Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-24
HUSBAND IS HELD
|NDEATH MYSTERY
At SANTA MONICA
George Figueroa Awaits Inquest
on the Body of His 19-Year-
Old Bride
SAYS HE DID NOT SLAY HER
Police BaffIed by Circumstances
Surrounding Wife'S Shooting
in Summer Home
SAYS HE DID NOT SLAY HER
Especial 10 The Herald)

=
emily asserting that he did not
~ fire the shot that resulted in the
death today of his 19-year-old wife,
George Figueroa, husband of the pref
ty young woman who was mySteriouSly
shot last night, awaits the result of
the coroner's inquest tomorrow morn
ing.
To Chief of Police Barretto today
Figueroa said that his wife must have
fired the shot herself while he was
outside the house.
Jack Surber, companion of FNigueroa,
captured at Los Angeles today, where
he had gone Immediately following
the shooting, was returned here, but
was not placed under arrest, as the po-
lice obtained his promise that he would.
attend the inquest, which will be held
at 1890 o'clock at the Kirkelie morgue
at Ocean Park Surber said he left
the scene before the shot was fired.
REVOLVER IDENTIFIED
The revolver used, a 3S-caliber weap-
on. was Identified today by the dead
woman's brother. A. D. Pugsley or
Los Angeles, as belonging to him, was
found on the floor on the opposite side
of the room from where Mrs. Fig
ueroa's body was found by the po-
lice. Pugsley was unable to account
for the guns presence there.
The bullet took a downward course
through Mrs. Figueroa's brain, enter
ing above the right ear and coming
out at the base of the skull.
The police have so far been unable
to unearth a motive either for suicide
or murder. Although 1t is said that
the couple were quarreling shortly be-
fore the shot was heard, no one has
been found who heard what passed be-
tween them.
It is known that Figueroa was ex-
tremely Jealous of his wife, which
fact may be brought into prominence
when the evidence is heard.
The little summer house where the
shooting took place stands among the
flowers and vines in the front yard OF
the house occupied by Mrs. r. D. Sam
man, aunt of Figueroa, at 250S South
Fourth street. It is of octagonal
shape, made of lattice work and lined
with canvas. It Is not more than four
teen feet in diameter and was furn-
ished with a bed and commode. The
building is fully fifty feet from the
Samman dwelling and is almost hidden
by vines and shrubbery
LIVED IN SUMMER HOUSE
This house. according to neighbors.
Is only occupied in the summer and
was placed at the disposal of Figueroa
and his bride when they came here
following their wedding four weeks
ago. According to ''Doc" Taylor. real
estate man and friend of the family,
who resides on Fourth street, Figueroa
and his wife, then Miss Sarah Pugsley
of 1916 Hustled street, Los Angeles,
eloped to Santa Ana. where they were
married April 2S. without the knowl-
edge of their relatives and friends.
They resided in the Samman yard for
two weeks. then went to Los Angeles
for a visit with relatives. They re-
turned here last Saturday and again
ensconced themselves in the summer
house
Taylor says Figueroa, his wife and
Surber, who claims to have met the
woman then for the first time, passed
Sunday in the beach. In the evening
Taylor says that the men showed signs
of having been drinking. This state
ment was corroborated tonight by ].
Marchant, clerk at Reeds drug store,
who talked with Figueroa and Surber
at the store less than four hours preV1-
Gus to the tragedy.
"OFF WATER WAGON
Marchant said Figueroa came in the
store Sunday afternoon and asked for
a drink of water, declaring that he
had "been on the water wagon for two
months" Later in the night, when re-
minded by Marchant what he said
about the "water wagon" Figueroa
sheepishly admitted that he had fallen
off"
Although she at first refused to
make q statement, declaring that she
was mot at home" Mrs. Samman said
today that she heard the voices of
Figueroa and his wife after they had
retired for the night, and thought that
they were quarreling. but she could
not be positive of this. The voices
were heard shortly before she heard
the shot fired.
Taylor was among the first to has
ten to the scene when he heard the
shot. He said today that more than
half an hour after the arrival of the
police. Figueroa approached him from
out of the darkness and said:
'Well, here I am. Doc. I suppose
they have been looking for me-"
GAVE SELF UP
Figueroa gave himself up to the
police then. inquiring if his wife was
dead. Surber had fled, fearing he
might be charged with the crime.
According to Taylor Figueroa came
here two months ago from Coalinga.
He is an oil driller by trade and his
home is said to be at Santa Maria
Figueroa met Miss Pugsley about a
year ago.
Mrs. Figueroa was an unusually at
tractive girl, being a decided blonde
She was known here, having visited
the beach frequently. She was sis
ter of A. d. Pugsley, proprietor of
the Elysian Spring Water company.