The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1901-09-12
MURDER AND SUICIDE.

place on our streets on last Saturday
afternoon about 5:45 o'clock, MI. Ben
Copeland shot and killed Mr.. H. H
Kolkhorst, superintendent of the Brum-
by Chair Company, and then placing
the pistol to his own head blew his
brains out.
Mr., Copeland was an employee of the
Brumby Chair Company up to Saturday
noon when he was discharged, the re-
suit OF his inability to get along with
the superintendent.
There had been bad feeling between
the men for five or six weeks. Mr.,
Copeland in a conversation one day said
that he had very superior cement,
when Supt. Kolkhorst on looking at it
the factory.
A week or SO thereafter Mr.. Kolk-
horst was sitting in the office, and Mr..
Copeland and others were just outside
talking about the cement in hearing of
Kolkhorst. Some remark was made by
Mr.. Copeland and Mr.. Kolkhorst Jest
ingly said, Copeland, L thought you
didn'tlie?" Copeland replied "Idon't."
Well, you told one then" said Kolk-
horst. This angered Copeland, who was
very high tempered man, and he used
harsh and insulting language, it is said,
toward Kolkhorst, who didn't reply or
resent it. The men from that time on
ceased to speak. Copeland nursed his
grievance and said Rto several parties
that if Kolkhorst didn't apologize to
him that he intended to kill him and
then kill himself. These threats were
made so:often that Kolkhorst was told
OF them, but he said they didn amount
to anything as Copeland was only
gas bag, blowing Off"
On Friday, Mr. Copeland had 10y
working at saw when Mr.. Kolkhorst
came along and gave instructions to
the boy showing him how to place the
piece OF timber to have the saw give it
certain curve. Copeland came up
and told the boy not to pay any atten-
ton to the superintendent, that he had
nothing to do with it, and again used
harsh language towards Kolkhorst.
The superintendent went to the office
and reported Copeland s conduct to MIR.
I. NJ. Brumby, Jr., Secretary and
Treasurer, who reported the matter to
his father, Mr. T. M. Brumby, the Pres
ident
Mr.. Brumby gave instructions to dis
charge Copeland on Saturday.
At noon Saturday Copeland was given
his pay and told that his services
were not needed any further. Cope
land remarked you won't have super
intendent two weeks.
About 80 Copeland came back to
the factory and went to where Supt
Kolkhorst and Mr.. Landers were meas
uring chair. Copeland addressed
kolkhorst by saying, well you have
done me-" He then placed his hand
behind him and poured out vile epi-
thets on Koikhorst, who didn't resent
it or say word In reply. Then Cope
land saw that he couldn't provoke Kolk-
horst into difficulty and shook his fin
ger into his face saying, II will get you
before leave this town." and turned
and walked off.
Five clock Saturday afternoon Cope-
land seated himself in sight of the fac
tory, on the rock wall in front of the
Episcopal rectory, and waited for KolA-
horst to come by ON his way to Mr.. NJ.
X. Lyons house, where both men
boarded.
Kolkhorst dido't go that route, but
went down the street by Conductor
Turner's.
Copeland then passed on down Church
street and sat down on the wall at the
Episcopa! church. Here he had con-
versation with Mr.. Harry Looney, and
said he wanted to tell him goodbye as
he expected to leave any minute.
okee street, going towards the square.
Copeland crossed over to Cherokee
street and came up behind Kolkhosrt
on the sidewalk, near Mrs. Moss resi-
dence. Kolkhorst was some forty
yards ahead of him. He stopped and
rested his pistol, 44-calibre Smith &
Wesson, on his left arm and took de-
liberate aim and fired. Kolkhorst was
smoking a cigar and had just reached
the front door of J. H. Hicks < Sons
livery stable. The ball struck Kolk-
horst i'll the right shoulder, passed
through and severed his jugular vein.
Kolkhorst cried out, "Oh Lordy ~
and wheeled in staggering attitude
and ran through the livery stable, the
blood spouting in a stream, and by the
time he reached Crosby's warehouse
corner, Copeland came out the side
door of the livery stable and fired again,
the ball striking the brick wall glanced