The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-27
ORDERED BY CORONER
A JURY OF THE MOST PROMlN-
BNT CITIZENS EMPANELED.
WHAT THE ASHEVILLE PAPERS SAY
The Jury Found That She Committed Suicide
The Note Unidentified as Her Hand
witing--The Rumors Per-
fecty Groundess.

Charlotte. y. c., July ga special
from Asheville to the Observer says:
Inquiry into the death of Mrs. Minnie
T, Cooke. wife of ex-Mayor w. j. Cooke,
was concluded today, physicians testify
ing to the nature of the wound, range OF
the bullet and condition of Mrs. Cooke
for a time before her suicide, and nu-
merous witnesses identified two notes LETT
by her as being in her handwriting, whlle
others testified that Mr.. and Mrs. Cooke
were devoted to each other. In its verdict
the Jury found that Mrs. Cooke took her
own life and removed all grounds for
suspicion of foul dealing
The Asheville Gazette of Sunday, of
which Mr.. Cooke is owner. says:
"An inquest was begun yesterday on
the death of Mrs Minnie L. Cooke, the
wife of ex-Mayor William j. Cooke,
which occurred on Monday as the result
Of a self-inficted wound. The inquest
was ordered by G. w. Reed, the coroner.
30 set at rest various rumors tnat had
gained circulation. 1t is needless to say
that the investigation yesterday reveal
ed no facts that were not known TO the
physicians called in Immediately after
Mrs. Cookies death. The coroner sum-
moned as a jury the following we'll
Long. G.. III. Miller, r. J. Stokely, ii. T..
Collins and G. A. Greer, and in addition
to these requested the presence of Coun-
ty Physician X. G. Starnes, DIR. Will
liam D. Hilliard and DIR. Charles L.
Minor, at the autopsy. The body was ex-
humed at Riverside cemetery and a care
full examination made of the fatal
wound. The ball entered above the left
ear, where the hair was singed and the
flesh burned, and passed almost directly
through the head to the right temple,
where it lodged. After the examination
the body was reinterred. Testimony will
be heard in the inquest at O'Clock to-
morrow morning. Mr.. Cooke and his
friends desire, in view of the sensational
gossip that has been set afioat, that the
investigation should be made as complete
as possible"
The Asheville Citizen says: "a legal
inquiry to ascertain the facts surround
ing recent deplorable tragedy has be-
come necessary act on the part of the
constituted authorities. We must all
deeply regret that this is so. A commu-
nifty so well ordered as ours is painfully
shocked by the intrusion of the laws
machinery where the burden of affection
| Of a stricken husband and a prominent
and highly respected family was already
well nigh unbearable, and certainly not
to be increased unless for profoundly
moving causes. The heartfelt sympathy
Of the people is with them, and not a
feather-weight of distress should be
added unnecessarily or for any but the
best reasons, and these connected with
public policy.
"But it is true that around this ira
sedy either the tongue Of vile or thought
less slander has woven a tissue of mis-
representation, or the facts yet to be as
certaned are in themselves such as
would excite a natural inquiry. In any
case Justice to the living as well as to
the dead calls for this investigation and
demands that it be made thorough. 1t
would be foul and lasting injury to
priyate character hitherto unchallenged,
10 permit allegations that are In the
mouths of some and in the unspoken
thoughts of more to go unanswered,
when they can be met and put to rest
forever by authority constituted for such
and Ike cases, and, in this instance, with
= pIain if distressing duty to perform.
1--WE must all regret the publicity ac-
corded, but it is a time when publicity
is imperatively necessary; when at, IN
fact. serves high purposes-to clear the
public mind. to Danish evil allegation, 10
vindicate character, to establish truth.
!, And the finding of the six men ON whom
| the responsibility of this inquiry rests
l. ta6 conclusive"