The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-14

Lowell Cooley, the eleven-year-old
son of Engineer E. P. Cooley, of the
Eastern Railroad Company, intention
ally shot himself in the right temple
near his home in East Roswell at
seven O'Clock last night, and died at
four this morning. The boy had been
in trouble of a minor character sew
eral times within recent months, and
yesterday he was arrested on the
charge of stealing ten dollars from
the cash drawer of the bicycle shop
of Charles Tedder, opposite the post
Office, and his troubles, magnified il
his own mind, proved too much for
him. His death is certainly a sad
occurrence.
The little fellow had been a carrier
and paper-seller for the Daily Record.
Although he was a miScnievous boy,
there was nothing vicious in his make
up. In the capacity of carrier he was
arrested two weeks ago for riding his
bicycle on the sidewalk and striking
a girl. He was paroled on this offense.
Last Thursday his step-mother, Mrs.
Cooley, left on a trip to Fort Scott,
Kan. Before leaving sne told the boy.
along with her own son about the
same age, to be good and not get into
trouble Mrs. Cooley's own son says
that Lowell answered, 'If 1 get in
trouble again l will get a 1890 and
blow my brains out Of course the
remark was not taken seriously at
that time.
All day yesterday the boy was
greatly worried over the taking OF
the money from the bicycle shop.
When arrested he promptly confessed.
telling that he mad stolen the money
and saying that he had spent three
dollars and lost the rest. He is known
places where he loitered the day be-
fore, and it is quite probable that his
story about lomaAG part of the money
is true. Part OF the money was spent
at the shooting gallery, but he was
there for another purpose, it has de
VI
the % calibre shells used in the guns
and carried them home with him. Sc
curing an old fashioned pepper box
pistol that his father had kept as a
keepsake for over thirty years, the
boy went out to the COW lot yesterday
killing himself.
When the boy was arrested yester-
day the officers did not lock MIN up,
but waited to notify his father. Mr.
Cooley was out on the road, and late
in the afternoon the lad was sent
home with the Injunction that he tell
his father as soon as he came home,
and not to come on the west side OF
the railroad until he came with his
father. The boy was greatly frighten-
ened and shamed over his theft and
arrest, and the sight of the Jail evi-
IDENTIFY worked ON his nerves. The fear
of telling mis- father and of the punish
ment, strengthened by his previous
resolve were no doubt what drove
him into the insane deed.
tist preacher, whom Mr.. and Mrs.
Cooley had left with their two boys
and to take care of their place during
their absence. was the only witness
to the shooting and the main source
of Information in the coroler's in
quest that was held before Justice
Welter this morning over the body.
He stated that he had not seen the
two boys all day yesterday, and that
about $50 in the evening as he went
out to prepare to milk, he saw Low
ell in the COW lot He told the boy to
go to the pasture near by and drive
in the COW. The boy started off in the
direction of the pasture. crossing a
small orchard.
When he did not return Mr.. Wood
run sQuatted down and saw him sit
ting leaning against tree. The old
man went over to where the boy was
and heard him crying and moaning
as he approached. Then, while the old
ma7 was consoling aim about his
trouble, he turned over and the wound
in his temple showed what had been
done. Then, Mr.. woodruff remembered
having neard a mufied report that,
at the time, he had supposed to have