The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-04-21

Slain by infatuated Dough-
boy Who Kills Self While
Husband Seeks Decree


Letters she wrote . lonesome
doughboy. first In France and
later In Siberia, led Mrs. Grace
McCombs down q weird Eamut
OF love, jealousy, divorce and
tragedy and straight 10 the
morrue where her body lay 10
day beside that Of . man known
70 her NJ Sergeant Arthur WI
liams.
While her husband. r. d, No
Combs. n logging railroad engineer.
was in the city yesterday afternoon
making arrangements for his second
divorce from her. Mrs McCombs was
murdered by Williams in her home
at Lake Forest Park. Williams then
shot himself to death with the same
weapon.
Coming from uhe lawyers offIcs
where he had gone. TO see about the
divorce. McConbs was told the cur-
oner wanted TO see him He went
20 the morgue and Deputy Coroner
Lucius Tiffin took him into the room
where the bodies lay.
GOT HER LETTERS
WHILE OVERSEAS
The history OF events leading up
10 the double tragedy dates back
some months before the war when
Williams was brakeman on the
logging railroad where McCombs
was employed. According 10 Deputy
Sheriff Herbert .Beebe and Deputy
Coroner Tiffin. who investigated the
case. Williams me, Mrs. McCombs at
that time. and when he went to
France induced her to write to him.
Williams was a member Of the
ssist regiment of engineers. He
was In France some time and wns
later transferred to Siberia. In both
these countries he received letters
from Mrs. McCombs.
On his return to this country, he
went back TO Lake Forest Park and.
presumably. was the man who. Nc
Combs says. caused Mrs McCombu
TO often be absent from her home.
PROMISED TO TURN
OVER LETTERS
Two days ago Williams Ii sAiA -
have been seen near the McCombs
place and to have had a converuar
ton with the husband. promising the
latter he would meet him in front
OF the Seattle postoffioe at o'clock
yesterday afternoon and turn over
the packet Of letters Mrs. McCombs
had written him. McCombs wanted
the letters for evidence In his a.
vorce case.
No living person saw Williams en-
ter the McCombs home Tuesday an
ernoon. Presumably Mrs. McComhs
had told Williams she had no inten-
ton Of marrying him IL her husband
divorced her. McCombs said he had
told his wife Williams was an octo-
room.
SAW HIM PREPARE
HIS DEATHBED
Hearing q pistol shot, Mrs. Mary
Harris. a neighbor. hurried to .
window and saw Mrs. McCombs stag
ger out into the yard and fail dead.
A moment later Williams appeared
with revolver clutched In hts hand.
He looked wildly at the body OF Mra-
McCombs for a moment, then with
deliberation took off hts overcoat.
spread II on the ground. sat down
upon IT and fired two bullets into his
own body.
Deputy Sheriff Herbert Beeho
found n note IN one OF Williams
pockets. 1t read:
'sTo my Mothcr-Picase dou1
ever look for me in this life. for
have finished II all. Your bog
and only son. ARTHUR
"P. S.-My disappointments in
life are more than can stand
In another pocket was found the
name and address OF Mrs Mamie
Dobbins. 400 Ruby St. Birmingham.
Ala. Sheriff Stringer is endeavorinG
TO learn what relationship she bears
to the dead slayer.
Williams Is said to have been en-
ployed by a Seattle detective agency.
Deputy Coroner Tiffin said that he
believes Williams was not the slay.
er's true name. The name Arthur"
signed to the note. he believes =
probably the correct one.
Possibly Mrs. Dobblns is his
mother" Tiffin said.