Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-14
SHOOTS RIVAL
FOUND In HOME
OF SWEETHEART
LOUIS GALLAGHER M0RTALLY
WOUNDED BY JAS. HURLEY
MEN HAD ouARRELED OVER THE
AFFECTIONS OF BESSIE HESTER
Slayer, Now a Prisoner In the City
Jail, Declares That the Killing
Was Done In Self
Defense

What is alleged to have been love
quarrel resulted late yesterday atter
noon In a tragedy when James Hurley
shot and mortally wounded his rival
Louis Gallagher, at the home OF MIs'
Bessie Heister the woman in the case
in a three-room frame building IN the
rear of 1923 Maud street.
Gallagher died a short time atter pc
ing sent to the receiving hospital and
HIirlev was locked up with a charge OF
murder against his maine on the ponce
blotter.
Hurley. when questioned at police
Headquarters, stoutly a sserted thal ne
shot Gallagher in self-defense, but Mrs;
Heister, who so far as has been learned
was the only other witness oil the aL-
fair. maintains that the killing of Hur-
ley was premeditated
Did Not Deny Shooting
The accused did not deny firing the
bullet but claimed that Gallagher at
tackled him with a knife, and that ne
shot in self-defense after a quarrel re
garding the presence of Gallagher III the
home of Mrs Holster.
The wounded man walked conslder-
able distance after being shot, and was
found in an alley leading from t9aud
street into Mesnager street by Patrol-
man Hickey. He was unconscious ana
made no statement DelOI6 Ae OApAA ON a
the receiving hospital.
Hurley stated that he went to the
home of Mrs Holster, and quarrel oc-
Cured between him and Gallagher
during which Gallagher seized q cary
ing knife and started to attack him
He said he realized he was about 10
be stabbed and drew a .32 caliber re-
volver and fired one shot at the ap-
preaching man.
Tells Different Story
Mrs Heister tells a different story.
She says that Hurley not only shot at
Gallagher, but tried to shoot her. she
stated that Hurley went to her house
yesterday afternoon and noticed lot
of steak on the table, and accused her
of catering to Gallagher, who was pres
ent Gallagher resented the remarks,
and a quarrel ensued, during which
Gallagher was shot. Mrs. Heister beat
a hasty retreat, jumping over fence
in the rear of the house.
The stories of the murder as told by
Hurley and Mrs. Hester are conflict
ing and detectives were put to work
on the case in an endeavor to obtain
a true version.
Hurley denied the accusation that
he attempted to shoot Mrs. Hester
while Mrs. Hester declares that Hur-
lev entered the house in an ugly mood
cording to Mrs. Hester while Cal
lagher was reaching for his coat Hur-
ley fred the fatal shot and she fled
Professed No Regret
Hurley was arrested by Patrolman
Hickey as he was walking out the
alley in the rear of the cottage. He
prcfessed no regret at his action and
maintained that he acted in self-de-
fense. An examination of his revolver
showed that but one shot had been
fired.
"He tried to do me dirty and got
him." was the only remark of Hurley
on the way to police headquarters.
Hurley is a veteran of the Spanish
American war and for some time has
been employed as a bartender in va
rious saloons about Los Angeles. Cal
lagher was a mining man and wen
known in mining centers along the
coast.
It is sid that Mrs. Hester, over
whom the men quarreled, was desert
ed by her husband several years ago
and has since occupied the little cot
tage where the killing occurred.
Mrs. Margaret Lemon, 224 East Ann
street. stated last night that Hurley
came to her house yesterday afternoon
and declared that he would clean out
the Hester home if Gallagher did not
keep away. Mrs. Lemon, who is
friend of Mrs. Heister, stated that
Hurley acted in such a threatening
manner that Mrs. Hester went to the
district attorney and endeavored to
obtain warrant against him. 1t was
stated that, as no witnesses appeared,
the application for the warrant charg
ing disturbance Of the peace was not
given.
The body of Gallagher was taken to
the undertaking parlors of Bresee
Brothers and an inquest will be held
tomorrow morning.