The San Francisco call., 1909-11-16
GIRL WIFE WHO
DESERTED HOME
FATALLY SHOT
Traced by Husband to Hotel and
Falls Before Bullets of
Enraged Man
WOuldbe Slayer Says Jealousy
and Drink Drove Him to
the Crime

Two years of domestic misery cul-
minated shortly after noon yesterday
when Harold II. williams. "a years old
and an electrician by trade, shot and
fatally wounded his i year old wife in
her room at the California State hotel,
ia Third street, where he had traced
her when she left their home at 436
First street two weeks ago. Entering
the room without any warning Will
liams drew a revolver and fred three
shots, ali Of which took effect, causing
wounds from which the woman can not
recover. After the shooting Williams
ran from the room in an attempt to es-
cape. but was seized by George w.
Fsris, a roomer, who notified the police.
The woman was. removed to the CEN
trsI emergency hospital where she was
confronted with her husband and iden-
titled him the man who had shot her.
She was then removed 10 the Lane hos
pital. where an operation was per
formed with the hope OF saving her life,
but at late hour last night her
chances for recovery were regarded as
hopeless. After being confronted by his
wife Williams was taken to the CEN
tral station, where he admitted the
shooting.
MARRIED IN BOSTON
The couple were married in Boston
TWO years ago. after the bride had
eloped from her home in Lansdale. Pa.
They came to san Francisco June 26 of
this year. For a time Williams worked
at his trade. his last place of employ
ment being the new Lurline baths.
- n the
wife too fond of the society of other
men. the husband jealous almost, TO in
sanity. The two small rooms in First
street where they lived were the sordid
setting for the first scene of the trag-
edy of yesterday. Upon the walls hang
family pictures. cheaply done and in
artistic; the place is dark and cheer
less. evidencing the struggles OF the
two. The husband, busy at his work,
left his girl wife alone much of the
time and she in seeking excitement
found other men TO show her attention
and finally packed up bundle, pitifully
small. and ran away. Going 10 the Cali
fornia State hotel she gave her name
as Margaret Burke and took a room.
The proprietor Of the place, Paul
Selous. says she was there alone and,
so far as he could see, conducted her
self properly. Finally her husband
traced her TO the place she lived, fol-
lowed her about the streets. saw her
in company with another man and as
saulted him until he ran away He
pleaded in vain for mis- wife TO return,
and then, brooding alone in the two
small rooms that had meant home TO
him. he started drinking and in an al
coholic frenzy burst into the room and
fired the fatal shots.
MOMAN-s DYING STATEMENT
The parents of the girl wife live in
Iandsdale. her fathers name being
Reese Fesmeier. while Williams father
is employed by the Western Pacific
railroad and resides in Alameda While
At the central emergency hospital the
diving statement Of the woman was
tai ken by Assistant District Attorney
Ward In sum and substance the
woman stated that she did not expect
10 live that she had endured life OF
constant quarreIing until she could
stand il no longer. that she left her
husband and refused to live with him
despite his pleadings and that she was
alone and helpless when he burst into
her room and shot her without provoca-
tion.
In the statement made by Williams
10 Captain NJ o. Anderson. Detective 7.
L. Cook and Patrolman Al Winzler, who
made the arrest he declared that his
wife had left him for another man, that
he had pleaded with her, implored her
10 come back and live with him again
and that she laughed at him. Becoming
desperate, he took to drink and was IN
q. s7,-1,r, ken furv when he shot her.