The San Francisco call., 1909-03-20
BIG HAMMER USED
ON WOMAN'S Skull
Victim of Horrible Assault
Found on Floor In Rear
of Her Grocery

OAKLAND, March 1s.-Her skull
shattered by blows from a heavy ham
mer, which drove circular disks Of bone
into tie brain. Nary Walker was found
lying ia a pool OF blood in a kitchen at
the rear Of her grocery at Elizabeth and
NutIey avenues, Fitehburg. this morn
ing. John Gray, her cousin, with
whom she has had property disputes
since 1897, was Identified by the woman
as her assaiIant in what was probably
her dying statement He is at the
county Jail and a charge viii be placed
against him when the outcome OF her
injuries is known.
According TO fragmentary statements
which Mrs. Walker made today at the
Alameda sanatorium, the assault was
committed IN front OF the store at 10
o'clock last night When Constable
William c. Allen examined the place ne
found shreds of blood clotted hair and
flesh hanging no prorrUding nail heads
IN the old wooden fence. showing that
the woman and her aSsailsnC had en-
gagged in a violent struggle. There
were signs that she had been thrown to
the ground and had struggled 10 her
feet again while the merciless rain OF
blows crushed her skull and tore her
features almost beyond recognition.
FOUND on KITCHEN FLOOR
After her assailant had gone she
dragged herself TO her kitchen door,
where-after supporting her bleeding
head against the wall and feebly striv-
ing 70 ind her way with her dripping
hands-she pitched forward 10 the floor,
where size was found by the first Gus
toner who came to the store for morn
ing supplies.
Il was coming home from neigh
bor's 81 10 O'Clock" said Mrs. Walker,
IN short moments Of consciousness to-
DAY, when John Gray. my cousin,
stepped up TO me and with an oath
SAID, I have got you now you
his time I Will finish you Then he
began striking me with the hammer"
When John Gray was taken to her
BEDSIDE and IN an Indifferent manner
started TO question her about her in
5uries, Mrs. Walker turned her eyes in
The direction Of his voice. Then the
surgeons learned that though her eyes
appeared uninjured, she had lost her
sight
Il know that voice" moaned the
woman "it is John Gray's voice; John
Cray struck me last night John
Gray. you did it" and then she lapsed
1nto p stupor.
II John Gray. who solemnly protested
Innocence today. were the hend who
nsltreated his cousin, he so far elm
mated traces Of his deeds that none
could be found
Constable Allen, Deputy Sheriff Reilly
snd Deputy District Attorney \. A.
Rogers searched Gray's house. a block
from the scene OF the crime. and the
entire vicinity for evidence. Two ham
Iners were found. but there was no
blood, and their closest scrutiny failed
70 discover blood upon his clothing.
An operation was performed upon
Mrs. Walker. but hopes Of her recovery
are very slight.
CONTEST OVER PROPERTY
Cray sued Mrs. Walker and their
uncle William Walker, to recover. DOS
session of his house and lot and store,
which he said had been got from
him by fraud. He secured judgment
against Mary Walker last August but
she tied Up the case by an appeal TO
the appellate court. She continued to
live at the store and had Gray arrested
on a battery charge.
Mrs S. Young. q neighbor, said that
Mrs. Walker left her house at 10 o'clock
last night and that shortly afterward
she heard a woman's screams. No in
vestigstion was made until today when
fhe blood stained fence and path were
noticed and the trail followed until the
prostrete form Of Mrs. Walker was
found in the kitchen.
The first words Mrs. Walker said
were John Gray hit me-" Mrs. Young
remarked
F. c. Williams said that he heard
the screams and with A. V. Potter and
r L. woodbury. walked past the
walker store.
"A man stood on the porch, who eyed
us closely" said Williams, but as he
said nothing we went on and let the
matter drop"