Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-18
WOMAN KILLS MAN
MHOINSUL TED HER
TAKES LIFE TO AVE dcE WHAT
SHE TERMS WRONG
SLAYER SHOWS NO REM0RSE
After Being Arrested She Asks II Her
Victim Is Dead, and Says She
Would XIII Him If He
Lived
SLAYER SHOWS NO REMoRsE

-----------~~--
Miss M. Fl. Williamson. landlady OF
the Piedmont lodging house, III IL
East First street. shot and killed
Richard S. Saunders late yesterday
afternoon because, as she said, he had
insulted her.
The shooting occurred I'm Saunders
room on the first floor above the land
ady's office and there were no eye
witnesses to the tragedy Patrolman
Peterson was attracted by the report
of the revolver and hurried into the
house to investigate.
He found Miss Williamson In her
office In a hysterical condition declar-
ing loudly that she had shot
man because he had dared to insult
her. The w nan directed the patrol
man to the RI above where saun-
ders was found ping on his elbow
with bullet in his forehead.
Detectives Steele and Craig were
sent from the Central station to the
scene of the shooting at once The
police ambulance was sent to take
saunderst to the receiving hospital,
where on examination of his wound by
the police surgeon, it was announced
Two hours later he died without re-S
gaining consciousness, the bullet hav-
ing crashed through his skull betweenf
the eyes and lodged In the brain
Would XIII Him
When the two detectives arrived at
the lodging house Miss Williamson
seemed to realize what she had done
for the first time and anxiously in
quired if the man she had shot would
live. When told that he was yet alive
she became violent and shouted: IF
he lives, will kill him. / will rid the,
world of such men as he. Even il I
go to h--l for what have done, +
do not regret it.
"a life for a life and IL have taken
his. will freely give mine for THAT
have done"
She continued in this hysterical man.
ner, calling vengeance down on the
head of the man whose life she had
taken. and no amount of persuasion
on the part of the detectives would
quiet her.
She would give no detailed account
OF how the shooting occurred and would
say nothing further than that Saunders
called her to his room where he In
suited her. after which she went down
stairs to her office, took a revolver from
the desk drawer, returned to his room
and shot him.
Tells Of Shooting
Joe Smith. a newsboy. who was in the
room across the hall from where the
shooting took place, says he heard
Saunders call Miss Williamson from her
office and heard her go upstairs. After
the door of Saunders room was opened
he says a conversation in loud tones
took place but he was unable to recall
any remarks made.
Smith says the conversation lasted
but a short time when he heard the
landlady go down stairs and return in
a few seconds. AS soon as the door
was opened again Smith heard a pistol
shot and, rushing into the hall. he saw
Saunders sink to the floor and Miss
step back with revolver
in her hand.
Sends Money to Bank
After the officers arrived and the body
had been removed Miss Williamson ex-
pressed her willingness to go to the
police station, but asked that she might
first make deposit in the banks. From
beneath loose board in the floor Of
her office she took bag containing
nearly two hundred dollars and turned
1t over to the care of the police. A cab
was called and she was driven to the
police station. She stood the ordeal
bravely until the jail door was reached
and then she broke down and wept.
She became so weak that l. was neces-
sary for the policemen to carry her to
the woman's ward upstairs.
Miss Williamson is about fifty years
old and had been proprietor OF the Pied
raont lodging house for nearly four
years 1t is said this is the first time
any trouble has occurred in the house
since she has had charge OF it.
Little is known Of Saunders, except
that he is a iaborer. employed at night,
He is about 80 years old. He engaged
lodgings at the Piedmont Saturday
night. In the papers taken charge OF
by the eoro9er is receipt for S2.5o
issued by local employment agency,
An inquest over the body will be held
tomorrow afternoon at Bresee Brothers
establishment