Popular.com

New York City, July 9th, 1905.

Berta Clash, a French girl of 23, shot and killed Emil Gerdrone, her lover, last night at 7th Avenue

and 25th Street. She had supported Gerdrone by what she made on the street, so she said after

she shot him, and three weeks ago he beat her because she did not bring in enough money.

At that time, she went to the Tenderloin station and showed her face and neck,

blew from blows to the sergeant, and Detective Morton was sent out to find Gerdrone.

He had disappeared.

Last night, Morton, who had been transferred to the bicycle squad,

was riding up 7th Avenue about 9.30 o'clock with Detective's Martineau and Billefort. They met the

girl at 25th Street. She was excited and nervous. If you will wait here a moment, you will catch Gerdrone, she said.

They waited on the west side of the street, and a few minutes later, Gerdrone came up the avenue

with Francis de Gendon.

Morton and Martino grabbed him and put him under arrest on the charge of assault made by the girl three weeks ago.

They started down the street with him on the way to the West 20th Street station.

Gerdrone was furious and tried to get at the girl.

I'll kill you, he screamed.

You have me arrested?

Well, you are as good as dead right now.

The detectives yanked Gerdrone away and walked him rapidly down the avenue.

The girl hung back.

Suddenly, she drew a revolver from the bosom of her dress, slipped up behind Gerdrone and fired two shots into his back, the pistol so close that the powder burned a hole in his coat.

...