The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-03
TIE SHOOTING OF DRAKE.
CASE THAT mas AROUsED sUs-
PICION IN JERsEY CITY.

Wound Dead after n Quarrel with his WIFE,
Was " suicide or Murdcrt-Tbe Contra
dictory Testimony at the Inquest 80 Jesi-
ousy TINT Made TWO Lives Very Miserable.
The Inquest by Coroner Cannon OF Jer-
sev City MS to the cause OF tho death Of W. W.
Drakn, who shot himself or was shot. on Tues
day morning, has been fruitful only In deepen
Inc the doubt that eDveloped the case. william
w. Drake was the foreman In Lorill rd's tobac-
co factory, and lived with his wife at "a Newark
avenue The occupants of the house were
startled by the report Of n pistol early 90 Tues
day morning, and Drake was found Irostrate
ana bleeding upon the roof OF a shed adjoining
the rear 81 the house. He died In n few mo
meDtr, without h. wing been able to speak, al
though II IL said he managed to shake his head
In answer to az inquiry as to whether he shot
himself.
Drake was a Young and handsome man, OF a
very Jealous deposition, 1t Is said OF him by
those who knew him best that his own mode Of
life was exactly VIII he suspected his wife's to
he. Although nothing to criminate her has
been brought to light It Is said that he quarreed
with her incess ntly, and rendered his own aud
her life wretched.
The inquest began on Friday evening. Alfred
Howard, detective. testified that he found the
revolver under the stoop In the ward. Drake
was not dead when he arrived. His wife held
bis head. lie sped and hreathed painfully Cor
short time after he was removed from the sh cd
to the house, and died In trree minutes. Mrs
DIR Ike explained mat he had been out on the
Policeman james Moulds nverred TINT Droke
bore wed rtvJlver OF i'm TO shoot cat. Wit
ness afterw heard that Drtke had another
ristol That had reen borrowed Of Patrick Foley,
and tn 4 he had vet another revolver obtat,ed
from n Mr.. Franks. Tie pistol from the dis
charge OF which Drake died Is the one Moulds
lent him.
Yes erdry afternoon the inquest was resumed.
S'rah Purcell, aged nine wears, sister-in-law ~
ined at the time the pistol vent IN. saw him
slip, and moment a'terward he I'd the report
81 the revolver, DIR IL, rolled over twice and
rested upon mis- face. Hts wife was In the front
room pouring fee. Witness DID not see any
pistol In his hand- that mornin =. A cross-ex-
tmina ION failed to alter the clri's testimony.
She said Drake and his wife did NOT quarrel that
NOR Il 8. She he rd NJ angry words between
DR. Ike and his wife In the week preceding his
death.
Isaac Parnenter, who transacts business as a
h tier in the store under tue apartments ccu-
pied nv Mrs. Drake, saws that on Mond night,
The night before the murder, he heard dis
lurnance IN Dr,ke's room. II seemed like a
family quarrel and lasted fifteen minutes. Wit
ness heard Drake swe ring and calling some one
liar. A ecuf1is followed, and then Drake left
u . room, 81 mmit 9 the door after him.
Omcer harinus testified that he found Drake
At the time that brakes left side was toward
the house when the shooting occurred. The
contents Of the nistol entered bis right siue.
The inquest vs. to be resumed on tuesday. A
belief that Dir Ike WAS murdered obt tins IN Jer-
seN CITY but Chief Of Police Chamunev. who has
studied the c'se intentl believes that Drake
the evening preceding his death In conversation
win chi Oh mpney at the Ponce Central
ONCE. He described his family troubles. but
went away In apparently cheerful fr me OF
MUD. Mr. Oh. IN ney was not astonished to
hear 81 his de tn. = he knew hun TO he petu-
liant, qui tempered, and easily disturbed.