The San Francisco call., 1905-02-19
Edward Pratt Attempts to
Murder Landlady, With
Whom He Was in Love, and
Then Takes His Own Life
SHE DECLINES TO
LEAVE A SICK son
Death the Price She May Pay
for Her Refusal to Attend
Switchmen's Ball With
Her infatuated Lodger

Because she would not leave the
bedside of her sick son 10 attend the
switchmen's ball with him, Edward
Pratt shot his landlady, Mrs Alice
Keig, and killed himself last night at
439 Jessie street. The bullet fred at
the woman entered her neck. grazing
her spinal column and paralyzing all
her limbs. The wound will probably
prove fatal.
Pratt had been paying ardent court
ship TO Mrs. keig tor -FOUR years. He
was of jealous disposition and sew
eral times threatened TO fix her.
The woman had been advised to have
him bound over to keep the peace, but
refused to do SO.
Last night Pratt met Mrs. Keig in
the hallway of the Jessie-street place.
which she has been running as a
rooming-house. Are you ready TO
go 10 the ball with me to-night? he
asked.
Mrs. Keig told nim she could not
go because her son Louis was i'll and
loudly.
You're going to throw me down.
are you?" he shouted, and his hand
flew to his hip pocket.
IT am not going TO throw you down,
said Mrs Keig, preserving her calm
ness though she was terrified by the
expression on the mans face
You are going TO throw me down,
he insisted, III fix you" Before she
knew it Pratt held revolver in each
hand He fred and she reeled back
ward into a sitting-room-
Now, I'll get that SON or yours, too,
he muttered and rushed upstairs 10
where young Louis kag lay III IN bed
The young man heard the shot and the
of ic a
the man hurried up the stairway
Young Keig rose from his bed and
locked the door Just as Pratt
reached it.
Pratt pounded furiousIy on the door
and tried to break ii in Finally ne
gave it UP and returned to where his
victim lay moaning on the floor.
Il might as well finish myself, he
announced in tone so loud that other
occupants of the house could hear.
Raising the second pistol he sent bull
let into his BRAIN
The injured woman was hurried to
the Central Emergency Hospital. where
it was found that she had lost the
use of her limbs from the effects of
the shot The bullet entered the jaw
on the left side and came out at the
back of the neck. The surgeons fear
that the wound will result in the wom-
ans death.
Mrs. ke1g is So years or age ana
widow Her assailant. Pratt, was bar
tender, employed at $50 Fourth street
He was formerly railroad man. Pratt
had been rcoming in Mrs keig's house
ever since she started the, place at 439
Jessie street and had beeH very atten-
tive to her. He was about 40 years old.
Policeman Heinz, who arrived at the
scene shortly after the shooting, says
he had been informed that Prutt had
threatened to kill Mrs Keig. He did
not take any steps in the matter be-
cause Mrs. Keig refused to make
charge against the man.
Mrs Annie Roberts, a rOomer, rush
ed 70 Mrs Keig's side shortly after
She was shot and was trying to
stanch the blood that gushed from
the wound when Pratt returned and
turned the second pistol on himself.
Mrs. Keig retained consciousness
throughout it all. At the Central
Emergency Hospital she talked freely
of the affair.
IT have known Pratt for four years"
she said. II went out with him a
great deal. Last night he wanted me
10 go to the switchmen's ball / told
him that 1 could not leave my sick
SON He. became furious. / tried to
soothe him but he only got angrier.
I'm 10 a late hour the woman was
resting easily. but little hope Is ex-
pressed for her recovery Pratt's body
was taken TO the Morgue-