Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-10
ONE KILLED,
ONE HURT BY
INSANE MAN
THIRD INTENDED VICTIM JUST
ESCAPES BULLET
NO PRovocArIoN KNOWN FOR
DESPERATE ACT
Proprietor Of Roomlng House Stalks
Up and Down in Front of Fac
tory and Shoots Without
Warning

One man was shot and almost instant
ly killed, while another received Oui-
LET wound in the groin yesterday as the
result of what the police believe to be
the act of an insane man.
The dead man Is A. w. Wethern' VINO
lived at 3i5 IL East Seventh street, an
employe of the Hipolito Screen ana Sash
company, 63S Maple avenue
A. B. Hartman, living at 1872 CrocKer
street. lies wounded at his home. where
he was taken after his injury was treat
ed at the emergency hospital.
Another man, Samuei Miller, also en-
Moved at the screen and sash factory,
barely escaped being struck by pullet
as he went to the factory door TO see
what caused the shooting.
The man who, according to witnesses,
fred three shots Is Joseph de Plaa, pro-
prietor of a rooming house a 632 maple
avenue He is now in the county jail
awaiting the result of the inquest anu
an examination into his mental condi-
tion.
Shoots Without Notice
The shooting took place about 1880
yesterday afternoon in front of the Hipo-
Tito factory. wethern and Hartman had
finished their MONDAY lunch and were
sitting outside the front door watching
three, children at play. one of whom was
a 5-year-old grandson of De Plaa.
'sI noticed the man passing back and
forth in front of u.s." said Hartman yes
terday. .hut paid little attention to him
as he is around the factory great deal.
There was quite bulging appearance
to one of his coat pockets which l could
not help seeing but thought little of 1t
at the time.
.vxN,. f@f ffr,1ne
when he suddenly turned and I heard a
shot and saw wethern fall forward. He
crawled and dragged himself perhaps
ten feet when rolled over. 1 was so
astonished I could not move.
"The next moment 1 heard another
shot and felt terrible pain in my left
leg knew I was wounded and got up
and ran into the factory Just as l did
SO Sam Miller came to the door and the
man fired at him, but missed. Miller
turned and ran back inside the building
and De Plaa went toward his house"
The shots were fired through the side
pocket CT the mans coat and a large
burned hole shows where they passed
out From the factory De Plaa went
to his home, which is in building adj
Joining the factory. He took off the coat
and hung it up with the smoking re-
volver still in the pocket. Donning an
other coat he appeared on the front
porch. apparently unconcerned and
walked to a saloon at the corner of Eighth
and Maple.
Identified by Witness
In the meantime a large crowd had
gathered and a description of the man
was given He was found in the saloon
taken back to the factory and there
identified by Miller. who is we'll ac-
faT mi hot nd
wife.
De Plaza W then arrested by Deputy
Sheriff Oscar Norrell and taken to the
county Jail.
At the Jail De Plaza showed signs of
mental arrangement and no information
could be gained from him through ques-
tioning. Wien asked about the shoot
ing he professed not to understand what
was being said, and turned every ques-
ton by telling of the power oil his mind
over inanrate objects
Mrs. De Plaa said yesterday that her
husband had been complaining for four
months of 'errible pains in his right
ear.
He has suffered greatly in the past
fifteen years. she said from rheuma-
tism. Lately he has been worried over
my illness and because of financial af-
fairs. Four months ago he began com
planning about pains in his right ear.
Yesterday morning he came to my
room and putting his ear near my head
asked if / could hear noises 1 urieted
him and tolG him 1 wanted his help in
work about the house. He complained
repeatedly during the forenoon but 9TH
erwise there seemed to be nothing un-
usual.
Il do not believe my husband fired
those shots. If he did fire them he must
have been insane. for a more gentle
man never lived"
"A. w. Wethern, the dead man. came
to Los Angeles with his parents and one
brother from Anoka, Mimi. four years
ago. The father. George Wethern. re-
Gently purchaseda ranch at Slosson,
moving there a week ago. He formerly
worked at Il e Hipolito Screen and Sash
factory. The dead man was 35 years old
and unmarried.
Wetherns body was taken to Pierce
Bros undertaking establishment, where
an inquest will be held
The bulle that struck Hartman still
remains imbedded in the upper part of
his leg. The surgeons at the emergency
hospital W terday photographed the leg
with the X-ray, but the location of the
bullet could not be determined because
of unfavorable weather conditions
Whether an operation will be performed
will be decided today
Hartman ceclared yesterday that he
could not understand why De Plaa
should make an attempt on his life.
IT knew the man when l saw him. :"
he said. "ard Wethern knew him in the
same way. He was around the factory
a great al. but neither Of us paid much
attention to him. cannot imagine why
he should attack u.s.
The Overture to Orpheus" by Often
bach and the "'Valse de Salon Pitt Cheri.'
by Peiniger. also the "Humoreske'' by
Dvorak were well given, the latter being
the orchestra's best effort. but with more
frequent and better attended rehearsaIs
their organization would do even better
work
The Overture to Orpheus' had two
quite elaborate cadenzas. one for clarinet.
which was played by Miss Belle Doyle.
and one for violin. played by the able
concert meister, Miss Edna Foy. She
also had quite a little solo part (well
accompanied by the orchestra), which
gave one the opportunity to enjoy ner
sweet, pure tones.
Real Wonderland