The San Francisco call., 1909-09-13
Ferdinand Levy Fatally Wounds
Wife and Babe, Then Turns
Weapon on Himself
Well Known Businessman Does
Murder and Suicide in
Scott Street Home
After Defying the Neighbors,
Cheats Arriving Officers,
Who Hear Last Shot

Thrice tragic in its elimination was
the upshot of a family difference yes-
terday evening. when Ferdinand Levy
junior partner in the Green Levy
liquor company and we'll known in
business circles, shot and. it is feared.
fatally wounded his wife and child at
their home. I'LL Scott street. and then
realizing the utter hoplessness of his
situation, as squads of police began
arriving on the scene preparing for his
capture. he turned the revolver on him
self and sent bullet through his head.
dying instantly.
The horror crashed into the happf-
ness Of the family life without warn
ing. it's very suddenness intensifyfng
to still greater extent it's bloody end
ing. No word. no thought no concep-
tion was there of it's coming And
even when the echo of the revolver
shots had died away and the bodies
removed to morgue and hospital. the
definite cause could not be ascertained
Whatever the reason. IT was between
the husband and wife: and the for
mer's lips are Sealed in death and the
latter is struggling for Iife's breath at
the central emergency hospital There
was quarrel So much is known
The rest is wrapped in mystery.
Shot Breaks Tranquility
The shooting took place at SIS
p. M The evening meal had been pre-
pared and the family OF five were mo-
Imentarily expecting the call to gather
round the table. Miss Irna Levy. the
eldest daughter. was in the front par
lor of the residence. reading. and with
her was her brother Robert. 3 years
old. Her mother. Charlotte Levy.
with another child. Marian. years
old. and her father were in rear
room She could hear her father and
mother discussing some point. but
paid no heed to them.
Suddenly a revolver shot crashed
and reverberated through the house
The book dropped from the girls
hands and she jumped to her feet ter
ror stricken. As she stood dumb with
fear the revolver barked again, FIVE
times. the reports following each other
in rapid succession. Mother and child
had been shot down.
The next instant her father stag
gered into the room where she was
standing. elasping to her side her
frightened brother. Levy held the
revolver in his hand and his head was
bent over it as he worked the mechan-
ism. jamming in more cartridges with
vicious nervousness. The girl gazed
at him in Mortified silence and drew
back He showed the last cartridge
home and looked up.
His voice was hoarse and his words
blurred as he spoke
Daughter Struck Dumb
Il have shot your mother he said
He paused and in the pause he searched
his daughters face with eyes feverish
and keen What he saw there. the
look of abhorrence, of terror of SORROW
and anger. brought from his lips cry
OF agony and floods OF remorse swept
over him.
Il am sorry 1 did he cried aloud. II
did not mean it, The daughter said
not word She watched him steadily
For a moment he bore her glance and
then his head bowed and he tdrned on
his heel and staggered from her pres
ence.
without hesitation the girl swept
from the room and out OF the front
door, never losing. even for an instant
perfect control of herself. Hatless and
coatless she sped across the street to
the residence of Doctor Clark. 1853
Scott street. She explained the situa-
tion in few breathIess words and the
two ran back to the house.
Levy was standing at the front door
as they advanced. He swung his re-
volvers to the front. pointing it at the
breast OF Doctor Clark.
Don't come in here, Doctor Clark,
he threatened. "or I'll shoot you"
The physicians answer was to make
a rush at him. Levy's gun wavered up
and down before the others body. but
his courage broke down at the crucial
moment and he turned and ran, scream
ing wildly. TIe darted straight for the
cellar and entrenched himself in the
dark shadows behind the door.
Threatens Neighbor
Don't come any farther he called
out again. This time I'll kill you.~
Seeing that the man was dominated
absolutely by a frenzied desperation
Doctor Clark drew back and ran to the
telephone for the police. In his absence
Levy ran up the cellar steps. rushed by
his daughter and took UP position In