The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-28

Corey was I'D and his story ot the aHAif
Is that he was laboring under a night
mare, believing his wife was being pur-
sued by a stranger. who was intent on
killing her.
In his dream Corey says he followed the
100 from Tacoma 20 Washington. and
just as he fanclea the man was about 10
stab her. fred twice with his revolver.
He aWoke with a start 10 ind himself
sitting in bed. With smoking revolver
in his hand. Corey had drawn MS re-
volver from It's place under his pillow
and killed his wife.
The relations between Corey and his
wife have been very afectionate, and the
authorities believe his story. He IS near
ly crazcd with grief. and friends are
watching him to prevent has suicide. Mrs.
Corey was a leader 81 social club circles.
She was afraid Of p revolver, and fre-
quently expressed fear that she would
some DAY be killed b. one. Corey was
net arTested
The strange death OF the wife Of Or.
Charles c. Corey, Of Tacoma, Washington
state, who was killed by her husband
while dreaming. as stated in yesterdays
Post. has attracted the attention of the
medical profession OF Washington, and
particularly students Of mental disorders.
The case is OF special local interest because
Dr. Corey formerly lived in this city. and
his father. Or. Waterman +. Corey. is a
highly respected practicing physician of
Washington, having his Office at 1906 4
street
The Coreys are OF splendid New Eng
land stock. the senior physician moving
10 this city with his family in 1858, and es-
tabiishing himself in practice. DR.. Charles 4
Corey attended private schools here. after
ward graduating from the SpencCrian
Business College and later entering upon
medical course at Howard University.
While pursuing his studies he held po-
sition in the Census Office. and, upon
graduation, In 1851. was appointed as
United States physician to the Indians,
being stationed at the Rosebud Agency,
IN North Dakota. He remained I'm the
government service for three years, mov
ing to Tacoma. Washington State, where
he became interested in land speculation.
and acquired considerable property. There
he met his wife the victim of the strange
tragedy, who was d teacher in the public
school Of that city.
Wedding Tour in Hawaii.
They were married in 1892, and started
on an extended wedding tour, visiting
Hawaii returning TO the States and stay
ing some time at DR.. Corey's parents
home in Vermont, from which place they
came 10 Washington in September 1s92,
remaining here until June of the next
year. While here DR.. Corey, jr., lived with
his parents and his wife, to whom he was
much devoted, became very popular
among a large circle Of acquaintances.
She was bright and interesting and OF a
literary turn. In this she was not unlike
her husband, who was deep student.
paying especial attention TO Greek, Latin,
French. and German. the study OF which
languages he continued until few
months ago.
About one year after his marriage DR..
Corey returned 10 Tacoma and opened
drug store. in which business he mas con-
tinued ever since. He has a splendid resi-
dence at 245 Tacoma avenue, in the best
section Of the city, and is believed TO be
in good financial condition, continuing his
business more for occupation than for
profit. His parents and sister in this city
have received regularly each week letters
from him. which have always been, up 10
the last one, filed with endearments and
sunday afternoon Dir. Corey, sr., re-
ceived a letter frem his son reading as
MAY just died painlessly. Shot by me
while dreaming.
His Sister Left Here Yesterday.
This was the first intimation they had
of the tragedy and Miss Corey, sister
of the unfortunate man, left yesterday
for the West for the purpose of bringing
her brother back 10 Washington
DR.. Corey. ST., attributes the unfortu-
nate incident TO a temporary alteration
of the mind occasioned primarily by anX-
iety. For some time past there has been
a condition of lawlessness In Tacoma,
robberies becoming so frequent that re-
Gently a vigilance committee was or
Sanized for common protection. Dr. Cor
ey's residence is of imposing appearance,
and il was in anticipation Of attempts
on il that led him TO purchase the re
VoVer with which the shooting was done.
His father believes il was while laborlng
under this mental stress of probable rob-
berry that he committed the act and his
greatest fear is that the resulting grief
might lead 10 self-injury. II is for this
reason that his sister has been sent 10
Tacoma to endeay0r 10 bring him back
10 Washington.
Medical annals contain few similar
cases, tut students OF nervous disorders
agree that such are far from Impossible.
DR. F. L. TompkinS was reading some
thing on the Subiecs when his opinion was
requested by The Post last night. He cit
ed TaVlOr's Medical Jurisprudence 1859.
which. IN discussing hallucinations and il
luSiOns states that instances OF hailu-
cinatiOn are Furnished by acts during
sleep while instances of Illusion occur
often al Weakening, frequently giving rise
10 serious questions OF criminal reSponSi-
bility. DR. Tompkins was of the opinion
that the shooting by DIT. Corey OF his wife
while dreaming that she WAS being pur-
sued and he was endeaVoring 20 protect
her might have been such an illusion at
the time oi wakening, and a. contemplat
ID in the text book particularly, as il ap
pears that DR. Corey awakened al The
very instant OF nring the shot
Might Come frans Temporary Mania.
DIR. II. l.. r. johnson stated IN ,eply to
"A similar inquiry that he did not know OF
case like the one reported. but he be-
llevcd that such an act might result from
temporary mania and especially In the
case OF a very lmpressionable mind when
the person would be acting under a de-
lusion. the result of great apprehension or
stress.
DR. Irving c. Rosse. who has made a
special study OF nervous disorders.
thought that the mans condition might
have been somewhat synonymous 10 a
somnambulistle state, (Which frequently
results In persons doing things OF which
they have 10 recollection subsequently,.
Such a thing might have resulted from
IN unsound mind. he said. probably only
temporary, and this condition could be
produced from two prime factors, nered-
ity or stress. in the present case probably
from stress,
Similar nervous troubles" said Dr.
Rosse. are common in children who ire
quently jump up IN their sleep from
fright. and 10 n quite common for them
20 walk into another room and 10 un-
heaTd-ef things. In cases Of somnsmbu-
ism IL l. notorious that persons laboring
under such conditions viii climb along a
narrow And d4neefous ledge and cross
dizzy heights, frequently in safety, while
= this irresponsible condition.
IusiaBcss at similar Acts
Physicians tell OF numerous cases some
what similar 10 that Of Dr. Corey in
which person. 10 all purposes asleep
commits unusual acts. The case OF a hus-
band awakening 10 find himself choking
bis wife 10 death is well known 10 medi-
cal men, and IN another case one OF TWO
boys sleeping together was shot by the