The San Francisco call., 1913-08-31
WRECKED HIS HOME
AND TWICE SHOT HIM


After entering into suicide pact
with Robert J. Widney. prominent
Los Angeles realty broker and scion
OF a proud southern family. Mrs.
Vivian Lyons, the woman who
wrecked the Widney home. deter
mined to evade her promise and allow
Widney to die alone in their apart
ments at the Claire, 1850 Sacramento
street, early Friday morning. Wild
ney took his portion OF the vial OF
chloroform while Mrs. Lyons sat be-
side him on the bed and only pre-
tended to drink the drug That Wild
ney did not succumb to the chloroform
was due to the heroic efforts of DR..
J. Cameron Pickett. who was sum-
moned by the manager Of the Claire.
wFere the couple lived as Mr.. and
Mrs r. j. Hill.
Before dividing the chioroform be-
twsen them. widney and Mrs. Lyons
wrote long letter to the formers
mother In Los Angeles. advising her
that they were about to end their
lives and asking that their bodies be
cremated together and the ashes
tossed to the four winds.
TELEPHONED THE POLICE
Mrs. Lyons then went to the teie-
phone, called the police department
and Informed the officers that IL they
would come to 1867 Sacramento street
they would find two dead bodies.
Widney and Mrs Lyons then sat
on the bed, each with vial OF chloro-
form in hand.
"Goodby. Vivian" said widney.
"Goodby. Bob dear" replied the
woman.
widney drank his portion and sank
back on the bed.
Mrs. Lyons hurled the contents Of
her vial out of an open window-and
screamed. Her outcry was the means
of saving Widney's life.
Employees of the Claire. hearing the
woman's Shrek. rushed to apartment
s04. whence the cry came. and de-
manded admittance. Hysterical cries
from the woman greeted their de-
mands, A passkey was used to gain
an entrance.
Widney, writhing in agony. was on
the bed. Kneeling beside him was
his paramour. The empty vial was
still clutched the the young brokers
hand.
DOCTOR SAVES LIFE
DIR. ]. Cameron Pickett was called.
The physician worked over Widney
for hours before the young man re-
gained consciousness
Meanwhile the police and several
newspaper men looked in vain for
1867 Sacramento street" the address
given by Mrs. Lyons over the phone.
Being unable to ind that number, the
police decided that Vivian was In
toxicated again and was looking for
publicity" and returned to their
beats
Yesterday Widney's younger broth
er arrived here with the letter which
widney and Mrs Lyons had dis
patched to Mrs. Widney He wen.
Immediately to the district attorneys
office and asked for an Investigation.
District Attorney Fickert detailed De-
tective williams on tho case.
The lettar to Mrs Wfdncy was writ
ten in a scrawled hand. Some nor-
tions Of it we're unintslligible. il
was hysterical in spots.
The sense OF the letter follows:
LIFE ONLY DULL DRAn
Dearest Mother: Vivian ana I
will be dead when this letter reaches
you We are tired and weary: Oh. SO
weary Our bodies Will 30 found N
our apartment Please have us cre-
mated together and toss our aahss 20
the winds. Everything that was
beautiful in life; everything THAI waz
worth while. Is Turned to asher. We
may be happy where wc ara S5tnx
Goodby ALL
The younger Wicney told tho on
cerr that his brother had spent mora
than $4,000 since ne became enam-
CURED of Mrs. Lyons
Bob was one OF the beat -oaltv
brokers in the county, raid vsanr
W:dney; hut ever sinoc he became
cntansIed witH this woman lie ha.