The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-08
DOUBLY FATAL WORK
FIRES ONE BULLET INTO a DOCTOR
AND ONE INTO HER OWN HEART.

SPINAL Column and Can't Recover.
The Woman Falls Dead in Her
Trncks-The Scene of the Tragedy
on the Banks of a Creek Seven
Miles From Memphis-InfatuatiO
for the pOctor Supposed to Have
Prompted the Shooting.
Memphis, Tenn, Jan. IA deplorable
tragedy occurred in the outskirts of Mem
phis this afternoon.
DR.. Shep A. Rogers, professor of anato-
omy at the Memphis Medical College, ex-
president of the board of health, and one
Of the most prominent physicians of this
city, was shot by Mrs. Mary Sandbrink,
a widow, and tonight lies in dying con-
dition at st. Josephs Hospital
After shooting DIR. Rogers the woman
turned the revolver to her breast and sent
a bullet crashing through her heart
The cause of the tragedy is yelled in
deepest mystery.
The shooting occurred about seven miles
from Memphis, on the banks of Noncoonah
creek. Nobody saw the tragedy, nor would
anybody have been attracted to the local
ity but for the noise of the two shots
that were fired, and the cries for assist
ance from DR.. Rogers.
Doyle Pearson, a farmer and three ne
groes went to the assistance of the wound
ed man when his cries for help reached
their ears, and he was lifted into bug
gy and carried to the house of B. E. Ech-
ter miles distant from where the woman
shot DR.. Rogers and then killed herself.
The wounded man received some medical
attention, after which he was removed to
Memphis for permanent reatment.
The body of the unfortunate woman lay
in the exact spot that she killed herself
until night, when Sheriff Carnes sent en-
undertaker's wagon for it, which was re-
moved to the home of her sister, Mrs
Albertine R. Zimmerman.
The weapon used by Mrs Sandbrink was
a 42-caliber Colts revolver The pistol was
a double-action one, but was old and
rusty. The weapon belonged to the wo-
man, being identified by her relatives when
it was shown them.
The cause of the unfortunate affair is
a mystery. There is no doubt but that
the woman committed the deed.
Before lapsing into unconscousness, in
fact, as soon as he was seen by those
VINO went 10 MS dlu, Ut. Rogers DlameQ
her for the deed. Every detail that can
be gathered in connection with the trdg-
edy substantiates DIR. Rogers in his state
ment.
Dr.. Rogers was shot in the back, the
bullet striking the spinal column.
County Coroner Louis Thompson ap-
peared on the scene shortly after dark and
impaneled a jury, which returned a YER
dict to the effect that Mrs. Sandbrink
was responsible for the shooting.
The first news of the shooting reached
Memphis shortly after O'Clock. A tele-
phone message was sent Sheriff Carnes
and also to Squire Coleman. requesting the
latter to come at once to the scene, and
hold an inquest
With the exception of the white man and
the negroes who were in the vicinity when
the shooting occurred, an Associate Press
reporter and Detective Horan were the
first people to visit the place where the
dead woman lay. She was stretched out
on the ground just as she fell after firing
the fatal shots. Her clothes We're unruftled
and there were no footprints or other evil
dences that any struggle had occurred
prior to the tragedy. Not foot distant
from her was found the weapon with
which the deed was committed. The right
hand of the woman was ungloved, showing
that she took ample precaution that the
shooting contemplated should not mis-
carry.
Mrs. Sandbrink was stylishly dressed in
q blue tailor made serge suit She wore
Il black felt cap handsomely decorated
and also a white waistcoat in which were
gold studs. After she shot DIR. Rogers,
Mrs. Sandbrink undoubtedly placed the
revolver against her breast, and, pressing
1t closely against the region of her heart,
pulled the trigger. She was shot through
the heart, and her white waist was burn
Ell on her left side, covering a space four
or five inches in diameter. In falling to
the ground she struck her head on a
tree nearby, as her face was bruised and
tull of splinters.
Every effort is being made by the police
TO discover the cause for the shooting.
out up to late hour tonight the mystery
mas not been unraveled 1t is said the wo-
man was infatuated with the physician
ana on one occasion had threatened tc
XIII herself in his presence,
An operation was performed at St. Jo-
sephs Hospital and the bullet extracted
from DR.. Rogers body physicians say
there is bare chance for the physician 5
recovery, but that the entire lower part
Oh the body will be permanently paralyzed.
Inc bullet from the woman's revolver
passed through the spine.
Dr Rogers regained consciousness for a
lew minutes tonight. He made a state
ment that Mrs. Sandbrink decoyed him to
tAe fatal spot by writing him a note. He
says the woman has greatly annoyed him
WIN her attentions, and threatened 70
sloot him on several occasions.
me family of the dead woman has not,
Us yet made a statement, but it is under
stood they claim DR.. Rogers was engaged
10 De married to Mrs. Sandbrnk, and for
come reason did not carry out his part
Of the contract