Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-03
SCATTERED BRAINS.
VIM. j. Corley Blows His Head On
With Z Double harrelod Gun.
HIS REMAINS An AWguL SPECTACLE
streng prask ssa Demsstae lnfsiieisy
1enbtss 10 ianasaes aisa az fssfsrsn
ths Rash Aet-Hts kesasfss Is BE
Taken 40 MAlara.

William j. CoTiey. carpenter, re-
siding Al So Peasley-st., Went home un-
der the Influence OF liquor yesterday
afternoon, quarrelsd WITH his wife, and
going into the kiichen took dorm
docble-baTrei shotgun, sat down IN
chair. placed tile inuE.le ~ his temple,
pulled the trigger and the entire top OF
his head vas blown off, killing him IN
slantly.
A report Of the suicide was imme-
dialeiy telephoned to police headqasr-
tefs and tfleen minutes later the police
patrol wagon, containing Officers
sehoby and Msher. pulled UP To the
door, and the policemen took charge OF
the premises, awaiting the arrival OF
Coroner Bradish.
Shortly after the arrival of the off,
GERS, the TELEGRAM -HrnALD was ON the
spot. The home of the dead man is a
neat, story and one-half cottage, with
a broad balcony extending from the
side entrance. The interior is neatly
furnished. bearing an appearance of
cheer and welcome unusual 10 the
average workingman's home. Inside the
cosy sitting room, small group OF men
were discussing the awful deed COM
mtted an hour before, in low tones,
suggestive of horror. The officer
took from stand the koro-
sene lamp and slowly moved
toward the kitchen door which stood
ajar. Turning 10 the right the group
stopped short, transfxed with horror al
the awful spectacle of the dead man,
sc lted Immediately in front of them.
Hti sat with his left leg thrown care
lessly over the right, has left hand rest
ing on the lap, his right arm hanging
limp by his side. Against his crossed
legs the gun, double barreled shot
gun, laid lightly. The slekening sight
presented by the mans face and head
was Undesirable. A gaping wound,
its edges matted with biood-soaked hair
that clung tenaciously 10 the serrated
surface, exposed the entire area Of the
BRAIN. The top Of the head had been
completely blown OFT. Down on the
right side of the face a CORY stream Of
blood trickled over the powder
hlackened cneek and dropped upon his
shirt front where 1t thickened and
clung In confused mass. His eyes,
wide-open, stared blankly towards the
ceiling. His under jaw had dropped,
leaving the mouth an extended
orifice, The spectacle was inten-
81 t.f -
the surroundings. On the floor
at his right were several fragments of
brains, the graylsh hue suffused with
| the crimson of his lite blood. The
| force of the charge from the gun spst-
tered brain and skull over and against
a white screen Just above his head 10
the left, making vivid contrast, while
| Just beyond the mixture of shot,
powder, brain and skull bespattered
canary bird cage, killing the yellow
soDgsters and covering their plumage
with blood. The charge passed out
through the ceiling above, leaving all
along its course the CORY evidence Of
its deadly work.
The wife of the suicide was found al
the home of James Nardln, a neighboT.
She was seated in a rocEing-chair hug
ging to her bosom a curiv-headed
little boy of years. She Is
comely looking woman about 50 years
of age, ana seemed 10 be not uDduly
excited. She told the following story:
"Corley came home this afternoon
about or O'Clock. He had been
drinking and was ugly. ] had Just re-
turned from the city, where / had
made few purchases. ! showed them
TO him, and he said: That's right;
spend all the money you want to- ]
replied: How can ! when YOU are ont
of work" He then grew angry and be-
gan TO swear at the little boy. ] inter-
fered, saying: Corley, you had sooner
have drink than baby and L. lie then
spranc at me and grabbed me by tic
throat. / broke away from him and
ran TO the door screaming murder
| j ran out and came IN here, whore |
renamed about half sn hour, when We
heard the report of the gun"
Mrs. Corley SAYS that her husband
had drank heavily for some weeks. bat
when he had work he was not 80 dlssi-
pated. He had several times threat
| ened her life. and she lived in fear Of
\ him while he was IN bIs cups They
were married ten years ago at Nsford.
| and removed year later 70 this cIty,
| where they have since resided. She
owns the little nome where they lived
! He was her second husband, the frat
one, William Lyons, dying twelve years
| ago. Deceased leaves mother ard
| four sisters, who reside at Maford lie
was member OF Washington Lodge,
| No. lH. A. q. L. w. and also belonged
to a Masonic lodge al Nsford
Coroner BrasIsh took charge % the
suicides body and turned i over %
Underssker Durfey lie vlil be TAX en-
| to Mafor8 for burial.