New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07
EITHER SUICIDE OR MURDER.
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MRS.
CHARLES H. JACKSON
TWO BULLET WOUNDS IN HER HEAD, WHICH HER
HUSBAND SAYS SHE INFLICTED-HE Is AR
RESTED. CHARGED WITH THE CRIME



Planneld. n. j.. June 6-Mrs. May Carter
Jackson the wife Of Charles II. Jackson. n
porter for "Thc New-york Morning Advertiser"
was found dead in ocd al the clearinghouse of
Mrs. A. S. Ellsworth widow Of Or. Ellsworth in
the village Of NEWMARKET three miles from this
city. shortly before o'clock THE morning. There
were two bullet holes in her head. one over each
eye and the authorities found the pistol with
which the shooting had been done under the
pillow in the bed which she had occupied. They
not satisfied that she committed suicide.
and they started an investigation which ended
this evening In the arrest Of Jackson.
The shots did not arouse any one in the house
except the woman's husband They did not oc
cupy the same room. but were on the same floor.
she had two children. and the youngest child
slept with her while the eldest. who Is four years
Old. slept with Jackson In another room across
the hallway
Az soon as the shooting became known County
Physician Brace OF Perth Amboy. was Informed.
and he hurried to the scene. The Coroner found
that both the bullets had entered the womans
hrair. and he questioned Jacksn regarding
the occurrence Jackson said he left New
York at I o'clock this morning. according to his
custom. He took the "owl" train usual and ar
rived at Dunnellen the nearest station. shortly
before - O'Clock He walked To the boarding
house which Is two miles distant from the station.
He got himself a light lunch and his vie ate
with him. He said that after he and his wife had
finished eating they chatte1 together and retired
about o'clock. ne going to his room. while his
wife went II her room. Jackson said he went to
sleep and was awakened shortly after o'clock oy
the report of a pistol shot coming from his wifes
room. He ran into the room and found his wife
sitting up in bed with the revolver In her hand
Blood was streaming down her face from bullet
wound over the right eye Jackson asked her. he
says. What have YOU done" and she replied:
whats the matter? Have l had the night
mare?'
SHOT ONCE IN HIS ABSENCE.
When he noticed that she did not reply. he hur
r!cdly left the house t. summon A physician.
He ran t. the Office OF Or. ". J. Whitford. two
blocks distant. and 20; him TO return 10 the
house with him When they arrived at the house
Mrs. Jackson was dead.
Jackson said that when he lef; his wife there
was only one wound in her head. while when the
doctor arrived there were two wounds. one over
each eve. Jackson told the doctor tha, his VIE
must have fired the second shot into her head
while he was out. H." explained t. the doctor
that after she had fired the first shot he tried
4, wrench iho revolver from her. but h. was un-
stc,es,ful IIe said she became quiet and he d!a
NOT believe shc would shoot hersel a second
time. and then & WAS that B." decided 90 X ior
doctor.
DR. Long. Of New brunswick. one ~ The county
phvsica.is was also Informed of the shooting.
and wth Coroner Brace they performed an
autopsy jackson was present. and while the
doctors were examining the body he told them hc
knew no reason why his wife should MI her-eif
She was In the bcs; Of spirits. he said when they
separated and was talking TO him about trip
she intended taking TO Europe next week Jack
son r., an EnglshmAn. and his parents live IN
England
After Jackson returned to the house with Dr
Whtforl he aroused the boarding house keepc~
and others. and asked them n they had heard his
wife commit suicide They replied that they had
not heard any shots and said the nrs they kn""
about Mrs. Jacksonis death was when b" i"li
them The revolver with which the shooting was
done was ~ - callbre and Jackson snye x had
been in the possession Of hs wifc f'r years tn"
afternoon he gav" Coroner inrch a note. which
hc said his wife had written. The Coroner refused
to tell the contents Of the note.
EITHER WOUND ENOUGH ~ KILL.
The autopsy showed that both bullets had
penetrated the womaus brain. ana that either
one would have been fatal The opinion - ihc
phvslcians is that the woman could not have
eroken after the bullet had entered her brain.
and that Jackson's statement that she had sald
T. him: whats the matter; have had the
rightr1are?" is hardly cr"ditahlc also thai II
wolld have beer almost impossible f'r Mira
rockso, 70 have fired second bail into her
brain after one had penetrated II unless II was
done by muscular contraction. Dr. Whi'ford
saws that the revolver found under the pill
low after the shooting and that IT would have
,f.asn tlsr. al Ter
shc had shot herself
After the autorey the inquest wa6 begun
iurv Of which G. +. Kelly local coal merchant,
yaa foreman heard the testimony In the case.
Jackson aprearcd before the jury and reiterated
tho statement whirh he had previously made.
The iuoues. was started at . O'Clock and was
conducted behind closed doors. After he had
testified at the inquest Jackson was questioned
rerarding the note which he alleged his VIII" cft
He said the Coroner told him not 10 TAX about
f, and on being pressed. he said ne could only
remember II In part. He said that his wife hah
written that she was overcome ny the 'act 'ns.
| the four -year-old son had lied to her, ana she
was further depressed by the fear that shc was
about 70 become mother again
The jury about o'clock rendered a vernict 20
,,a onect thaf Mrs Jackson came to her death
from two pistol shot wounds inflicted by her hus-
hand Jackson Immediately taken into
custody He denied his guilt and SAID there was vas
onIv the best Of feelings between him and his
w,fe and he had no reason to kill her. He was
taken 10 the Middlesex County jail In New.
prunsw,ck to await the action OF the next Grand
jury. ... A.. ..o..-. ia
| Mrs jackson was about twenty-nVe years oin,
and he IL about twenty-eght They had llved IN
| Vew-Narket for the last five years. she was an
active church worker in the church and SUNDAY
echool and was recently teacher IN me KINDER
garten at Dunellen. Jacksons reputation mas
always been good He is not drinking man; ana
his friends say that he will have no trouble III
proving his innocence
ydJE SENIORS PLEAD FOR THE FENCE.
~. tI.,,or conn June Ga petition was started
,ho ,,ornne asking the Ya,e Corporation 10 change
the site Of the statue Of Pres dent Woolsey from IN
fran, NJ the Yale fence. the meeting-p.ace or the
'' . .-o,hor erot II IL being signed by nearly