Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-06
SHOOTS WIFE
AND FATALLY
WOUNDS SELF
Drink Crazed Man
Attempts Double
Tragedy
Marital Trouble of Two
Years Growth Cause
of Shooting
w. c. Harrington, Seized with Uxorcid-
al Mania, Fires at Spouse and
Turns Revolver Upon
Himself
Harrington died at 2:2O o'clock this
morning.

Harrington died at 2.20 o'clock this
morning.
secret Wooing and marriage, fol-
lowed by two years of chickering's and
Quarrels, eliminated in an attempted
murder and suicide last night, when
w. c. Harrington, proprietor of the
small grocery store at 3505 Central
avenue, shot and probably fatally
wounded his wife and then shot him
self through the right temple.
For nearly two years the couple have
owned the small store in the rear
room of which the tragedy occurred.
1t was their first home in Los Angeles,
Mr.. Harrington having purchased it
shortly after they arrived here from
their former abiding place in Chicago.
About 1920 o'clock last night pedes-
trians near the little store were
startled by the sound of four revolver
shots coming from the building. A
moment later the frightened scream
of woman rang out on the air and
a number of those who had heard the
shots sprang to the store to inVeSti-
gate. Among the first were N. H
Willis, 1865 Austin street, and H. F
Greeley, S99 East Jefferson street.
Into the rear room af the store ran
rified at the sight which met theiI
gaze. Lying stretched on the floor
with blood streaming from a gaping
wound in his right temple, lay the body
of Harrington with revolver at his
feet, while a short distance away was
seen his wife, crawling on her hands
and knees toward the door, while blood
gushed from two frightful wounds In
her head.
Save me. Save me from him,
moaned the woman as the men paused
at the doorway, and then with groan
drawn from her by the intense pain
she was suffering, the woman rolled
unconscious on the floor
DR.. Harvey Hall was summoned and
administered aid to the sufferer. The
police were notified and officers from
the University station were detailed
on the case.
Life Far from Happy
According to neighbors, the life of
the Harringtons since their marriage
has been far from happy. About three
years ago, according to stories which
have been told by Mrs. Harrington
town. Ohio, the town in which she
lived. There was a disparity in their
ages. Mr.. Harrington being 36 years
old. while Mrs. Harrington was 90.
For several months Harrington Wooed
her in secret, her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Gerdes, objecting to Harrington
paving their daughter any attentions
At last the couple arranged plans
for an elopement and marriage. II
- aIo,ra6 that HarrinptOn ShOuld
go to Chicago and there await his
bride-to-be, who promised to hasten
to his side as soon as she could gain
the consent of her parents to leave
home.
Within a month after Harrington ar
rived in Chicago the woman went
to that city, and there the mar
the couple lived in that city, and then
decided to come to Los Angeles, Mrs
Harrington having received word that
her father intended to visit her in
the eastern city.
The following week the couple came
to Los Angeles. Harrington h. lit
tie money and they at once decided to
invest it in some business here. They
nurchased the small grocery they have
since owned and within few days
after buying the place moved In. Sue
cess came to them and soon they began
TO Law aside money each month. But
with prosperity came trouble. Harring-
ton began to drink, say the nelghbors
while the sound of angry voices was
often heard emanating from the place
soon after the couple moved into the
store it was whispered in the neighbor-
hood that threats had been made by
Harrington to kill his wife, ana tnen
one day, nearly ten months ago, MRS.
Harrington informed neighbor tnal
in a fit of passion her husband had
drawn a revolver on her.
Took Revolver Away
"I got the gun away from him and
hid it," said Mrs. Harrington, and
do not intend to give it back to him..
From that time tiIe troubles OF the
couple began to inc ease. The quar-
rels became more and more frequent
until scarcely a day passed tnat uil-
fculty of some nature did not ARISE
Yesterday morning Harrington arose
early and as soon as his wife arose he
is said to have started pleading with
her to return his revolver AT last Mrs
Harrington gave in to her husbard'
entieaties and returned the weapon
Harrington placed it in his pocket anc
left the store. During the AFTERNOON
he passed the time drinking in saloons
with a number of friends. About
O'Clock he met George Tanner, 1000 Eas'
Thirty-seventh street, and for nearly
an hour passed the time drinking WIFI
him.
Harrington complained of feeling
ill.," said Tanner. ""but did not appear
to be intoxicated He left me about
O'Clock and a few minutes later
heard he had shot his wife and him
UrtfCnwANa,r~.1 ~. K1ana Trhval