“ UNWRITTEN LAW. ”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3194, 13 April 1911, Page 3

“ UNWRITTEN LAW. ”

WOMAN SHOOTS JILTEK AND DEFIES CAPibKE.

The “unwritten law" was responsible

for an extraordinary scene at tne LAicago City Mall on February 22, when one ol tne county officials was shot- by a young woman, who afterwards barncaetded Herself in the city halt, and tor some time defied the efforts of a strong force of police and officials to dislodge tier.

The young woman, who is of Danish extraction, and is named Anna Pearsou. called to see one of the official photographers in tlie surveyor’s department. the photographer, a Mr. Smith, was engaged in liis dark room, but he ordered" tlie porter to bring the visitor up. and came to meet her at the door ut the room. ‘liie couple stood talking in the doorway for some minutes, the woman obviously in a very excited state. Suddenly,' to tlie liorror of an official, pas sing' along the passage, she produced a revolver and fired several shots at her companion. The unfortunate man fell to tlie floor seriously wounded, and his assailant, seeing the number of offi cials rushing towards her, jumped inside the dark room and locked the door.

The police were quickly called, but she refused to obey their summons to surrender, and vowed that she would kill the first man who entered. Several efforts were made to break open the door, but the work was hindered by furniture and other obstructions with which the woman had barricaded herself.

Eventually, however, the door was forced, and Pearson met the attackers with a hail of bullets, one of which struck- and seriously wounded a deputy named Gnewatli. The woman had only one revolver, and several men rushing on her managed to disarm and capture her.

, The woman declared that she wan engaged to Smith, but that lie had jilted her. and she had determined to avenge herself. Since women successfully pleaded the “unwritten law” at New Orleans some months ago there has been a distinct- tendency to sympa- | thise with such offenders and benevolent j societies propose raising a fund for Pearson’s defence. . -’*! 1 . .