Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-17
DUNCAN DIES
FROM HIS
WOUND
HIS WIFE HELD ON THE CHARGE
OF MURDER, AND AN INVEs-
LEGATION WILL FOL-
LOW.

Police OfIicer Duncan. who was shot by
his wife Saturday night a week ago. died
at the Grady hospital this morning at
1866 o'clock.
he began 20 sink rapidly yesterday az
ternOon. and early in the evening the
physicians announced that he was dying.
The death was reported to the coroner.
and he viii probably hold an inquest to-
DAY. when all the facts in the tragedy
may be brought out The case has great
" puzzled the police. as much OF the evi-
dence q conflicting.
Mrs. Duncan was IN in her room at
police barracks last night. and will not
know until this morning OF the death OF
her husband. The police refused TO wake
her slumber this morning, fearing that
the shock would be too great for her TO
bear.
James Munroe Duncan was shot by his
wife on Saturday evening, February s,
in a boarding house at No. 81 North
Forsyth street. on that evening he and
his wife and son. a negro nurse. Mrs
Duncan's little 4-year-old boy and Miss
Bessie Shelnutt, visitor. were in Dun
cans room. All the witnesses have
stated that Duncan was drinking: that
was denied by Duncan after he was shot.
An alteration arose between Duncan and
his son. Claude. and the father slapped
the young man. The two clinched and
the son was being pushed backward over
a chiid's bed when Mrs. Duncan inter-
posed. She drew a pistol from the young
mans pocket and shot her husband in
the face. the ball striking the bridge OF
the nose and entering the head. Mrs.
Duncan has stated that her husband was
attempting to draw his pistol. and was
making threats 10 kill both her and the
Young man. Claude Duncan has corrob-
GRATED this statement The woman claims
she fired in moment Of extreme excite
ment and did not intend TO kill her
husband.
There Is discrepancy in the statements
OF Mrs. Duncan and the negro nurse.
The latter claims that she. Miss Shellnut
and the little boy ran from the room be-
fore the shot was fred. Mrs. Duncan
says they were all present. Miss Shell
mutt. has told the police she was present.
and she ccrrobOrates what Mrs. Duncan
says
The police at first believed the young
man fired the shot. and he was arrested.
After Duncan made a statement exoner-
ating his son. the latter was released.
Duncan was unconscious from Saturday
until Tuesday. when he became rational
for a few hours and made a statement
20 his kinsman. Policeman A. J. Ivey.
in his statement Duncan said he was not
drinking. and that his wife fred the shot
GAkEI edtAAN 1lAr MWuaA Nil AAAA n hN NAA
not let the young man alone. He admit
ted striking his son. and said ne did so
because the young man acted badly while
in the room.
Duncan was a supernumerary on the
police force. He was elected last fail.
during the interstate fair. he was 45
years Of age. and was born in Gwinnett'
county. AIRS. Duncan was his second wife.
His first wife. who died I'm 1885. was a Miss
Josephine Roberts He had five children.
By his first wife and none by his second.
Mrs. Duncan was a grass widow when
she married Duncan. The wedding &C.
CURED on the very day she secured her
divorce. In October. 1890. She has two
children by her first husband. Her maid
en- name was Nollie Eady and she is a
daughter OF the late A. " Eady. Of West
Point this state.