Chester Thompson, 19, shot and killed Judge George Meade Emory in a love-fueled altercation involving Emory’s niece, Charlotte Whittlesey. The event happened during the summer of 1906.
Shot to Death by a Lunatic
Seattle, July 9, 1906. — Chester Thompson, a youth, 19 years of age, son of attorney Will H. Thompson formerly chief counsel for the Great Northern on Saturday night shot to death Judge George Meade Emory at the latter’s home in this city.
The tragedy was the result of a love affair which it is thought has turned the head of the young man. The object of his infatuation is Charlotte Whittlesey, niece of Judge Emory, and daughter of Charles Whittlesey, formerly city treasurer.
The young woman has been living with her uncle for some time. Young Thompson was desperately infatuated with her and had made himself something of a nuisance about the house, in so much that he had been forbidden the house.
He continued his visits, however, and took every opportunity to see the young woman clandestinely until the youth came to be regarded by the young woman as a burden to her life.
Positive orders were given that he should not be permitted near the house.
On Saturday evening Judge Emory was sitting with his family on the porch in front of his residence when young Thompson, hatless, coatless, and breathing hard came running up the street and made a dash into the house, calling his sweetheart by name, “Charlotte! Charlotte!”
Judge Emory rose quickly and followed the boy, intending to eject him from the house. The boy ran up the stairs and Judge Emory followed, commanding him to stop.
At the head of the stairs the boy turned, drew a revolver from his pocket and began deliberately firing at the judge who was close behind him on the stairs. Three shots were fired, the first two striking Judge Emory in the lung and the armpit respectively. The third went wild as the victim fell to the floor.
The youth then ran on, entered the room where the young children of Judge Emory had been put to bed and putting up a barricade for an hour and a half as he defied the police, declaring he would kill the children if they broke in the door.
Finally, the boy’s father arrived and calling upon him to surrender, he did so and allowed himself to be taken to the lock up.
Judge Emory died at one o’clock this morning. He was conscious throughout and to the end. He made no reference to the tragedy, but endeavored to console his wife and children and at the last, kissed them goodbye.
There is no doubt that the mind of young Thompson is unbalanced. It is known that his intention was to kill the girl and then commit suicide.
Source: The daily Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska), 09 July 1906.
