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WOUNDED OAKLAND SLAYER OF FAMILY PRAYS FOR DEATHJ» Harold Friedman Faces Double Murder Charge if He Survives WoundJ. Harold Friedman was hopeful today that he would join in death his wife and 4-year-old daughter, whom he shot to take them fromthe “uncertainties*of the future.Indications were that the 36-year-old insurance and finance broker would have his wish. Doctors said his condition was critical from the chest wounds ho inflicted on himself yesterday after mortally wounding Mrs. Pauline Aronson Friedman, 30, and Marjory Friedman.If he survives the wounds, he faces the possibility of conviction, of a double murder charge and execution In the State’s lethal gas chamber.Joint funeral services for Mrs. Friedman and her daughter will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Albert Brown Company chapel, 3476 Piedmont Avenue.WORRIED BY FUTUREFriedman's wish for death, and an “explanation” of his murderous attack on his family, were told by him to Deputy District Attorney Lawrence Dayton. Friedman spoke dispassionately and quietly from a bed at the Alameda County Emergency Hospital.“I’ve been worrying about world conditions and the situation in Europe,” he said. “I was worrying, too, about the uncertainties of the future for myself and my family.I just got to the point I couldn’t stand it any longer. I decided to kill myself and lake the family with me.” Dayton learned from Friedman, he said, that Friedman had decided “months ago” to try multiple murder and suicide and had bought shells two months ago for a revolver he had had for years.THREE NOTES WRITTENThursday, the day before the shooting, he wrote three suicide notes, one addressed to “the newspapers,” another to his attorney and friends, Lionel B. Benas, and the third to his mother, Mrs. Lydia Friedman, 111G Longridge Road.Fncdman, during his conversation with Dayton, referred to these notes. The one to the newspapers said: “Life has become too complicated. Our world 5s changing too fast. I am worried about the future of my family, religion and country.”Despite the fact the notes were written, Friedman told Dayton he had not “decided definitely to do it” when he left his office yesterday morning and went to his home at 142 Sonia Street.“My wife and Marjory were dressed to gr out,” Friedman said. “Suddenly I decided to do it now. I got the gun and loaded and shot my wife. She screamed.“I shot Marjory. Then I had to reload.”Dayton asked him if he intendedto shoot his son, Stanley, 6 months old, who was asleep in a baby Carnage on a back porch.“Yes, but the gun jammed/* Friedman said.iCONCEALED DESPAIRFriedman did not explain further, out it was apparent that he remedied the jam and shot himself- He told Day ton thal “everything went pretty fast” and so he did not know how many shots, he had fired.Despite repeated questions by Dayton, Friedman did not add much to his story of worries about “world conditions and the future for me and the family.” He said thnl his worries were “partly” about the persecution of Jews in Europe. He said also that he hod concealed his worries from others and had not even discussed them with his wife.Mrs, Friedman was dead when police, summoned by Ihe Fncdman ma/d, arrived at the home. JWnrjoty died six hours later at the Alameda County Emergency Hospital.
Newspaper Details
Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California, US
Sat, Jan 13, 1940
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
San F.
CA, USA 28 Apr 2022
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