of absence and renewed his threats to
Miss Toombs. He was again arrested,
and on January 2S he was recommitted
to the asylum. On February 10 he was
turned over to officers from the Charles
town navy yard add on Saturday last
he was discharged on account of physi-
calt disability, and after purchasing a
revolver in Boston he came to this city
to kill the girl who had Tilted him.
Morse has every appearance of an in
sane person. He spends his time in the
cell biting his nails. mumbling to him
self or laughing softly, While in his eyes
there is a vacant stare.
Miss Toombs was we'll and favorably
known in the community in which she
lived