Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-20
BULLET WOUNDS
AN INTRUDER
WOMAN FIRES WHEN MAN
CURSES HER
Julius J. LaventhaI Shot and Seriously
Hurt While Attempting to Force
His Way Into Home of
Mrs. Roach

AS a elimination of the troubles OF
long standing between julius J. Laven-
thai, son of Jacob Laventhal, a we'll
known clothier of Los Angeles. and
Mrs. Josephine c.. Roach of 1924 West
Twenty third street, Mrs. Roach shot
and severely wounded Laventhal at
her home yesterday afternoon.
Laventhal went to the house a few
minutes before o'clock and demanded
that she give up ring which he
claimed as his property and over which
the pair had trouble in the courts
about a year ago.
She told him that if he had a war
rant permitting him to enter the house
or to take possession of the ring she
would not resist, but otherwise she
would. He replied that he had an Of
ficer with him. Thre was another man
with him, but who he was or what his
mission was is mystery, as he escaped
Immediately after the shooting.
According to Mrs. Roach's story,
Laventhal then attempted to force his
way in by cutting the screen. Failing
in this he went to the rear Of the
house and entered the screened porch
off the kitchen. He found the door to
the kitchen locked and went to the
window opening into the pantry and
was half way through when Mrs. Roach
warned him three times that if he
went an inch farther she would shoot
him. He replied:
"You haven't the nerve to do so,
you -" and started to go fur
ther.
Fires at Intruder
True to her word, Mrs. Roach fired
at him and young Laventhal dropped
from the window. He ran to the cor
ner of Hoover street, where he entered
the office of DIR. Jenkins, who called
up DR.. Moore of the Stewart hospital
and Laventhal was taken there.
Mrs. Roach in the meantime called
up the police and notified them that
she had shot young Laventhal and
told them that she was ready to sur
render herself If they would come and
get her.
Some time ago Mrs. Roach and her
husband decided to separate because
the husbands wages were not suftlcient
to keep the two of them.
Shortly after that young Laventhal
appeared on the scene and beseeched
Mrs Roach to get divorce from her
husband so that she and LaVenthal
might be married.
Mrs. Roach admits that she accepted
ring from him, but says that she
took it from him only. after he asked
her to wear it and that he had said
that she might keep 1t if she so desired.
She positively denies having become
engaged to him, or that the ring was
accepted as a Specification of such.
Laventhal continued his attentions to
her and continued to beg her to get
the divorce from her husband.
IT told him repeatedly that I would
not marry him and he has troubled me
till 1 could stand it no longer" she
declared yesterday afternoon.
"When Laventhal tried to force his
way in there was but one thing for me
to do, and l shot him. What did was
in preservation of my own life and l
Immediately notified the police that
was ready to surrender myself. That
is all have to say about it."
Mrs. Roach's husband is a laborer
and is at present employed at Redondo.
She says that over year ago they
were not sufficient to support them
both. Mrs. Roach Immediately went
into the renting of rooms to boarders.
About October 10, 1904, young Laven-
thai attacked her at her home and de-
manded the ring. She brought suit
against him and the suit was decided
in her favor and she was permitted to
dropped for while by Laventhal, but
recently he again attempted to per-
suade Mrs. Roach to marry him.. but
was met with the same refusal as be-
fore, and 1t is believed that his BROOD
ing over this drove him to again seek
the woman yesterday with the intention
of getting revenge.
DIR. Moore who has him in charge at
the Stewart hospital says that as yet
he cannot tell how seriously the man
is injured. The bullet was probed for
yesterday afternoon, but without avail.
Today an X-ray photograph will be
made of the section of his body where
the bullet entered with the hopes of To-
eating it.