The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-07

lay together on the floor, weltering In their
own blood. Mr.. Plymate ran out into the street
and down tovG after the police, and DIR. Nc
Coy, who happened to be passing, was called
the woman dying. She had three bull
let holes in her head, and she lay
in pool of blood which had formed on the
floor. The name OF the woman Is Mrs. Ida
Ward. Beside her lay the form of Ralph
Drake, with two bullet holes in the lower back
the reporters be kept out, and said he was only
sorry he had not succeeded IN taking his own
life.
Young Drake is q son Of Mrs. Drake. and
brother of Councilman Drake. than whom
there is no more estimable people in this city.
The woman is a daughter oil George Cook,
prosperous and highly respected farmer, who
died recently up In the HRwpateh. She had
been the wife of n man named Ward but, Tor
some months past, had not lived with her hus-
band on account OF her intimacy with Drake
who until few months ago lived at St Louis
Crossing and kept a store. The Wards lived
there also. Drake s also addicted to the use
of strong drink. Neither is over thiTty-hve
years of age.
They went to the Plymste house Monday
night and rented a room, the woman doing the
talking and claiming the man as her husband,
and paying the room rent week in advance.
As they took their meals somewhere else but
little was seen or known of them until the ter
rible tragedy was enacted. While drake is
shot once his wound will not prove fatsl. lie
was taken TO jail and a post norton is being
held on the body Of the dead woman. The
pistol was a 32-caliber Smith d Wesson. which
he still held in his hand and covered with
blood, all five chambers having been emPted.
LATER-Since the above was In type Il is
stated that Drake got up OF the floor and
opened the door to admit DR.. Mccoy, to whom
he stated he told the woman before the shoot
ing that he was going to kill her and then XIII
himself. He says she objected. because she
was afraid he would kill her, and then not kill
himself. Iii evident though that brakes In
tention was better than his aim, and the latter
seemed to be good, but some unforeseen proVi
dence saved him.
The Times reporter was in the room where
the tragedy occurred in a very few minutes
after the shooting. Mrs. Ward was lying upon
the floor welterng in her BLOOD and gasplng
her last. Drake was also lying upon the hoor,
with bis hand upon chair. He raised from
this position, and falling iull length upon the
floor, exclaimed: LET her be, gentlemen, and
kill me; only kill me and will
be satisfied" He was Immediately taken IN
custody by Policeman HaRerty and Bloomin-
stock and Marshal Lewellen. and a few min
utes after his victim breathed her last was
taken to the county jail in a carriage.
His mother and brother. Councilman Drake
shortly afterwards visited the jail, and Dr. Rice
was summoned TO make an examination OF the
wounds. Mrs. Drake, however. was persuaded
not to see her son and returned home.
Dr. Rice made a thsrough examination OIL the
wounds and pronounced them not OF serious
nature. The examination showed that but one
ball took effect and that 1t was glannlng shot.
entering back of the right ear, coming out
about two inches above. inflicting q scalp
wound only. The ear and side Of the head,
though, were badly burned with powder Dur
ing the examination brakes lament was that
he had not succeeded In killing himself.
- s,Kfv, in 10 mt az
after the shooting and the remains were taken
to f. !. Huber's morgue, where the post
norton was held by Coroner falk and DTs.
Mccoy and Morris. The postmortem showed
that three balls had taken effect. The balls en-
tered in a triangle about an inch apart just be-
low the left ear The first one ranged inward
and lodged against the spinal column. The
second passed upward into the mouth. through
the roof of the mouth and lodged under the
right eye, and the third passed upward and in
ward through tho base of the skull emerging
one inch above and to the outer side OF the
right eye, beneath the scalp. Either OF the
three shots would have proven fatal
Both the people are well known in this city
and the northern part Of the county. Mrs.
Ward was thirty years OF age and the daughter
| of George Cook. She was married to John
Ward. but the past year has been living apart
from her husband. She has not borne the best
reputation, having been guilty OF several esca-
pades in this city.
Drake IS a young man well known here, 10
| highly connected. and 10 his love for liquor
can be attributed the cause of his present
| trouble.
About two years ago Drake left this city and
went 10 ST. Louis Crossing, where he en-
gagged in the mercantile business, and 4.
was at this time that the attachment
between him and the Ward woman began.
| They had been intimate ever since and were
| the subject of considerable comment among
their friends and neighbors. and. il is claimed.
the result OF this intimacy was the separation
| Of Mrs. Ward and her husband.
The tragedy is greatly deplored aud the pro-
foundest sympathy 10 felt for Mrs. Drake and
| other members of the family by the many
friends who hold them in the highest esteem.
| Mrs. Drake has suffered much in mind and
body for some months past over the actions OF
| her wayward son.
| COLUMBUS. June Especial. The post.
norton held on the remains of Mrs. Ward
showed that three bullets had passed through
her head, either of which we're sufficient to
have produced death. Drake placed In
Jail. lie is not seriously hurt This morning
Judge Hord issued an order for the grand jury
20 meet in spe eial session on Monday next Ia
investigate the affair.
A SfOrV Of Wasner.