The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-05-03
AMBROSE COE.
HIS TRIAL AT PALMYRA.
FOR THE MURDER OF MISS ABBIE
SUMMERS
From the Quincy Wing, April 2eth.

From the Quincy Wing, April 2sth.
In view of the anticipated trial of Am.
brose Coe, the murderer Of Miss Abbie
Summers, which will probably commence
this morning at Palmyra, Mo-, We give the
following briet account Of the tragedy,
which We take from tho columns Of the
Wing of June, 1870. 1t will serve to
refresh the memory of our readers rela.
tive to the cold-bloOded affair:
THE tragedy ut Ashley, No, ton Sun.
day June ~, 1870 news of which filed
our city with rumors of every conceivable
description, was even more terrible in its
deliberate enactment than the imagination
Of any one here had thought to portray it.
From what VIC have been ablo to obtain
from those who returned yesterday with
the body of Miss Summers II appears that
ambrose CoE,
the perpetratOr Of this great crime, pre-.
neditated the death OF his victim, and
only awaited a favorable moment 70 nc.
complish his nendish design. After re-
manning in the town Of Ashley several
days, where he arrived on Thursday from
Il trip to Kansas, he finally, on Saturday
morning, went to one Of the churches Of
that place, expecting to find Miss Sum.
mers there, failing in which, he then re.
paired to the Presbyterian church, where
he saw her quie ~ sitting in one Of the
pews. Ut is alleged that during the sci
vice he was seen to draw large knife
from his pocket and examine it, but this il
not au,hentic) Al the conclusion Of the
services, he is said to have preceded his
victim some little distance, but finally
disappeared. Soon after, however, at the
hour of noon, while Miss Summers was
sitting in her music room, at the residence
Of Mr.. II. +. Griggs, Coe passed the
window and approached the door
of tho house. Professor Watkins, OF
the Seminary, CHANGED to DO in the room
with Miss Summers, and mentioned to her
that Mr.. Coe was coming, al the sam,
time asking her ii he should be admitted
Miss Summers answered certainly, where
upon the Professor opened the door and
CUe entered, Miss Summers was sitting
L near the door, so that " hen it was opened
she was partially concealed from view
Coo stepped across the room and seated
himself, but as SOON rs tho door was closed
ho arose and approached Miss Summers,
extending his hand in u friendly manner.
She did not shake hsrds with him, bu,
barely said good morning" Coo then ex.
claimed, "Abbie, ] want u few minutes
private conversation with YOU and Prof
Watkins was requested " leave the room,
which ho did at the suggestion Of Miss
Summers, who followed INN to the door.
When gong out the Professor said "If
you need me, call, III not 10 far away"
evidently feeling some presentiment Of
coming danger. In less than two minutes
after Professor Watkins left the room he
heard Miss Summers scream, and although
DO WAS only across tho hall, In room op.
posite that occupied by Miss Summers, be-.
fore he could reach the scene Of the
tragedy che was o corpse. Coo made
no attempt to espspe, but stood quietly
looking upon tho PROSTATE form Of bis vic
TIM hc was instantly arrested and
handed over to the authorities, who ut once
TOOK him TO Bowling Green and placed
him in Jail.
The WOUNDS,
ihnlctcd bya large.sizcd common butch,
ers knl'c, were Of such character AZ 10
cause instant death, only one of the four
being u slight one. Ii is surmised thai
she was cut across the arm and brosst
slightly while facing her murderer, md
that tho other three wounds, which were
in the back ZONE under each shoulder
blade and the other directly through the
middle Of the spinal column) were indie.
tod while she was attempting to make her
escape. When found upon the door the
blade was impacted 10 tho bones Of the
spine, tho point OF the knife having passed