The sun., 1898-01-01
SUICIDE OVER A WOMAN.
Joseph Bonnet Puts a Bullet in
His Head.
HE LOVED A MARRIED WOMAN
Bennett InsuItcd Mrs. Cora A. Taylor
and Then in Her Presence He
Blew Out His Brains.

Joseph Bonnet, yesterday shot and
killed himself in the presence OF Mrs.
Cora A. Taylor, wnom he loved.
Mrs. Taylor is the wife of Lawrence
c. Taylor, bartender at f. J. NeWelPs
saloon, at Six Fast Seventh street, and
she rejected the advances made by Bon.
net.
Bonnet was mad'y in love with Mrs.
Taylor, and the direct cause Of his
suicide was the fact that his suit was
ppclled by her
At ll.4O O'Clock in the morning
Bonnet committed suicide by shooting
himself through the head with 32-
calibre revolver. The bullet lodged in
the wall about three feet from the floor.
The lcaden missile, which was con-
siderably flattened, was secured by the
police.
AS he fell to the floor, Bonnet came
near demollshing a show case standing
near by. There was only one other per-
son in the room when the shot was fired,
and that was Mrs. Lawrence G.
Taylor, who lives only two doors from the
scene Of the shooting. Mrs. Taylor, who
was badly frightened bounded over the
prostrate form, and going to Newell's
saloon notified her husband of what had
happened. Others who had heard the
report also gathered in, and it was a
gfastly sight which met their eyes.
From the wounds in his head the
blood had streaked his face, hair and
clothes, and covered a space of four
square feet on the floor.
n tho l>nrc, tim firct
officer on the scene and life not yet be-
ing extinct, the patrol wagon was sum
moned and the unfortunate man was on
his way to the Delaware Hospital when
he breathcd his last
Deputy Coroner Chandler took charge
of Bnnnet's establishment, which was at
No. 9 East Seventh street. He carried
on here a sort of a repair shop, in con-
nccton with his dycing establishment
His rooms presented neat appearance.
and one would imagine that he carried
on a fairly good business.
For about six months Bonnet has been
boarding with Mr.. Sawden, on the cor
ncr of Seventh and King streets. The
dead man leaves wife and one child in
France. and it is generally believed that
his wife is well-to-do. The reason hus-
band and wife lived apart IS not
known.
Joseph Bonnet is charged with being
guilty Of improper conduct; OF being an
invctcrate cigarette smoker, and of being
in financial difficulties,
That he was a cigarette tiend there Is
no doubt, as he died with one OF those
instruments Of death in his month. lie
told several different people that If he
did not get money from some one to
help him in his business he would shoot
himself.
Then, on the top OF all this, Mrs.
Lawrence Taylor asserts that he made
love to her. and that when she showed
her resentment he was mad, and Mrs.
Taylor becoming alarmed partly
at his manner and partly at
the language he used, thought
it best to leave the premises at once.
Consequently, she made dash for the
door. but she was too late. Bonnet was
there before her. and this is the instant
when he ncrved himself to the terrible
deed of taking his own life.
1t is not probable that any one knows
the exact cause of Bonnct's killing him
self. According to statements made to
the writer by people who have known
Bonnet, and who have been in his com
pany quite frequently, say that he SEEM
ed to have been despondent for some time
and has. no doubt, been contemplating
suicide for weeks, but could not bring
himself to commit the cowardly deed.
Francis Allard. of No. 1926 French street,
was a personal friend Of Bonnet, and
had known him even before he left |
France. Mr. Allard knew his family,
and claims that they are well able to sup
port themselves. Mr. Allard says good
word for Bonnet's business abilities, but
saws that he seems to have been beset
with ill-luck for some time
Bonnets body is now in charge of
Deputy Coroner Chandler, to whose es-
tablishment it was taken after DR.. l.. c.
Joyce had pronounced the man dead.