Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-30
DID MRS. COPLEY
SHOOT HERSELF?
Husband Called up Doctor, Who
Went and Found Wife
And Child Dead.
FATHER IS UNDER ARREST.
Subjected to Severe Examination But
Maintained His Innoccnce-Thcre
Had Been . Quarrel

Washington, Jan. so.--Answering a
call from W. G. Copley, census ONCE
clerk. John S. Dorsey. a physician at
Langdon, rushed to the mans resi-
dence at midnight and there found
the wife and 3-months-old child of the
clerk dead with several bullet wounds
in their bodies.
Copeley. DR.. Dorsey said, reported
that his wife had shot herself and the
baby.
my wife has shot herself, and I
want you to hasten to the house at
once" Copeley is said to have ex-
claimed when he aroused the ply
stefan.
When the doctor arrived at the Cop
ley residence, both Mrs. Copley and the
baby We're dead. The former had
been shot in the right side and the
later was shot through the head.
Dr.. Dorsey notified the police of the
Ninth precinct as soon as no had
grasped the situation, and as a result
the. husband and father was placed
under arrest. He was taken to the
Ninth precinct stationhouse.
DIR. Dorsey this morning refused to
discuss the shooting or give any de-
tails which had been learned by him
u.
lie said: Il don't care to make a
statement. When ! go before the
coroner today, 1t will be time enough
for that. | was called about 11:40 by
Mr.. Copley. He appeared to have
dressed hurriedly and seemed some-
what excited. j went TO the house
and found Mrs. Copley and the baby
dead"
Copley resides at Twenty eighth
street and Rhode Island avenue, North
east.
POLICE AT WORK.
Washington, Jan. 3o.--washington
police are today trying TO solve the
mystery as to whether Mrs. Amanda
M. Copley and her 3-mouths-old baby
Ruth. who were found dead in bed
early after midnight, We're murdered or
whether Mrs. Copley shot the infant
and then committed suicide. The latter
theory is the explanation given by the
husband, William g. Copley, a clerk in
the census office. who is held at n police
station pending an investigation.
Lieut. Falvey. after examining the
wound which caused Mrs. Copley's
death, said that 1t would have been
next 70 impossible for the woman 10
have inflicted the injury herself.
Shortly after midnight Copley called
In DR.. Dorsey. telling him that his wife
had attempted to commit suicide. When
the doctor arrived Mrs. Copley and the
baby were dead. Copley was subjected
10 a severe examination at the police
station, but insisted that his wife had
killed herself. The prisoner declared
he did not know tho baby had been
shot until DR.. Dorsey pulled down the
covers of the bed on which the two
were lying. copley admitted that he
and his wife had quarreled In the early
part OF the night and said that his wife
had taken tho two children, Raymond.
years old, and Ruth, the baby. ana
gone TO a room and that he went to his
room on the second floor to retire for
the night. Shortly before midnight he
said he heard two shots In the room
occupied by his wife and that he i'm
mediately rushed into. the room and
found that his wife had shot herself
and without making a further examina-
ton he hurried to the residence OF DR..
Dorsey.
Mr.. and Mrs copley were married.
IN Iowa. near Council BLUFFS. Copley
II 35 years old He was q meniber
Of the Thirty-fourth Iowa regiment
aud served some time In the Philip
pines. Mrs. copley was 20 years OF
age.
copley was disInclined to make a
slatement this morning. When asked
Tor an expression he said:
y have nothing 10 say"
coPLEY FROM IOWA.
Omaha. Jan. 80.--A special 10 The
bee from Walnut, Iowa says;
The report OF the death OF Mira
amanda Copley. and her Infant child
Win the arrest OF her husband. ere,
uleo profound surprise here where
NE parties have resided since in
Ianey, and whore they stood high IN
Public estimation. William Coplev
onme mere from Illinois when 2 years