The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-11-25

MARIAN TAKES THE LAW INTO
HIS CwN HANDS.
PoTTsyILLE, Nov. 23d. Thomas Cooch,
aged 81 years, and Mrs. Richard Cooch,
aged about 40 years, were shot by the
husband of The latter, who is so years OF
age, while the family was seated at the
breakfast table this morning.
The men are brothers.
Thomas Cooch is reputed TO be worth
$500, 600, has been a resident of this place
for more than half century, and the
prominence, age, and circumstances have
given the affair such a sensational eharac-
ter that il will be the town talk for many
days
Richard Cooch was until year ago a
resident of Lapbertvlle, N j., where he
had a comfortable home. He is sufferer
from partial paralysis and is bent almost
double by rheumatism. These intirmities
he attempted to mitigate by the use Of
morphia until he became u confirmed VIC
visited by his elder brother, Thomas, and
was induced to break up his home aud
come here to live, bringing his wife with
him.
Thomas Cooch is widower, his wife
having met violent death few years
ago, her clothes taking fire while she was
experimenting the burning of leaves in
the garden in the rear Of the elegant man
sion they then occupied, on Coal street.
both. married and moving in the best cir
cles. His irascible temper has estranged
him from them ever since his wife's
death, and they have been forbidden his
house.
After Richard brought his family to
Pottsville he complains that he was sub
jected to the most terrible abuse by his
brother, and finally last week he COM
planned to Justice B. II. Guldin of the
treatment. His story, as related TO Squire
Guldin, is most pathetic one. On Tues
day last he came to ask advice as to his
method of proceeding to secure relief.
He said his brother and his wife had be-
gun most systematic course of torture.
That they refused to give him anything to
eat; that when at the table he reached
for anything his brother stabbed at his
hand with whatever he held most conve
nient knife, fork or spoon; that his
brother never passed him without striking
at him with his cane, and that now they
threatened to put him out entirely. =
when any such violent demonstrations
were made toward him to retalate In kind.
Two days later the old mans bent frame
again struggled into the Justices office.
He said that the abuse still continued, but
that now they cut him down to one meal
day, and threatened TO send him to the
amshouse. The Squire told him to re-
turn to the house aud refuse to go to the
almshouse. That afternoon he appeared
for the third time. He said he had now
been put out for good, and had been beat
en- by both his wife and brother. Again
Squire Guldin advised him to provide
himself with club and return to the
house.
He said, 81 have no club, but have a
blackjack.
|
''Then use that, said the Squire.
This morning the shooting occurred.
Three or four shots were fired. One
lodged in the head of Thomas Cooch,
above the left ear, and circled over the
top of the skull, and was cut out of the
right frontal bone. Another lodged in
the left upper arm OF Mrs. Cooch, and was
evidently aimed directly at her heart
The servants, attracted by the shooting,
ran out and gave an alarm.
The family home is now in one of the
stone cottages in the exclusive scation
known as Howard Avenue. Neighbors
| are few, and square Of pine woods sep
arates the street from Mohantongo street,
whence help was summoned.
The two wounded people He'd to the
barn and locked themselves in until the
police and physicians arrived.
Richard was at once arrested. He was
calmly and in peace finishing his meal
He was brought TO Justices office, and
at his own request was at once sent to
Jail. He was perfectly collected. He de-
MED that he had shot his wife, but de-
clared that she might have been hit by
one of the balls he intended for his broth
err. II this were SO, he said, he regretted
it. Whatever she had done, he would
not shoot her but he did intend to kill
his brother; he knew better, be said, and
he alone is to blame.
81 bought the revolver on Saturday
night. This thing had gone on long
enough. When he induced me to break
up my home and come here he promised
me that as be was rich could spend my
remaining days in comfort with him. But
he has given me nothing but the most I'M
paraleled abuse and treacbery, and now
| want to die as hope he will, that we
may 90 TO our Creator face to face to-
gether.
"A source OF considerable speculation
and conjecture by sewing machine men in
general is Why is it that the canvessers
selling New DAVIS Machines can go out
and sell from five to seven and even more
machines per week, while the canyasser
for other machines considers himself do
ing well when he accomplishes the sale of
two or three machines per week This is
very easily answered. 1t is not because
the Davis is sold lower than any other,
for an Nrioa 10 frop. fiua 10 fon doiIaro