Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-26
SHOOTS GIRL
AND HIMSELF
RUSSIAN SWEETHEARTS PLAN
TO DIE TOGETHER
Disappointed Because Anna Sossoeff's
Father Refused to Permit Mar-
riage, Alexis Kottoff Tries
to End Lives

Alexis Kottoff, % years of age, a
farm laborer, living at COG Turner
street, and Anna Sossoeff, 16 years of
age, living at 1908 East First street,
were shot and perhaps fatally wounded
a few minutes past o'clock last night
at the residence of Mrs. c. Eodonoiff
in the rear of 118 North Vignes street.
KOttoff first shot the girl and then
shot himself. The police and the wit
nesses to the shooting claim that but
four shots were fired, despite the fact
that there were ten wounds in the body
of the girl and one in the body of the
man.
Anna Sossoeff is the daughter of
Alexis Sossoeff, an influential member
of the Russian colony. She is typical
beauty of the peasant class, with well
formed and regular features, great
brown eyes and a wealth of brown hair,
which curls and ripples over low
white brow. She and Kottoff were
sweethearts and had planned to be
married. Alexis Sossoeff had other
views for his daughter. He objected
to Kottoff because he was molokani,
"freethinker," a CRAZY one." Be-
sides he was in debt, was Sossoen, and
he wished the labor of his daughter to
aid him in clearing off the debt against
him.
Time and again Kottoff had gone to
the father AMI asked for permission to
marry Anna. Each time he was re-
fused. and at last he became convinced
that Anna was not for him.
Then he made up his mind that If he
could not marry her he would die, ana
finally the idea came to him that In or
der not to cheat himself the girl must
die, too.
Sweethearts Meet
Yesterday afternoon, as is the Gus
tom among the Russian members OF
the colony. visits were exchanged. 10
the house of Madam Eodonoiff went
Anna to sit and drink tea and gossip
with all who might gather there. Here
also came Kottoff to find her and when
the two young people got together they
sat and talked long time. Then they
drank tea and ate oranges with the
others who were there.
"Your father tells me cannot have
you," said Kottoff, land so I must die"
eff you die" Anna is said to have
responded, "then will die also"
"I will go and make myself ready,
then, that both of us may die" said
Kottoff, and leaving the house he
walked to First street, where he met i
Mexican. "Where may I buy pistol?
Where on Sunday do they keep open
who sell pistols?' said Kottoff to the
Mexican.
"You wish to buy pistol, why?"
asked the Mexican.
ST wish to die," was the simple reply
"You wish to die. then have here 4
pistol which you can buy of me for
S." replied the Mexican, and drawing
Kottoff to the rear of a building he
pulled the weapon from his pocket. 1t
was a cheap, five-chambered, 38-caiber
revolver, fully loaded, and Kottoff paid
the money for it and returned to tha
house where he had left his sweet
heart.
There were four persons in the room
beside Anna when he returned. Madam
Eodonoiff was pouring more tea from
a great copper samavar which sat on
a table in the center of the room. Anna
sat on a chair by the table and on
couch near the wall sat Mary Sosala
and Mary and Abram Shubin.
Girl Awaits Bullet
''I am ready" said Kottoff; "are
you?" Anna bowed her head and Kot-
toff pulled from his pocket the revolt
yer. Anna crouched forward in her
chair and crossed her arms over her
breast, yet looking her lover in the
face. Her lips moved as if in prayer
and the revolver began to bark. At
the sound of the second shot the other
CONTINUED Page Two)