The news & observer., 1905-05-16
CBv the Associated Press. }

(By the Associated PreSS.)
San Diego, Calf, May 15.-William
p. Robinson, house cleaner, ran
amuck today, killing four persons,
wounding two others and then killing
himself.
The dead.
William Stewart.
Mrs Emma Stewart.
III. w. Chase.
Harry Doddridge.
w. Robinson.
Wounded: Mrs. w. FL. Doddridge
and w H. Doddridge was injured Dy
falling out of a window.
At first Robinson was said to be
crazed by liquor, but later it was said
that he had threatened Doddridge Tor
an alleged attempt to have Robinson
shanghaied when he was a sailor. 1t
is said also that he had expressed a
dislike for the Stewards.
About O'Clock this morning Rob-
inson left his house at the corfier of
Fourth and A streets, and going TO
the apartment in the same building
occupied by Mrs Emma Stewart, the
landiady and ner son William, raped
for admission. Mrs. Stewart upon op-
cning the door was shot through the
head by Robinson. who had leyelled a
rifle. Robinson then entered the din
ing room, where young Stewart, who
had been seated at breakfast was just
rising from the table. Robinson at
tackled him Immediately, plunging a
long knife into Stewarts body, close to
the heart, and again into the abdo-
men. At the second stab Stewart sank
to the floor with blood pouring from
his body in a stream.
Third and Fourth Murder.
Robinson then returned to his
rooms. Reloading his rifle and leaving
his knife. he slipped a revolver into
his pocket. He then descended to the
first floor, one portion of which was
used as a carpenter shop by III. w.
Chase. Chase probably saw Robinson
enter but paid no attention to him, for
Robinson approached close to him and
suddenly throwing up his rifle, fired.
the bullet entering Chase's breast
close to the heart. Chase died imme-
diately.
From the carpenter shop Robinson
proceeded on his bicycle down Fourth
street for several blocks through the
business section of the town with the
rifle still in his hand. He went di-
rectly to the house of w. Fl. Dod-
bridge. internal revenue collector, on
the northeast corner of Second and
II streets. He left his wheel at the
curb and ran up the steps to the front
door. carrying his revolver in one
hand and rifle in the other. In re-
spouse to his ring Harry Doddrldge,
son of w. II. Doddridge, and who is
an engineer at the San Diego brewry,
opened the door.
Robinson fired his revolver and
young Doddridge sank to the floor
with a bullet just above the heart
Death followed before medical assist
ance could be summoned.
Mrs Doddridge, the young mans
mother, hearing the shot and perhaps
witnessing the tragedy, ran scream
ing from the house. Robinson hear
ing the screams started through the
house after the woman. As she was
crossing the yard the crazed man
let striking her in the neck. Sne fell
headlong upon her face in the yard
W. RI. Doddridge, who was in bed
or the second floor when the cnnlmo-
ticn began, jumped or fell out of the
window, breaking the bones of his
right hand and sustaining internal in
juries Robinson searched the house
for more people. When he came to
the room just vacated by Doddridge
he climbed upon the bed and placing
his revolver to his temple fired a Dul-
lei which tore off the top of his head.
There is no known reason for think
ing there had been ill-feeling between
Robinson and any of his victims. Col
lector Doddridge says he never even
saw or heard of Robinson before.