The San Francisco call., 1908-10-18
MURDERS WOMAN. :
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
Mrs. Augusta Towle, Proprietor
of Brown Palace Hotel, Is
Slain by Former Tenant
Assassin Accused Victim of Be-
ing Responsible for Wrecking
of His Home Il


Prompted by a spirit of revenge,
Michael 8orsos yesterday morning shot
to death Mrs. Augusta Towle. proprie-
tor of the Brown Palace hotel, $50
O'Farrell street, in her apartments at
the hotel Having emptied one of two
pistols he carried into the sprawled
form OF the woman, Borsos turned the
other weapon on himself, inhicting
three Superficial wounds
Thinking himself mortally wounded
Borsos fell to the floor to await death
by the side OF the woman he had slain.
While he was lying there Mrs. Eva
Clark, a rooiner in the hotel. telephcned
to Captain OF Police Thomas Duke.
Borsos finding. meantime. that he was
not going TO die, ran to. q window to
make his escape. The window being
AS he reached the street Captain of
Police Duke, with Policemen j. B. Hurd
and F. Mahoney, in the police automo-
bile, turned into O'Farrell street.
They called to Borsos to halt He
paid no attention. TO the command of the
policemen, but continued his course
south on Leavenw street. Seeing
that he was not going to stop Police
man Hurd fred shot in the air. This
brought Borsos to his knees with his
hands in the air. He was placed un-
derea arrest and taken back to the hotel.
where. he made full confession to Cap
tain Duke t-
EMPLOYED MRS. BoRSoS
Until a few months ago Mrs Towle
owned besides the Brown Palace ho-
tel a rooming house called The Decker,
al SIS. Leavenworth street. At that
time she employed Mrs. Borsos, wiIe
of the murderer. in the capacity of
house keeper. When Mrs. Towle dis
posed of The Decker Mrs. Borsos went
to Los Angeles. Since that time Bor-
SOS, who remained at The Decker, re-
peatedly accused Mrs Towle of caus-
ing his wife to leave illim. On several
occasions he went to the Brown Palace
and. threatened to revenge himself on
Mrs. Towle. On July 20 Mrs. TowIe
had. him arrested on account of his
threats. He was charged with. disturb
ing her peace and was fined $40 by
Police Judge Shortall. At that time
he was warned not to go near Mrs
Towle.
This morning his fury reached a mur-
derous pitch. He came to the hotel
determined to kill Mrs. Towle and him
self. Mrs. Towle was seated at the
office desk as the man came through
the swinging doors. In either hand he
carried a pistol.
WOMAN RUNS TO ROOM
Seeing the weapons Mrs. Towle ran
into her apartments, where he fol-
lowed. The first shot was fatal, as Ii
passed through her. braiii.- he conf
tinued firing uptilssthe sweapon : was
empty. He then TURNED lthe seconds xrjs.
tol on himself. Excited by the elsii ling
Of the woman his hand shook SO that
his aim was poor and the bullets merely
grazed the skin. $3.50 .'7ie- S
A search of Borsos' reono,sat The
Decker revealed a note addaes sea { 10
his wife. showing that he had planned
the crime. The note follows:
Ny Dearest Mamma-It is either
you or suicide and murder for me-
MICHAEL BORSOS."
This note was addressed to general
delivery. Los Angeles.
The body Of Mrs. Towle was removed
TO the morgue, while Borsos was treated
at the central emergency hospital. He
was charged with murder and later re-
moved TO Lane hospital, where he will
remain until he RECEIVERS from his
wounds. Borsos was night watchman
at the New Free market, Eleventh and
Market streets.