Grace M Baratti/Baratti-Cheney: Murder Of Her Husband

Grace M Cheney was born 5 Feb 1893 in Oakland, CA (Although she had claimed she was born in Hopkinsville, KY).To Rev. Gene Cheney & Jeannie Fletcher.


Inmate: #33543 San Francisco Jail
Arrested: 3 Dec 1922
Crime: Murder
Age: 29

She was first married to William A Christy whom she married 21 Jul 1909 in Oakland, CA and divorced him for cruelty in 1911. Here's a newspaper article about that incident. 

These are all dated March 1910



I did not find a marriage for her and her second husband. He went by the name of Harry Baratti but was born Harry F Melletz. He was a composer and musician. Harry was born about 1900 in Mexico to Adolph H. Melletz & Julia Adler. They lived in San Francisco.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41101721/grace_m_barratti/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41100823/grace_baratti/




On 2 Dec 1922, Harry was shot several times, they say three I say two, I say Murder, they say suicide. My theory, the first shot he saw coming and put his hand up the bullet went through his had to his head, hand was up called a defense wound, by the way it was his right hand. The second shot in the head was to make sure he was dead. I have no idea if she did it or not, but It wouldn't surprise me one bit she did it or her lover did it. I haven't proven the lover theory yet as I can not find a marriage record for her and her last hubby.

She had three trials and had 5 medical experts tell the jury it was possible for him to shoot himself in the head twice, that he could of been conscious after the first bullet struck.

Here's more newspaper articles:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41098584/grace_baratti/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41101805/grace_m_baratti/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41105229/grace_cheney/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41098458/grace_baratti/ 


 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41093839/grace_baratt/



After she was acquitted and at some point she married a Charles Henry Fish Jr. (1879-1950). He was a lawyer. I found this in the newspaper 30 Oct 1925 San Francisco, CA 



Grace had a sister whom I did find Jessie Cheney who married Lee Roy Snyder. A newspaper article mentioned Grace had lived in Shanghai, China for many years and married t least twice while she was there. She was a model for the Hopkins Art Institute and graduated in 1901 from the Oakland Business College, she was a stenographer, no wonder she knew how to handle a jury and sit in a trial. Personally I think she was guilty as sin and got away with murder. 

Grace died on my birthday of course before I was ever thought of, 16 Dec 1959 in San Francisco, CA. I made her a tree add everything to it. I did find two trees that have her added to them but no last name as they must not have found or looked for her maiden name. 


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