The morning call., 1891-11-10

in the chin, the bullet passing through nv
lower jaw and knocking out several teeth,
Here. you can see for YOURSELF" and Mrs.
Cotter pointed to the scar and called atten-
tion to the absence OF several front teeth,
'.At that time," she continued, Il did not
like to create a public scandal. and so 1
shielded him. Instead of denouncing him
went to a physician and told him had ac-
dentaIly shot myself. To keep the neigh
bors from talking told them had fallen
self In this way / accounted for the wound.
and prevented scandal.
Lately have been in constant dread of
his again shooting me. When he awoke this
morning he was very surly and resumed the
conversation where we left off last night
Finally he became very angry and threat
ened my life. Knowing that he was a dan
gerous man when in the heat of passion
tried to calm him. Then he jumped out of
bed and cursed me.
9TH kill you,' he exclaimed, as he started
for the pistol, on the table. Suspecting his
intention, l rushed for the weapon and sue
ceeded in getting it first. l fired twice, and
he fell to the floor"
In her narration of cruel treatment Mrs,
Cotter is corroborated by her neighbors.
Every one spoken to in reference to the
shooting expressed sympathy for her, but
none for her victim.
SYMPATHY OFFERED HER.
Even Chief Crowley lost no time in visit
ing the prisoner and Offering her word of
sympathy. While speaking OF the affair
afterward the Chief said: 90 have a great
deal of sympathy for Mrs. Cotter and be-
iieve that she was justified in the shooting
Cotter was worthless fellow, and would
have been dismissed from the force long ago
had 1t not been for her sake. Had he been
tried before the commission tonight it is
certain that he would have been dismissed
from the force"
There were many visitors to the scene of
the homicide during the afternoon. The
Golfers rented the upper fiat Of the store
and subet portion of this, reserving 10
themselves a bedroom and sitting-rOom
comfortably furnished. Not an article was
out of place when the reporter was received
In the sitting-room By Miss Katie Norton, a
sister of Mrs. Coster. The dead officers
coat and hat hung from hook on his side of
the bed, just over the table on which his
pistol was laid, and only few PAGES from
the spot where he received his DEATH wound.
Not drop of blood had been spilled, and
the bedclothes had been carefully arranged
to look as if nothing in the nature of trag-
edv had occurred.
Miss Norton is employed In a Market
street printing office, and is comely and
self-possessed Young woman, about 20
years of age. She arrived from Australia
about six months ago, and has been living
in the house since that time, though not
boarding there. Questioned as to Cotters
habits. she freely admitted that he was
often under the influence of liquor, and
that he had been reprimanded by the priest
for his lack of self-control in this matter.
The neatnesS and general good taste dis
played in the furnishing OF the apartments
confirmed Miss Norton'S statement that her
sister was a domesticated woman, and a
person who might, under happier surround
ings. have made any mans life pleasant aud
agreeable.
AUTOPSY AND INQUEST.
Soon after the remains of the dead officer
were removed to the Morgue Police Sur
ge0n Williams made an autopsy, and,
among other things, discovered that Cotter' 5
liver was so badly diseased that he could
not have lived more than six months.
An inquest was commenced, and Attorney
j. Ne. Wilson appeared IN the interest of
Mrs. Cutter, who WAS in too nervous a con-
ditiCn to attend herself The first witness
called was Officer Moran, who identified the
deceased as native OF Cork County, Ire
! land, and thirty-nlne years oil age.
Upon entering the Cotter abode, Mrs.
| COtter told him that she had shot ner hus-
band twice; Then she handed him the
| pistol thlrty-eight calIber hammeriess
Smith ~ Wesson, with two chambers
empty When Moran asked her why she
| had done the shooting. she said she had to
| do it to protect her life. Upon entering the
| bedroom Cotter's body was still warm but
| when he felt the pulse he found that life
was extinct. There was an abrasion on
Cotter's forehead and face, probably caused
by falling.
James McCoOie testified that he had known
the deceased thirteen years. AT 6:35 o'clock
in the morning Mrs. Cotter entered his store
| and said her husband was dying. After
Officer Moran arrived he went into the
house with him and found Cotter lying face
downward. Cotter was attired only in an
undershirt. Six months ago Mrs. Cotter
told the witness that her husband had shot
her iii the chin. 1t was known In the
neighborhood that Cotter had frequently
abused and threatened his wife.
RESULT OF THE AUTOPSY.
DR.. Williams detailed the result of the
autopsy. The fatal bullet entered four
on a line with the interior border OF the
scapua, passed between the sixth and
seventh left ribs into the pleural cavity and
fractured the seven tn rib in its course. The
ball passed upward, forward and a little TO
the right. Ii almost completely severed the
aorta and lodged in the sternum. The lungs
were in chronic state of disease and the
liver was enlarged. The immediate cause
of death was homorrhage from the perfor-
ated artery.
DIR. Williams then produced the bullet and
it was exhibited to the jury. Attorney
Wilson said that his client was unable to ap-
pear and secured a continuance until Thurs
day. the day after the funeral.
The funeral will probably be conducted
by the Widows and Orphans Aid Assoca-
ton of the San Francisco Police Depart
ment, as Mrs. Cotter went TO the old City
Hall on Friday and paid up her husbands
dues. By her forethought she is now en-
titled to the death benefit Of $1,000, and 500
for burial expenses.