The San Francisco call., 1907-06-28
WHIPS OUT PISTOL At
DINNER, MURDERS WIFE
AND TAKES OWN LIFE
William Stulz, a Butcher,
Tries to Exterrninate
Whole Family
PLEADINGS IN VAIN
Mother in Law Wounded,
but Sister in Law
Flees in Time
PLEADINGS IN VAIN

William Stulz. butcher, while tenn
porarily insane, shot and killed his
wife Louise, seriously wounded his
mother in law, Mrs. l. Betchel. and
then killed himself at his home at ST4
Dolores street last evening. The trag-
edy was enacted shortly after 6 O'Clock
as the family was seated at the dinner
table According to information
learned by the police there had been
much quarreling between Stulz, his
wife and her mother. The only eye
witness was Mrs. Betchel. Her other
daughter, Miss Christine Betcbel was
in the rear of the house when the
shots were fired, and she ran scream
ing to the fat next door. which is oc-
oupied by William ONeil- She was
hysterical last night and could not
give a coherent account of what she
knew.
Louis Betchel, husband of the
wounded woman, arrived on the scene
a few minutes after the shooting. Open
ing the front door he saw the dead
body of his daughter lying in a pool of
bIoed in the hallway. Betchel col
lapsed and had to be locked up in his
room, so serious was his condition.
According to the story told by Mrs.
BetcheI. Stulz arrived home about 6
o'clock He appeared to be in quar-
relsome mood and at once began to
abuse his wife. mother in law and Sis
ter in law. The family was about to
sit down to the dinner table when
Stulz, in an angry voice, said that he
wanted no dinner and that he was
looking for trouble.
Miss Betchel, in the meantime, went
into another room. few moments
later Stulz whipped large revolver
out of his pocket and informed his
wife and mother in law that he was
going TO kill them.
The women started to run out OF the
room after pleading with Stulz for
mercy. He turned a deaf ear to their
entreaties and heading off his wife at
the door fired two shots at her One
bullet took effect in the heart and the
other entered a few inches below.
Either wound was fatal
Mrs. Betchel, who is old and feeble,
was. terror stricken for the moment,
but recovering her senses she ran into
an adjoining bedroom. Stulz dashe /
after her and when but a few feet away
took careful aim and fired. The bullet
entered her cheek and plowed its way
upward. She fell to the floor and Stulz
believing that he had killed her, walked
back to the hallway, where his wifes
body lay, and placing the revolver to
his head, blew his brains out.
William O'Neil, the neighbor, heard
the shots and hurried downstairs. Hear
ing Mrs. Betchel groaning, he sum-
moned DR.. Sullivan from Sixteenth and
Guerrero streets, who dressed the
wounds and announced that Mrs.
Betchel would recover.
Corporal de Guire of the Mission sta
ton arrived at the house shortly after
the tragedy and notified the morgue
oficials, who took the remains away.
Mrs Betchel refused TO be removed TO
a hospital.
Stulz was ss years old. He and his
wife were married about three years
go They are said to have lived hap
PLY. until lately, when Stulz conceived
the idea that his wife and her mother
were conspiring against him. Recently
he has had frequent quarrels with them
over trivial matters The neighbors
declare that Stulz has shown signs of
insanity.