Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-07
SHOOTS IN
JEALOUS RAGE
WOMAN FALLS; MAN FIRES ON
SELF
PLANS FOR WEEKS TO sLAY
BOTH
Thomas n. Chapman Wounds Woman
He Calls Wife-Watches Days
for His Chance to


had lived for nearly ten years Thomas
H. Chapman yesterday afternoon at
tempted to carry out his plan and shot
her three times and then turned the
gun on himself and blew off the top
of his skull
The shooting took place on the porch
in front of the little house at 3O7 East
Fourth street, in which Mrs. Chapman,
as she was known, lived with her father
and a niece
The sound of the shots attracted a
crowd within few minutes, and among
the first to arrive on the scene were DR..
E. II. Garrett and Patrolman William
G. Pursell.
With the blood flowing from two
wounds in her head the woman lay by
the body of her assailant, whose head
dangled over the first step of the ap-
proach to the entrance.
When the patrol wagon had left with
the woman the man still lay on the
porch. Officer Pursell heard wagon
coming and stopped it. 1t proved to be
a United States mail van but he pressed
1t into service and the horses were lashed
into a gallop.
In both instances it was a race with
death. Plunging along Just ahead was
the police ambulance with the body of
the woman in the stretchers Behind
came the mail wagon, with the man
lying on the floor and the horses at top
speed. In the ambulance with the wo-
man were DIR. Garrett, the wagon at
tendant and an officer. In the mail
wagon were Patrolman Pursell Detective
Tom Rico and Detective Talamantes.
For an hour four surgeons worked des-
perately at the operating table to save
the couples lives.
Shot Under Eye
Mrs. Chapman was shot below the cor
ner of the left eye, the bullet coming out
in front of the right ear. A second
wound was below the left temple, the
bullet making an exit near the other
ear. A third bullet struck her left hand.
She was removed to the county hospital.
Chapman was shot near the right tenn
pie and the bullet came out at the top
of the skull, shattering the entire frontal
bone and tearing a great hole.
Despite the desperate character of the
wounds both were fully conscious at
times and each made a statement to the
police.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chapman as they were
known, came to Los Angeles from the
north two years ago. Mrs. Chapman
was a widow. her husband, Henry Wise
Of Sacramento, having died ten years
ago. Chapman was an expert accountant
and teacher of penmanship. When he
came to Los Angeles he was unable to
secure work at his business and took
a menial position. For a time he drove
a water wagon for the city street de-
partment.
A year after they arrived here Mrs
Chapman received word that her father.
M. H. Hayward of Sacramento was seri-
ously ill., and she went to nurse him.
Some months ago she brought him to
this city and rented the house where the
tragedy took place.
RepuIses Chapman
Shortly after her return Chapman ap-
peared at the house, but on the strenuous
objection of Hayward. Mrs Chapman did
not permit him to remain there. Several
times afterward he came to the house
and pleaded with the woman, but she al
ways refused his demands. He became
ugly and threatened her. On one occa-
sion he informed her that he proposed to
cut her heart out, and again he told her
that he would shoot her.
A week ago Chapman rented a room at
the lodging house at 412 East Fourth
street, almost directly across the street
from the little cottage in which Mrs.
Chapman lived. Every day from early in
the morning until late at night he
watched the house across the way.
Yesterday afternoon ne was in his usual
position and when Mrs. Chapman and
onto their porch they noticed him. Mrs
Chapman was carrying in her arms the
little baby of Mrs. Manders. Chapman
waved his hand at them and she replied
with a like salutation.
In a few moments Chapman got up and
went into his house and remained twenty
minutes. When he came out he walked
across the street.
Good evening"" he said. Come into
the parlor want to talk to you" This
last remark was addressed to Mrs. Chap
man. His right hand was in his hip
pocket and with his left he rubbed his
forehead nervously.
Mrs. Manders reached over and took
her baby from the arms of her aunt, and
left the two together AS she stepped
through the doorway she heard an in
distinct remark by Chapman and then
followed four shots in rapid succession
She screamed for help.
Grasps Pistol
From the position of the bodies and ma
ture of the wounds it is believed that
chapman pulled his revolver and fired
point blank at the woman, but that she
knocked the pistol aside, receiving the
wound in the hand. This so terrified her
that she lost control of herself and he
then fired the two shots which entered
her head She fell backward and he
turned tne revolver on himself, placing
the muzzle at his right temple and firing
his fourth shot.
Mrs. Chapman is A years of age
Chapman came from Seattle, his original
home being Detroit. Mrs. Chapman is
a graduate nurse of the Battle Creek
sanitarium, and they met in the east
Mrs. Chapman made statement to
the police that she had been threatened
frequently by Chapman and that he had
abused and beaten her on frequent oc-
casions. She also stated that he had
spent more than $4,000 of her money and
that he was worthless, but that she
was afraid of him, and it was only the
protection of her father and niece that
gave her courage to break away from
him when she came back here from Sac
ramento.
Chapman, after being placed in a bed
at the receiving hospital, for several
hours did nothing but chew tobacco CON
staptly.
In his coat pockets were found several
letters which showed that he had con-
templated the deed He accused Mrs.
Chapman of wasting his money and in
another communication he threatened w.
w Grav q real estate man, with death !