The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-11
KILLS HER
HUSBAND;
Says. IT'S
ACCIDENT
Fires When He Threatens to
Leave Her; Bullet
PierCeS Heart

NS~ <o oo"y~Af
year-old bride, must face first
degree murder charges for
killing her husband, Howard
[. Sawyer, 32. He died with
a bullet in his heart Monday
evening. His youthful wife
admits she fired the shot
during a quarrel, but insists
she did not mean to kill him.
Decision TO file murder charges.
which may mean hanging or life i'm
prisonment for Madge Sawyer. wa
reached by Deputy Prosecutor r. H.
Patterson after long conferences
with the prisoner and with Captain
of Detectives Charles Tennant Tues
day morning.
The shooting occurred near 1910
Westlake ave N. where tho Saw
yerr were living IN their power boat
Hydah. moored In Lake Union. Mrs-
Sawyer told Patrolman Dan Hart
who arrested her, that she shot y
frighten her husband.
We had fought ever Ginoa -
were married. on March L. the
young wife told detectives I'VE
never fought over anything IN par
ticular. 1t seemed As II we Just
couldn't get along
Mrs Sawyer explained Shst ~
quarrel which resulted in hsr huD-
bands death began Sunday night.
In the morning, Sawyer left houno.
threatening to stay away. He o16Ho
back. however,. and the baft1s u
words started afrcsh. Monday nlGhe
Sawyer packed sone clothes, aocurG-
ing TO Mrs. Sawyer. and left ths -
ond time
SAYS HE THREATENED
TO GET" HER
Get out and stay out Mrs. Gav.
yer said she told him.
Look out or III get you ~
says he replied
Thinking then to frighten him, anl
regretting her words, she obtained Z
80 caliber revolver and fired two
shots. one at her husband and the
second in the ground The first shot
pierced Sawyer's heart killing him
instantly.
Mrs Sawyer related at length m Z
statement Of Lieutenant of Detectivan
William Kent the stormy details *
her short married life.
Our fighting was always he cut
growth OF some petty affairs.- she ~
cited. For instance. he would make
faces at me. call me names Tho ~
argument the other night started
after we went TO bed. sleep On Z
sort OF a shelf on tho boat He was
sleeping with his arm laid In aaoh
a manner that IT was uncmfortablo
for me. I told him to move He
refused Then / showed his arm
away myself and he became angry.
Mrs. Sawyer told Lieut.. Kent that
he had threatened to kill her a NUM-
ber OF times.
SAYS HUSBAND
'BEAT HER UP"
He beat me up. too; yet | couldn't
bear TO think of him leaving. So I
went out with a gun to frighten him.
fired low. I didn't mean to kill
him ! saw him limp after fired
and thought hit him in the leg
or the heel
When questioned why she got the
gun. she explained that her husband
had grabbed something when they
were auarreling aboard the boat ana
she was afraid he might make good
his threat and kin her. She declared
she always knew her husband carried
a gun.
The police have both guns, the one
which Mrs. Sawyer used and tho one
found in her husbands pocket Mra
Sawyer underwent a long ordeal BE-
fore Deputy Prosecutor 7. II. Patter-
son and Captain Charles Tennant-
Mrs Sawyer is the daughter Of
Mrs. Il. C. wrighter. 24o Fifth ava.
T.. Vancouver. b. c.. while her dead
husband recently lived In Wana
Walla- Sawyer was president Of the
ii. I. S. Motor Co.
Mrs. Sawyer. aitho showing siguo
Of the terrible ordeal she undarwano
during her night In jan. Appeared
perfectly self-possessed when sho
appeared before Captain Tenant
Tuesday morning. She was clnd
In n blue dress, which was neatly
girdled by bright coiored belt.
She was pale and her eyes showed
signs OF recent tears. Her light Rold.
en- hair was slightly disarranged.