Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-15
DRUNKEN WIFE IS
CAUSE OF MURDER
SAN PEDRO BARBER SHOOTS
LIVERYMAN
George w. Jefferson demonstrates
with Melvin Anson, Who Fur
nshes Woman Liquor,
and Trouble Follows
Especial to The Herald


SAN PEDRO, March H.-Melvin
Anson, liveryman~w whose home was at
Fifth and Mesa streets, was shot and
killed last night about $3.50 o'clock at
his home by George w. Jefferson, a
barber. For week Jefferson had been
searching for his wife, who is ad-
dicted to the use of liquor. Last night
he passed Andersons house and heard
his wife inside, evidently intoxicated.
There were no witnesses to the shoot
ing, so far as known, but Jefferson
says he called Anson out of the house
and demanded that he be allowed to
take his wife home. Anson knocked
him down, and as he attempted to get
up rushed for him again. Then, Jeffer-
son says, he pulled his revolver as he
reclined on his elbow and shot.
Physician TeIephoned For
Anson turned and went into the
house again and Jefferson returned
home. Mrs. Anson telephoned Dr. w.
A. Weldon that Arson had committed
suicide, When the physician arrived
he found Mrs. jefferson suffering from
the effects of her debauch and gave her
a hypodermic injection. She denied
then that Anson had committed sui
eide and said he had just taken his
suitcase and left for Los Angeles.
Seeing no evidence of suicide or mur-
der the physician and police officer
who also heard the story of Anson's
departure for the city. left her alone.
The officer later found Jefferson and
told him Of his wfes condition. JEFF
ferson admitted that he had trouble
with Anson. but said nothing about
the shooting
About o'clock this morning Mrs.
Jefferson called DR. T. w. Reynolds. to
whom she admitted that Anson was
dead in an adjoining room. He called
the police and Jefferson was arrested.
jefferson admitted he shot at Anson,
but said nothing of it to the officer who
first called, because he did not know
he had hit Anson.
Tells Rambling Story
Mrs, Jefferson gave a number of
rambling and contradictory accounts of
the shooting, but her nervous condition
placed in any OF them. She left her
home last Monday and went to Los
Angeles. and has not seen her husband
since.
Last Thursday Jefferson heard she
was on a debauch at Anson's home.
and he went to Anson's house and
warned him that If he was furnishing
liquor lOf MS WIG Inere would be
trouble. jefferson says his wife is a
good woman If she can be kept away
from liquor. Twice before he had
warned Anson.
Only a few weeks ago the woman
was sentenced to ten days in Jail in Los
Angeles. After a few days her hus-
band paid her fine and brought her
home. Jefferson is a hard working
man of good habits and has an excel
lent reputation.
Anson's Reputation Bad
Anson's reputation here was bad.
About two years ago he attacked his
wife with a knife while on a spree.
She left him. They have two grown
children. Anson was about so years
of age.
A few years ago Anson narrowly es-
capped violence at the hands of a mob
for attempting to pull the tongue from
the mouth of an unruly horse with a
block and tackle. The horse kicked
him in the head and nearly killed him,
which saved the mob from interfering
with the torture.
DR.. Weldon performed an autopsy
this afternoon which showed that but
one shot had been fired into Anson's
body. This pierced his heart The
coroner's inquest will be held to-
morrow.