The San Francisco call., 1905-05-13
KILLS A BRIDE
OF SIX WEEKS
Albert Brightman Murders
Woman He Loved and Then
Blows Out His Own Brains
PROMPTED BY JEALOUSY
Determines to Take Life of
Former Sweetheart When
He Learns of Her Marriage

Los ANGELES, May 12.-Albert
Brightman, formerly resident Of San
Jose. shot and killed Mrs. Charles H.
Gurney and then committed suicide
here shortly before noon to-day. Un-
requited love was the motive for tho
deed. Mira. Gurney was the wife OF
Charles Il. Quincy, newspaper re-
porter, who is at present in San Fran
cisco.
Mrs. Gurney, who was 1s years Of
age, was formerly Miss Donna Vim
cent and came here with her mother
from Minneapolis, Mimi, about a year
ago. She became acquainted with
Brtghtman, who proposed marriage.
Mrs. Vincent declined his OFFER of mar
ria8e and six weeks ago married Cur
ney in San Jose.
The killing took place on the front
steps of the residence Of Mrs. York at
619 Loomis street. where Mrs. Gurney
was temporarily staying. Brightman
had called at the house yesterday to
see Mrs. Gurney and was informed by
her that she was now married and
that he must desist in his attentions
to her. He left at that time without
any exhibition of malice. While Mrs.
Gurney and Miss York were seated on
the front porch of the house to-day
Brightman came down the street and
approached them. He was seen by
the woman and Mrs. Gurney re-
marked. Il must tell him that he must
not come here any more"
SHOT WITHOUT WARNING.
The women arose to their feet as
Brightman reached the steps Of the
house. A few words were spoken and
Brightman suddenly drew a revolver
from his pocket and fired point blank
IN Mrs. Gurney's face. The bullet
struck her in the left temple and she
sank to the floor. Brightman then ran
up the street a short distance and
turned into the yard of house, where,
placing the pistol to his forehead, he
fired another shot, which tore a great
hole in his head and killed him in
stantly. Mrs. Gurney was removed to
the Receiving Hospital, where she died
an hour later.
Since Brightman's first proposal of
marriage he had repeatedly urged the
girl to marry him. The mother of
Mrs. Gurney favored the suit of
Brightman, and, 1t is said, encouraged
him in his attentions prior to the girls
marriage to Gurney.
Brightman was 80 years of age and
came to this city from San Jose Thurs
day. In the pockets of Brightman
were found two letters, one addressed
10 Charles H. Gurney and the other to
Mrs. Gurney.
KNOWN IN SAN JOSE.
SAN JOSE. May 12.-Albert Bright
man, who shot and killed Mrs.
Charles H. Gurney and then commit
ted suicide at Los Angeles to-day, for
the last two months was employed in
this city as job printer by the firm
of Muirson & Wright He came here
from San Francisco. Monday he
asked for a vacation to make a trip
to Los Angeles. Brightman frequent
ly spoke of his love affair to Theodore
NJ. Wright. one of his employers He
told Wright he was practically en-
gagged to Mrs Gurney when she was
Miss Donna Vincent and was prepar-
ing TO wed her and make home here
The first Brightman knew of the girl
breaking the engagement was when
he received letter from her mother
saying she had married Gurney. He
took the matter to heart and de-
clared he would go to Los Angeles and
see her, but was persuaded from do
ing so. About week ago Brightman
told his employer that he had re-
ceived letter from Mrs. Gurney, in
which she said she was tired of her
marriage TO Gurney. She said, ac-
cording to his story, that she still
loved him and asked him to come to
see her. Brightman was of a very
quiet disposition and was well liked
by those who knew him here.