The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-29
KILLED HIS MOTHER.IN.LAH
BRIDGEPORT MAN SENDS BUL-
 LET THROUGH HER BRAIN.

Joseph Eardisy, While In a Fit of Rage
 Because He Believed Mrs Elizabeth
 Lawrence Had Iuduced His Wife to
 Leave Him, Commits Murdcr-Forced
 Himself Into House.
 Bridgeport, Conn, Dec. 2S.-Filled with rage because he believed that his mother-in-law. Mrs. Elizabeth Law renee, had induced his wife to separate from him. Joseph Eardley, q plush weaver, forced his way into Mrs. Law renee's home, and fired shot from Q revolver into her temple from which sha' died this evening without having re- gained consciousness. Eardley was placed under arrest within fifteen min- utes after the shooting. He became hys- terieal in the police station and denied
 that he had committed the act, but this
 evening he made statement to Super
 intendent of Police Birmingham and
 two detectives. in which the police say he admits the shooting.
 During the morning Eardley visited the Lawrence home and inquired for his
 wife, with whom he has not been living for the past five weeks. Upon finding
 that she was not in the house he de- parted only to return later. Mrs. Law
 renee saw him approaching the door with revolver in his hand. She called to her son Norman, aged twenty five, who was in his bed dying from con- sumption. The young man attempted to
 come to the assistance of his mother. who braced herself against the door to prevent Eardley's entrance. but his strength failed, and Eardley, forcing the door. threw him to the floor. Mrs. Lawrence ran from the room to escape
 Eardley. but the latter fired a single < shot at her and she fell to the floor un- i conscious. .1 r Eardiey then walked from the house ! to a nearby saloon. The entire police force was on the lookout for him within ! a few minutes. word having been sent to headquarters by the neighbors, who 1 were alarmed by the shot, and Police- ] man Halpin arrested him as he was giv- i ing an order to waiter. He was im-
 mediately taken to the police station, where. realizing what he had done. he ! became hysterical. He said that he was 1 not connected with the shooting and 1 that someone else must have committed i the deed. ..r ~ 1 Superintendent Birmingham with two
 detectives entered his cell tonight, and 1 requested him to make a statement. Eardley at first refused to do this. Fin ally, according to the police, he made a ] confession. When he had finished, how ever, he refused to sign it. fearing that i it would be used against him, although 1 he had. been told by the superintendent
 before he had made the statement that whatever he said would be used at his 1 trial. The police will not make public
 this statement, in whole or in part, and simply say that Eardley admitted the
 shooting. 1 Eardley came to this country from England about six years ago. He is l thirty-two years of age, while his victim /, was fffty-two. Mrs. Lawrence was the
 wife of John Lawrence, also a plush
 weaver. Eardley was married to Mrs. Lawrence's daughter about four years ago. Since their marriage they have {, lived at the home of Mrs. Bradley's parents, until five weeks ago, when 1t is
 saind that on account of his intemper-
 ate habits, Mrs. Lawrence ordered Eardley from her house, and succeeded 1 in keeping her daughter from accom-
 panying him. Since that time, it is said, ! Eardley has been drinking heavily, and
 that frequently while in an intoxicated 1 condition he has threatened to kill his l wife.
 l When these threats reached the ears
 of his wife, she went to the police sta-
 tion and asked for a warrant for Eard- 1 ley's arrest, and the woman was on this errand when Eardley sought her his morning.