Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-15
STAYS AFFINITY AND
TAKES HIS OWN LIFE
ERRING COUPLE RESOLVE TO
DIE TOGETHER
After Making All Arrangements, Man
and Woman Walk to Alfalfa
Plot Where Fatal Shots
Are Fired
Especial to The Herald.l

POMONA Oct. 14.-The denouement
of a long story of a wifes inffdelity, a
happy home made desolate and kind
parents and husband rendered heart
broken came today in the form of muir
der and suicide, when Lee j. Smith
shot Mrs. Pearl Scott Hopp and then
sent a bullet crashing through his own
brain.
The tragedy occurred at the home of
the young Woman's parents in South
Hamilton avenue in little alfalfa
plot south of the house to which the
couple had by prearranged plan walked
hand in hand. Smith has been around
here as a common labOrer for some
months and some time ago secured
board at the home of the young wo-
man, her husband and parents. Soon
an intimacy began between the woman
and Smith, to which Hopp, the hus-
band, took exception, and there were
many stormy scenes as a result. Fin
ally Smith and Mrs. Hopp went to Los
Angeles together with some of Hopp's
money, it is alleged. Hopp notified the
officers and the man and woman were
found living together.
When the money was gone Mrs. Hopp
returned to Pomona and was received
by her husband and parents. She
lived quietly until the first of the week,
when Smith again appeared. Then
they were secretly together again and
the Illicit love was renewed. Yester-
day they were in each others COM
pany for some time, arranging for their
death today, as is indicated by let
ter which was scrawled last night by
Mrs. Hopp to her parents and was
found crumpled in the left hand Of
Smith as he lay beside the woman in
death today.
Two Shots Fired
About II o'clock this morning Smith
and Mrs. Hopp went to the orchard
together, she quietly leaving her work
in the kitchen. Some time later two
shots were heard and Mr.. Scott, the
father, on running to the house, found
the two bodies on the greensward
south of the house. A moment later
Hopp, the husband, who was working
on another street, rushed up and saw
his wife and her sweetheart with blood
flowing from fearful holes in their
heads.
Hopp is apparently a steady, hard
working man and is too overwhelmed
to talk much of the intimacy of his
wife and Smith. He says he forgave
the erring woman time and again.
The bodies are at Tood's undertaking
parlors and the coroner will be here
tomorrow Smith was about 23 years
old and had little or no money. In the
letter written by the woman last night
she says:
Dear Ma and Pa: and Lee have
gone to die together. We have
come to the conclusion that we
would rather die together than to
live apart We both think that
much of each other. Ma, want
you to have my part on the place
and my trunk and carpet. Please
bury us together Is our request.
We wrote to his mother so she
will send funeral expenses. Tele-
graph his mother if you don't hear
from her. This is all caused
through Bill Hopp. He said last
night while we were out at the
barn that he was going to make
1t hot for us, so I hope he can't
sleep a night after I am dead and
buried, and I will haunt him every
night 1 can till he dies. Well, good
by, my dear loving parents. hope
we will all meet again in better
place.
Keep all my things. Don't let
Bill have anything of mine.