The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-21

wound ON the right breast was badly
iacerated. while the slugs appeared to
have been diverted by the steel of the
corsets and to. have taken several erratic
courses This morning DIR. Latham was
Obliged to dress the wounds over again,
and said that Miss Coulter's condition
was still very serious-for several days
tho danger of pleurisy would be i'm
minent III the inflammation took such
a turn the worse might DO Looked for.
When day broke. Town Sergeant Big
hee. who had thoroughly secured the
highways all night and had his men out
for the same purpose, failing TO find any
strangers about and not obtaining any
information elsewhere. returned 70 Au-
burn in quest of something which would
ak him In solving the mystery.
THE HOUSE ISOLATED.
. THE Coulters' house is not only on a
not frequently used highway, hut IL sets
in far back from Park avenue, and there
is no other dwelling nearer than 800 to
1000 feet; hence. none of the villagers
could be of any assistance. for some did
net know OF the shooting until 10 O'Clock
this morning.
Sergt Bgbee found that the man who
did the shooting ran through the wood
just back of the house, to Auburn street,
and toward Reserovir avenue The
scoundrel" footprints well defined with
tho toes depressed, told that he was
sprnting. as fast as he could and in the
direction of Knightsvile These marks
were followed Ia X rvoir avenue aud
there lost in the multiplicity of foot and
carriage marks incident at early morrfng
travel TO the city MAJ kets.
Conan Dolye would have made Sher.
lock Holmes. his priced detective Of ro-
nance, declare that the man who tried to
kill Miss Coulcrs was above the ordinary
stature. Sergt Blgle not only ais
covered that facti but much more. Miss
Coulters was sitting when shot. The
course of the biz lead slugs was down.
ward. The window at which she sat was
about four feet from the ground. TIE
charge was fred IN 'ou0h the lower Dor-
tion Of the frame OF tho blind. and al
%
tion Of the window scat stuut person
placing the muzz,e of gun directly up
on tho blind, ana holding the but to his
shoulder would be Obliged to elevate the
muZzle. which would not only have sent
the charge upward but if any shot were
scattered, they would be found in the
| opposite wall and rear the ceiling. in
this instance tail person must have
| done the shooting for tie scent shot
struck the wall and door across tie
room, and on a level with the old win.
dow sill.
THE REPORT HEARD.
The gun was loaded with smokeless
powder. The report was heard by oar
conductor and motorman and the sound
was like tho slamming Of "A box cover.
Smokeless powder Ussd ia shot gun,
makes noise like that OF 32 calibor re-
volver-sharp, not loud. Ordinary powder
would have stained the shaded wood of
the shattered blind No such stain was
found.
The gun was of No l. bore This was
determined by ring, clearly cut in the
blind. anu iut above the hole blown by
the discharge. The weapon was pressed
against the blind and on the -ecoil the
impression was made. The gun was sin
gle burrell-but one ring was made ard
tho mark of the edge Of the initial to
which both barrels Of double barrelled
gun arc welded. was mt pre,elt.
al ,f ~1.f
loading type Had it been breach loader
no extra wadding wo I'D have been found
and on slugs could bGvs been used. The
gun had first been loaded with big
charge of No. s shot ana on top of this
had been placed six slugs. and covering
these was n b z wad-a disc of paper and
wool. Tho size Of the ring cut in the blind
and the size of tho waus found in Miss
Coulters's room. proclaim the gun to have
been of No. IL bore.
The slugs were home made either of
strip lead or bar solder, one quarter of an
inch thick. They had been cut off with
a chiSei. wers of irregular shape and size
and one still carried the mark made by
the chiscl's edge.
The family were asked 20 cudgel their
brains for possible motive. They could
offer no solution, knew of no enemies and
never heard of any threats. From time to
time help had been DISCHARGED but for
cause. yet none of these men were known
to have harborod any i'll feelings against
any member Of the household. Iha'
Miss .Coulutors had any lover recognize
such, or ono who admired in secret, ana
was dangored because of the imagin d
affection was unrequite, was scoffed at.
She was always devoted to her books,
and made them her constant compan-
ions. and in fact, so thoroughly avoided
the sterr er SICK as to have acquired the
same OF ,Old Maid" in tho household
and among hCr frienua