Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-17
WOMAN SHR|EkS;
HUSBAND FIRES
PatroIman Sends Call and Reserve
Squad Is in Time to Prevent Mob
from Liberatine Would-Be
Murderer

Following few words spoken quietly,
Richard Cross, a barber employed at a
shop at 30S North Main street, calmly
drew a revolver and fired three shots at
cthea bosom Is of ii4sss wifes- Rita about
6:55 last night on the crowded thorough
fare of Main street in front Of the bar
Der shop.
At the first shot, which penetrated
the woman's breast, she reeled back
ward and called feebly to a friend. d.
A. Grimager, who was waiting for her
on the corner of Commercial and Main,
a half block distant.
MY God Dave, I'm shot!" she walled,
and her companion rushed frantically
toward her. The woman turned to run,
when Cross fired another shot, the
bullet entering her left shoulder, and as
she darted into the stairway entrance
of the San Gabriel rooming house, next
the barber shop, the wouldbe murderer
fired third shot, which passed directly
over her head and was imbedded in the
door casing.
Officer Is Threatened
Grimager who had by that time
reached the scene of the tragedy, threw
himself at Cross to prevent him from
shooting again, and the assailant fled
into the barber shop. There the men
Sll leu lOSclIlSI, 1IOSS Trying W llSt
his arms to shoot. but Grimager was
the stronger Of the two and quickly
sent the gun flying across the room by
a deft jerk on his adversary'S wrist.
A mob of hundreds of people gathered
on the street and crowded into the shop,
many of them interfering with Grima-
ger in his efforts to hold his prisoner
until the police arrived.
Policeman Richard Rose, who was in
the near vicinity, was soon in the shop
and dragged Cross out to take him to
the station. On the outside, however,
the prisoner turned savagely on the
officer but was overpowered and pulled
into the saloon owned by Charles ID.
Belmoth, adjoining the San Gabriel
rooming house. The patrolman tried TO
use the phone but was Interrupted by
a big crowd of men who showed after
the officer and prisoner. Many of the
men taunted the bluecoat and threat
ened him with death if he did not re-
lease Cross.
Patrolman Is Assaulted
Someone in the mob, who officer Rose
said was Belmoth, the proprietor
jumped on the policeman's back and
attempted to pull him to the floor,
shouting for him to release Cross or he
would choke him. This threat he fol-
lowed by grasping the officer about the
neck and throttling him until he gasped
for breath. But for the timely arrival
of other police at this juncture the
prisoner would undoubtedly have
gained his liberty through the inter-
vention of his friends among the dis.
turbers. The officers fought their way
through the mob and Belmoth, the
saloon keeper was taken to the police
station and booked on charge of in
terfering with an officer
The wounded woman, who was in the
care of her friend in the stairway en-
trance and was bleeding profusely from
her wounds, was taken to the receiving
hospital, while her husband was takon
to the central police station and booked
on charge of attempted murder.
Mrs. Cross came to Los Angeles from
Yuma, Ariz, about three days ago for
the express purpose of inducing her hus.
band to agree to a legal separation. 1t
was while she was talking to him about
this matter last night that the murder
Gus assault was made upon her.
Woman Is Shot
Mrs. Cross went to the Star barber
shop in company with her friend, ID. A.
Grimager, about 6:45 and called her
husband outside. Grimager walked on
to the corner of Commercial and Main
where he waited for his CONF
panion. The woman and her husband
had not spoken three minutes, says
Grimager, when he heard Mrs. Cross
cry, preceded by the revolver shot.
The men employed In the barber shop,
in front of which the man and
woman stood while talking, say there
(COntinued ON Page Three.)