The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-18
SHOT THROUGH THE NECK
w.R. COLES EARLY MORNING AT.
TEMPT TO KILL HIS WIFE.


Threats That Have Been Reiterated
for Years Finally Carried out-Four
Shots Fired at a Long Suffering
Woman, Only One OF Which Takes
Relatives Expected Some
Such Tragedy Long Ago.
Yesterday morning, shortly after z
O'clock, William r. Cole, formerly an en-
gineer on the Central railroad, shot has
wife at their home, No. 1851 Waldburg
street, three doors west of Jefferson.
The bullet a 22-caliber. from
Smith g. Wesson revolver, entered by the
left shoulder blade, struck the bone and was
detected upward, coming out under the
skin of the neck in front. It was removed
by DR.. Jennings. 1t made a serious wound
aud may result fatally.
FIRED FOUR TIMES AT HER
Cole fired four shots at his wife, only one
Of which struck her. The first was fred
while she wss preparing bis breakfast in
the dining room in the rear Of she first
floor. AS far as can be learned Mrs. Cole,
in response to a question from her husband,
told him that she would either spend the
day in making some fancy work 10 order to
secure some money, or would visit her
daughter, Mrs A. D. Miltier. Coles reply
was: "D- it, think I'll settle you now
and be done with IT," and drawing bis re-
volver he began firing.
CHASED INTO THE YARD.
It is not believed that the first bullet
struck her, as Mrs. Cole ran out OF the
kitchen through a small piazza and into
the yard screaming murder with her
husband close behind her. Just as she
shrank behind closet with her head bent
downward he fred again. and IL ia probable
that this 10 the bullet that wounded her. As
the poor woman was half lying on the
ground Cole fred toward her twice. the bull
lets cutting holes in the fence.
The screams and shots aroused the entire
neighborhood. James s. Talley, who re-
sides at No. 1856 Waldburg street, rushed
out on the piazza Of his house just in time
to see Cole fire the last shots at his wife.
Cole threatened TO shoot him and MIR. Tai
ley went into the house TO get his revolver,
thinking that Mrs. Cole, who was then un-
conscious, had been murdered.
WANTED, BUT NOT AROUND.
A large crowd collected about the house
but as Coles disposition was well-known,
and it was the general belief that his wife
was dead, no one ventured to enter for some
time. An effort was made to find police
man, but without success, none appearing
on the scene for nearly an hour. Mr.. Tai
ley, having armed himself, entered the
tried TO kill himself, but only succeeded In
inflictlng a bad flesh wound In the neck.
He was on the piazza at the time, and as
the blood flowed freely the hallway and
the bedroom. into which he walked, were
well dotted with blood drops.
COLES ARREST.
Mr.. Talley followed Cole into abe bed
room and snatched the pistol from him be-
fore he could use IL again. Two cartridges
had not haan fred hut this not dina NJ
Cole, as they showed that the trigger had
been snapped down on them.
About O'Clock Detective Henry Wether-
horn came along and placed Cole under
arrest. Cole asked to be allowed to 90 to
his tool chest before leaving the house but
ward showed that loaded Colt revolver
was on top Of the tools and that this was
what Cole wanted.
Mr.. Frank L. Purse in the meantime had
picked up Mrs Cole and taken her TO his
house, No. 1893 Waldburg street. DIR. Jen-
nings was summoned and removed the
bullet.
WHAT woAAN'S LOVE WILL DO.
Mrs. Cole was subsequently, placed under
the care Of DR., Stone. the family physician.
She suffered greatly from the wound, but,
despite the pain that it caused her, asked
those about her ''not TO let any one burt
Willie." meaning her husband. Her solicit
her was pitiful.
Cole was committed to Jail by Justice
Warning Russell on a charge of assaults with
intent TO murder. DR.. Stone dressed his
wound at the Jail.
ABUSED FOR YEARS.
Relatives and neighbors tell @ terrible
story of the suffering inflicted on Mrs. Cole
by her husband, who has been a heavy
drinker for years Drunkenness caused his
ha
since then he has held several good posi-
tious for short time, his drinking habits
In each case leading to his discharge. AZ
different times he has either shot at his
wife or attempted TO. Her relatives en-
deavored, but without avail, to induce her
believing that things would come out all
right.
NO SURPRISE AT THE TRAGEDY.
His threats TO kill her and other members
OF his family were common talk and yes-
terdey's tragedy created no surprise, the
only wonder among the ueighbors appar-
emily being at its not having occurred long
ago. One time, after he had fired at his
wife, Cole told neIghbor that it was none
of his business whether he shot her or not
10 quote his expression: sit was his family
and he did not want any interference
by outsiders"
MRS. COLE IMPROVING.
The greatest indignation existed in the
vicinity when the news of the crime beoame
known. and expressions that BODIED no good
to Cole were uttered on all sides. It may
be that Mrs. Cole overheard one Of these
and that this led to her appeal to her friends
TO protect her husband.
Last night DR.. Stone stated that Mrs.
Cole had improved during the day and that
there is now no reason to believe that the
wound will produce death
THE COMMISSIONERS MEETING.