Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-21
W. F. Retiring Shoots
Two and Makes
His Escape
Victims Had Just Come
Back From San
Francisco
Husband Asked His Wife to Live With
Him, Though They Had Parted;
She Refused and He Fired
VolIey of Lead

D Infuriated because his wife would
not come to live with him after a
years separtion, William F. Ketring
shot his wife and her sister at 1:45
O'Clock this morning.
Then after struggle with his son
the frenzied man made his way out of
the rear door of their home, 112 East
Thirty-second street evading neighbors
and police, and made his escape.
Ketring's desperate act grew out of
his demand that his wife live with him
again.
Her refusal brought on volley of
bullets from the frenzied mans re-
volver.
Both of the victims of the mans mur-
from San Francisco.
Over a year ago the wife had parted
from her husband, having found mar
ried life unbearable, and he evidently
learned that Mrs Retiring had come
back to Los Angeles to live.
During the night Retiring made his
way into the house where, his wife was
a guest.
How long he had been there no one
knows, but angry words and a scuffle
soon appraised the others there that
something was wrong.
Retiring demanded that his wife pro-
mise to come back to him.
She refused.
Two BuIIets-Wife Falls
The next moment two sharp reports
rang out and bullets had penetrated
her head and hand.
Mrs. Bessie O'Day, sister of Mrs.
Vera Ketring, had rushed down to the
woman's assistance and tried to grab
the pistol
The man fired al her next-one bullet
penetrating the shoulder and the other
her breast
Son Grappes Father
Ketring's son Edwin then tried to
grapple with the father and he too was
shot at.
The desperate man was then edging
his way toward the door.
The next moment fatiron came
bounding down the stairs, thrown by
Gordon Ketring, another son. 1t struck
Retiring in the back.
The blow famed him for a minute and
instead of making his escape by the
front door he darted out the rear, point
ing his pistol at those who tried to block
the way.
Police Predict oucide
Kittring left the house immediately
following the shooting.
Although every available man on the
police force was detailed to join in the
search within thirty minutes after the
tragedy, he had not been caught at 4
o'clock.
1t is believed that Ketring will commit
suicide as he no doubt thought he had
killed both his wife and her sister when
he left the house.
Acting upon this theory the immedi-
ate surroundings were carefully search
ed and when daylight approaches the
vicinity of every nearby lake and re-
mote spot will be visited by the police.
In the meantime all railway stations
and roads leading from the city are be-
ing carefully patroled.
1t is believed that in case Ketring is
apprehended he will not hesitate to offer
resistance, as he still carried the re-
volver and number of cartridges when
he left the house.
The scene of the tragedy was quickly
surrounded by neighbors and curiosity
seekers who did what they could for
the sufferers until the police electric
ambulance arrived.
Had Taken Precautions
The Ketrings live in a flat.
Suspecting that there might be trou-
BILE they had taken precautions against
any stranger being admitted to the
house.
With the disaster in San Francisco
robbing her of her home there, Mrs.
Ketring returned to her children here
and there naturally the husband laid
in ambush.
Mrs. Ketring was the first to see him
in the hall. He talked to her in low
tone and she tried to avoid him, sus-
pecting that there was murder in his
heart.
She purposely raised her tone so that
others would know her husband was
there and help came quickly.
Sister Telephones Police
In fact. while the preliminary talk
was going on Mrs O'Day had gone to
the telephone and called up the police
station.
AT that moment the first of the shoot
ing began.
Mrs. Ketring's sister bravely rushed