The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-15
SHOOTS WOMAN
REFUSING HAND;
KILLS HIMSELF
W. J. Sawyer, Grocer, Fourth
and Linden, Makes Dra-
matte Ending to Courtship
of Mrs. Chimnera Strader.
HER WOUND SLIGHT,
ONLY THROUGH HAND
With MuzzIe Of Pistol in Her
Mouth, Mrs. Strader Owes
Her Life to Her Mother,
Mrs. Danner,

Feeved because his persistent wooinn
to win Mrs. Chimera stradsr, 80 years
old, Linden avenue. near wetilngton
street, for his bride we're not immedi+
ateiy successful W. J. Sawyer aged 80
years. grocer, 266 South Fourth street.
allowed his impatence to carry him 10
the point OF attempting to kin Mrs,
Strader and himself He failed in his
ardent efforts to destroy the young
woman, but well-placed bullet through
his own heart ended his career.
Mrs, Surader is In the General hos
pttal suffering OF a, severe bullet
wound through the palm Of the left
hand. Sawyer's body Tuesday afternoeM
was In the morgue awaiting tne vVr-
oner's investigation,
Mrs Strader, who came TO Memphia
from CarutherRvlle, Mo, with her two
little children, Arthur and Pauline, and
| her mother, Mrs. Dona nanner, some
months ago, had known Sawyer, who
| also lived In Charlottesville for 1b years
| or more, whom she was a mere child,
| Her husband died q few years ago
Since then she has lived with her
mother.
Sawyer came to Memphis three
months ago and purchased grocery
|
| the home Of Mrs, DRnner and her
daughter lie left divorced wife and
grown son In Missouri
Old Friends in Missouri.
The families being old neighhors In
| CRruthersVile, Sawyer, when he enterad
| business, gave Mrs, Strader employment
as cashier In HIS store, Love, abpar.
| entity followed rapidly on the heels Qf
his friendship, and he had been con.
stant wooer for the young widow W
become his bride
In company with Mrs. Danner and
Mrs. StradeT's two children, Sawfel
took Mrs StrRdeg out Monday night N
his automobile for Il ride, When alAs
wished to 20 home, he became angry
because she would not consent to ride
longer. or continue the ride after leag-
ing the elder lady and children at home.
Before MRS. Strader VINO was llidle'
posed Tuesday and the household were
up, Sawyer drove up to the house iil
his car He waited In the lower hail
| until Mrs Strader had completed her
toilet. when she started down tho
staira, Sawyer asked her to come and
go with him, She explained that she
was sick.
you viii 20 with ma right now
Sawyer exclaimed excltedly, and we
win be married, or we viii 60 to our
graves together"
Before Mrs Strader could reply, Saws
yer threw his left arm around her neck
and thrust q pistol against her teeth.
When she attempted to cry out the
barrel entered her mouth. brulsinx her
lips, Attracted by the scuffle, Mra.
nanner ran from her room and pushed
Sawyer away from tho bantsters,
Thought Her Dead.
Stepping back and steadyinE himself,
Sawyer pulled tho trigger Having
thrown up her arm TO guard her face
the bullet perforated Mrs. Strader'a 4
hand and passed through the panel OF
a door.
Mrs. Strader tainted and toppled TO the
floor, Believing that he had killed her,
Sawyer walked from tho front door Az
he stepped to the lawn he pulled back
his coat, placed the muzzle of the pis-
tol against his left breast and pulled
tho trigger He died instantly.
The entire neighborhood was thrown
into a turmoil and alarms were flashed
to tho central police office to the effect
that Sawyer had killed Mrs. StradeI
and himself, Someone turned in q
fire alarm and several engine com.
panes as well a. trucks and salvage
corp cars came stcaming up TO the
house.
Policemen James Taylor and Charles
Brunner, Jr,. Of tho emergency squad
raced to tho scene. They notified thS
coroner's office and placed Mrs. Stradel
in the police car and took her to thS
General hospital.
II was SaWyers store that was
wrecked Saturday afternoon when .
woman whose Identity tho police failet
to learn rammed tho front OF the plac.
with an automobile. He had recent,
taken It over from C. p, Blake, wht
conducted a grocery there for years