Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-07-07


Chicago.)
mortem statement that Mrs Staples was
not his assailant He did not know who
shot him.
To all the sharp questioning of the po-
lice Mrs. Staples declared she did not
know who fired the fatal shot. After
the fusilade, she said, Il man placed Il
pistol to her breast and told her to keep
quiet She swept the weapon aside and
his eyeballs and thought him to be
negro.
Police Don't Credit the Woman.
The police do not believe Mrs Staples
has told all she knows. Her state
ments are so varied and differ SO materi-
ally from those of Nelson that the police
do not believe an iota of what she has
told She. however. frankly admitted
her relations with the dying man.
Police last night searched her room at
1907 Michigan avenue. They found moth
ing which would shed any light on the
mystery They would not have been sur
prised if they had found letters from an
other lover. who. fired by jealousy. might
have fired the shots. But they did not.
Neither could they learn that she ever
owned a revolver.
Shot from a Level.
The nature of Nelson's wound shows
that he was shot by somebody who sat or
stood on level with him at the time and
at some distance from the victim. His
clothing shows no powder burns, as
would be the case if the shots had been
fired at close range.
The second shot indicates that it was
fired from an elevation. as if the victim
had fallen when the bullet clipped
through his coat collar and graZed his
neck on the right side just above the
I'LL
was noticed in the perforated coat col
lar.
1t is possible the bullet is actually in
Nelson's heart. DR.. Thomas Grace of
the Chicago hospital could thrust his fin
ger through the wound into the pericar-
diuRl or soc inclosing the heart But he
could feel no bullet although it might
have slipped down between the pericar-
dunn and the heart or have been buried
in the muscular tissues of the organ.
Bullet of Small Caliber.
DR.. Grace thinks from the size of the
wound il was made by either % or B.
cali-er bullet.
The ball cut straight through the ster-
mum Or breast bone, little to the left
of the median line and at the juacture
of the fourth rib. 1t cut out piece of
the sternum the size of nickel Either
a bone fragment or the bullet penetrated
the lung, for air escapes from the
wound.
When Nelson was put on the operating
table he was all but dead. No pulse
could be detected The doctors lifted ND
the sternum fragment and a copious flow
of blood resulted. Under the relief from
the pressure it had struggled against the
heart rallied, and Nelson lived instead of
dying then and there. Whenever the
bandages over the wound are removed
now the blood flows freely.
No Hope for Recovery.
The doctors hold out no hope for Mel
sons recovery They think there is no
use of an operation. Probably his death
will result in a few days from blood poi
soning. EXtraneGus matter was carried
into the wound by the bullet. This prob
ably Will cause inflammation and blood
poisoning.
Nelson was conscious yesterday and
last night. He seemed cheerful He
shooting.
Staples Talks in st. Paul.
A dispatch from st. Paul, Mimi. where
Mrs. Staples husband lives, says Mr.
Staples does not know Nelson. nor has
ne any idea who the murderer could have
been He refused to say whether or
not he had been divorced from his wife
He did not wish to do anything to in
jure her. This is all the most persistent
questioning could eXtOrt from him.
From another source it was learned the
couple were married when the girl was
in short dresses. She kept her huS-
bands books for some years in St. Paul
and the couple attracted considerable at
tention on the streets and in the temper
ance Saloons where they took their
meals
Mr.. Staples says he has not been in
Chicago lately, but would not tell when
he was there last. He was in StilIwa-
ter on Thursday and returned to St. Paul
in the evening, remaining there all night
Friday he went to River Falls Wis, and
came back late this afternoon. He ex-
pressed surprise on learning that Mrs.
Staples had figured in tragedy.
Nelson's sister left Cadillac Mich. the
family home, for Chicago last night to
render he~ brother any services she could.
His people are greatly distressed over the
tragedy.
Is dope" Fiend
Mrs. Staples is % years of age, of
dark complexion and has Il cold. drawn
expression that is sometimes designated
rs "a bicycle face Her fathers name
is Maslin: he was with Franklin Me
Feagh 4 Co. for Il number of years, and
ROW resides at Twenty-fourth street and
Indiana avenue. and her sister, Mrs. Her
man KeCk, at 113 lakewood boulevard.
Her brother-in-aw, Herman Keck.
called 1t the Hyde Park station yesterday
morning. and, among other things, said
that Mrs. Staples is addicted to the
opium habit-in fact. is wnat is common
Is known as dope hend.' This accu-
sation was acknowledged by the prisoner.
Up 10 three weeks ago the woman was