The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-03-29
A HORRIBLE CRIME

HIRED MAN KILLS H1s EN-
PLoYER AND A FRIENbx
Murderer Commits 5Suicide-Trag-
edy at Home Of A. E. Cooper
in Southern Oregon-Puts
Strychnine in Medicine.
Drain, Or, March 24.-Gooper &
Haney's sawmill. ten miles west of.
here, on the Coos Bay stage route,
was the scene of fearful tragedy
this morning at 10 o'clock, in which
Hermann Shook shot and killed A.
E. Cooper and Paul Howse, and,
then turned the gun on himself
with fatal result.
Shook had been in the employ of
| Cooper. '& Haney for about a.
year, and lived at the Cooper home.
Trouble had been brewing at the
place for some. time. an account of
the alleged intimate relations be-
tween Shook and cooper's wife.
Last Friday Cooper took medi-
cine for some slight illness and was
soon seized with convulsions. Dr.
Wade, of this place, was called and
pronounced it case Of strychnine
poisoning, but being an overdose,
the drug served as it's own antidote
land Cooper recovered. Not having
kept strychnine about the place,
Cooper suspected Shook of being
responsible for the poisoning and
told friends that he intended going
to the county seat today and lay
| the matter before the district attor-
ney. go
i. Last night Shock and xCooper's
wife and little girl attended adance
at Thomas Hancock's, mile from
1.-THE Cooper home, and returned
]home early this morning.
/. Cooper still seemed to fear pois-
lBoning and ate supper at his part
Fner's home last evening, but return
Jedhome to go to bed. Hewas accom-
panied home by young Howse, who
intended going to the dance, but
decided to remain with Cooper, as
Cooper feared to stay at home alone.
Cooper had tried in various ways
to rid himself of Shook, but so ia,
had failed. This morning he effect
!, ed settlement with Shock for la
Dor performed and Shook had pack
ed his clothing preparatory to leav'
ing and had gone from the house
toward the wood shed, when hot
words passed between him and
/, Cooper and he fred at Cooper at q
distance of 20 or 80 feet with a 80.
f3O Winchester, the ball Striking
Cooper In the back and coming oul
at his breast.
: Cooper was in the doorway of his
house and the ball, after passing
> through his body, went through {
picture on the opposite wall Of th'
, house and out through the wall.
: Some m ystery seems to be con
nected with the killing of Howse
I as only two empty cartridge shells
, have been found SO far, and one o
z these Shook fred through his owr
brain. Howse lies dead in thu
: same room with Cooper, with two
bullet holes through his heart anl
revolver by his side filled witt
: loaded shells.
There are evidences of struggle
{ having taken place in the hous,
t and a considerable quantity of blooo
t is spread over the floor. Appear
ances indicate that Howse was sho
in the back also.
u Justice of the Peace Dimnick, o
Elkton. called a jury together thi'
afternoon to hold an inquest, but a
this time no report has been re
3 ceived.
Cooper was an exemplary cltizer
{ and was born. and reared in ths
} community in which he met hi
, death. He left wife who is {
: daughter Of Robert Elkton, and two
small children. He was a member
of the, A. o. U. w. aud carried &
policy In that order for $4,000.
Howse came from Eastern Ore
gon last Fall, and, as far as known
!, bore good reputation.
9 Shook was born near Oakland, il
this county, and up to the time o
the events here recorded, seems t.
have borne a good reputation
Shook and Howse were each abou
: % years of age and unmarried.
Roseburg, Or, March 24.-Jacol
Reuter- was found dead at his hom
4 in Little Canyon, "A miles west Q