A Miner’s Jealous Rage Left a Woman Dead in Roslyn

ROSLYN, March 4.—[Special.]—This afternoon Rosa Baltimore shot and almost instantly killed Mrs. Sallie Turner. Both were colored, and the tragedy was the result of a marriage engagement which Baltimore alleges Mrs. Turner failed to fulfill.

The murdered woman was about 30 years of age and bore an unchaste reputation. Her maiden name was Johnson, and previous to her marriage with Turner she was known quite well throughout the mining camps of the Northwest. She leaves a son about 2 years of age. Some months ago her husband left for Columbus, O., from which point his death was reported. For the past two years Mrs. Turner’s headquarters were in Ellensburg, where she was madam of a house of ill-fame, but every pay day at the Roslyn mines she made it a practice to visit here.

The murderer, Rosa Baltimore, hails from Harrisburg, Pa., is a coal miner by occupation and has worked in this camp for several years. He was regarded as a sober, steady and industrious man. His age is 34 years.

About two years ago Baltimore became infatuated with Mrs. Turner, and according to his statement he has contributed his whole earnings toward her support ever since. It appears from an interview with Baltimore that the murdered woman had promised to change her habits of life and marry him, but had deferred the day of the wedding from time to time until her lover was almost distracted. To add to his distressed feelings, he states, Mrs. Turner on her regular visits here evidenced a preference for other company than him, and at various times insulted him by characterizing him as insane. On her last and fatal visit, Baltimore states, she was particularly harsh with him, and did all she could to keep away from him.

Sunday morning the pair went to church together, and Baltimore endeavored to make an engagement for the afternoon with her, but was unsuccessful. Mrs. Turner, it seems, feared her lover, and requested the proprietor of the place where she was stopping to keep him out in case of a visit. About 4 o’clock Baltimore showed up and was refused admittance. He was somewhat intoxicated, and being refused admittance threw him into a state of frenzy. He ran around to the rear of the house, jumped through the window of the room in which Mrs. Turner was hiding, and commenced firing. His victim rushed out the back door and fell on the slippery steps. While prostrate Baltimore fired two shots into her body, the fatal ball passing through the apex of her heart. Four shots were fired from a .44-caliber revolver. Baltimore gave himself up to the officers and expresses no regret for the act. There were some threats of lynching tonight, but the prisoner is well guarded.