New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-25
CHANCE SHOT WAS FATAL.
A FARMLAND KILLED BY HIS EN-
PLOYER'S WIFE.
SUNDAY EVENING TRAGEDY IN BEDFORD
vILLAGE-cORONERs JURY DECLARES


vILLAGE-CoRoNER's JURY DECLARES
THE SHOOTING WAS JUsTIFIABLE
John Rowan, a farmland. was shot and killed
on Sunday night by Mrs Charles Loring, OF
Bedford Village. The inquest was held yes
terday by Coroner Charles f. Birch, of White
Plains, and the testimony Of the witnesses dis
closed the following as the facts in the case:
John Rowan was engaged by the Lorings as
a farmland. at SIS a month and his board
He had been away during Sunday, and at Stat
er's Hotel, about mile and half from the
house, obtained enough whiskey to make him
fghting drunk He came back to the house
about o'clock, and. knocking at the back door
was admitted to the kitchen. He said he wanted
the money that was due him for wages, and
while awaiting the drawing Of the check by
Mr. Loring sat the stove. In which there
was no fire, and began to take Off his shoes
When check for So 80 was given him he be-
came enraged and claimed that six months
salary was due him. Mr.. Loring then told him
to get out Of the house, and assisted him out
of the back door
He then became wild under the influence of
the liquor, and, going out into the street. held
up DR.. A. c. Hexamer and Charles P. Fish,
who driving past.
They succeeded in passing him, and then he
ran back to the house in great rage. He
bounded on the back door with a club and de-
manded admttance. While he was thus en-
gagged Mrs Loring who had armed herself with
small revolver of the bulldog type, said TO
her husband that she would open the window
and fire a shot to frighten him away.
She did open the window. and, calling out TO
ba would
shoot. received a reply to shoot and be ID"
Without seeing him at all. she pulled the
trigger What effect the shot had she did not
then know. She says she did not any one,
but simply held the pistol out of the window
and pulled the trigger. The man then threW
glass through the window, whicn missed Mrs
Loring but struck and broke lantern IN the
room He then went around the corner or the
house and smashed in window with stones ana
u club. Having vented his spite IN TINS manner
he went to a gate leading to the highway ana
passed through Then he walked west. ana
came to the gate leading to the front entrance
of the house where he fell against wire renee
and seemed TO lie still.
Mr. Ioring sent to the home OF George 2.
Underhill close by, for assistance, and he and
his sons came down the road Iney Iounu
Rowan where he had fallen, and an examination
showed that he was dead They then sent TOT
Justice Herbert A. Clark, thinking II case
recurring judicial cognizance, ana ne came anu
committed Mrs LOrng To the custody Oh ouce,
Brown. The body was taken 10 tHt ph'H az"
kent there awaiting the action OF the coroner.
An autopsy yesterday morning showed mat tne
bullet fired by Mrs. Loring had entered near the
nipple OF the right breast and taken backward
and downward direction. and after penetrating
the lung lodged between the eleventh anu
twelfth ribs The ball was found Just under the
skin and was removed. There had been great
deal OF internal hemorrhage. The doctors ALSO
found several dlsocated cervical vertebr@
The doctors report To the Coroner was Una,
death was due to the acute hemorrhage caused
by the pistol shot wound fired by Mrs. l'orlng.
Mrs Loring did not appear before the .oiV-
ner or make any statement. She ~ I'D Ieeoe
health and Il IL feared the excitement or this
affair will have a bad effect upon her
After hearing all the testimony obtaihaDe
the fury returned a verdict that "John Rowan
came TO his death from pistol-shot wounn IN
dcted by Mrs. Charles Loring in defence OK her
person and property, and that the same was
justifls BILE" -, ,t,
Immediately after the return or THIS veruic'
Coroner Birch. acting as n committing maeis-
trate formally discharged Mrs. Loring from
custody. c ,,,,o,
This action of the jury and the Coroner nr,eu
n great burden from the distracted woman VINO
did not know what might have been the out
come OF her act though she never AT any tinie
expected or intended that the shot would 90
more than frighten the drunken man away.
John Rowan the dead man. did not bear
good reputation He was I'm the habit or gettihg
drink and was then abusive and used foui
language He was about fifty years old ana
single The body given In charge OF rlsn
Prothers undertakers OF Mount kisco