The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-08-01

Edward c. Reed, residing at 4C
Washington avenue, was fatally shot
with 3S-calibre revolver by Mrs. vii
liam O. Simcoke at the latters resi-
dence, 32 Ft. Wayne avenue, last night
at 9:15 o'clock while trying to invade
her home. He was strangling her
with one hand and stuffing a hand
kerchief In her mouth, when the shoot
ing took place.
Her Story Of Affair.
Mrs. Simcoke told the following sto.
ry OF the affair:
II was lying in bed, in the room
Just over the kitchen when l heard a
rafting as of a door-knob. 1t kept
up and became very nervous, getting
out of bed and taking the revolver in
one hand and the lamp in the other,
started down stairs to investigate.
had suspicion that it was this man.
as John Estelle had told me of him
and his threats in regard to me.
set the lamp on the dining room ta-
BILE and started through the little pas
sage way connecting the room with
tho kitchen. AS | gained the latter
place stepped over to my left in front
of the kitchen cabinet. Then / no.
ticed that the door was just about an
inch open. All of a sudden, before l
could scream, saw the door thrown
back and that man crouching in the
door way, sprang at me, catching me
by the back of my neck with his left
hand, while he began stuffing hand
kerchief into my mouth. l pulled on
the trigger of the gun and wondered
II 1t would never go off. At last 1T
did. don't know how many times
shot. He let loose of me and sprang
through the door. That was the last
saw OF him. l called my father
and he came. guess tainted"
Ran Several Feet.
Reed received two of the three
shots fired, in the left breast, one en-
tering and coming out while the other
pierced his heart, and lodged at the
base of his spine.
After he was shot he ran out onto
the balcony porch and down the four
teen steps to the back walk. He
broke through some grape vines and
dropped to the ground. where he died
about five minutes after receiving the
fatal wounds. Superintendent of Po-
lice Bailey was the first officer on the
ground.
Coroner MarkIey's Theory.
The case is one of the most weird
and mysterious in local police circles.
The theory of the case, as ventured by
Coroner Markley is that Reed was sex
ually insane, and had become infatuat-
ed with Mrs. Simcoke to such an ex-
tent that he was prompted to attempt
criminal assault. The matter. he
thinks, has been in Reeds mind for
some time, as he has been bothering
by showing letters and vowing ven.
geance on her to John Estelle, who
lives near there.
In Reeds pocket was found letter
and a piece of music. The letter was
dated July 2, Hartford City, Ind, and
ii is supposed that Reed was intending
to show il to Mrs. Simcoke. The let
ter which has no post mark nor stamp
upon IL is ADDRESSED to Mr.. Will
Simcoke. 80 FIT. Wayne Ave, Rich
mond, Ind.," and was signed your
true sweetheart, Zulle."
Think Reed Wrote Letter.
The letter is thought to have been
written by Reed who was going to
pretend that 1t had been written by
some woman in Hartford City to Mr.,
Simcoke, arranging for date with
him on his next visit in that city. The
letter was sensational. 1t is thought
that Reed wanted Mrs. Simcoke to
believe that her husband had been
untrue to her.
The sheet of music found on his per-
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