The Washington herald., 1907-01-30
WIFE And BABY DIE
William COpley Chargedwith
Killing His Family.
CLAIMS HE IS INNOCENT
Tells Police He Heard Pistol shots
in Next Room and Found Wife
Wound in Her Head-AcknOvI-
edges Having QuaFreIed.

William c. Copley, thirty-five years old.
a government clerk. living at 1871 Rhode
Island avenue northeast. was locked up
early this morning By the police OF the
Ninth precinct on a charge OF having
murdered his wife, Amanda NJ. Copley,
and their sIx-month old baby girl Ruth.
When questioned by the police last night
CopIey stated that be was sitting In the
front room on the second floor Of his
home last night when he heard pistol
shot He rushed into the next room
and found his wife stretched upon her
back on the floor with a pistol woun&
in the head. lie Immediately went after
DR. Dorsey.
DR.. Dorsey, upon making an examina-
ton and finding the woman dead, re
turned to his Office and notified the -po-
lice. The police went to the house
TO make an examination, and upon turn
ing 70 the baby crib in the room found
little Ruth also dead with pistol wound
in the back Of her head. a son, Ray
mond, two years old. was also in the
room, but was unhurt-
Copley was placed under arrest and ac-
knowledged having quarreled with his
wife earlier IN the evening.
says lie Heard Two shots.
CopIey's story to the police was that he
heard two shots in the room adjoining
HIS and that when he rushed into the
room, he discovered his wife's condition
and decided she had killed their baby and
had then turned the weapon on herself,
taking her own life
He says he was sitting in the front room
Of the home. which is near the District
line. and sets apart from other dwellings
in the neighborhood, when he heard the
shots. He had been in the habit of retir-
ing early with his family but admits that
he had quarreled with his wife and had
stayed IN the front room.
He was only parity dressed. but he
hurried for a physician. and in response
TO the physicians notification, Lieut. W
r Falvey. Sergts, Emerson and Hart
man and Officers Cooney and Wander
shaft went TO the home and placed Cop
ley under arrest.
Lieut. Falvey was the one who discOv-
cred the baby in the crib dead. He had
gone to nave Mrs. Copley taken care Of
by neighbors when the police discovered
the infant also had been shot through
the back Of the head with the .32-Caliber
revolver.
Clerk in Census ONCE.
Coploy and his wife came to this city
from Walnut. Iowa He was employed as
a clerk in the Census Office.
At No police station he was indiffer-
ent when questioned by the police. and
when asked to go into the details Of his
story OF finding the body Of bis wife. he
replied that he had nothing 10 say"
Detectives Grant and Berman. Of head.
quarters, and Johnson, of No. 9, have
been assigned to the case. The coroner
was notified. and Officer Cooney was
placed in charge of the house.
/ According to the first statements made
/ by the man, this was the first quarrel
/ be had ever had with his wife, and he
| thus explained his reason for sleeping
/ in another room.
/ So far as can be learned. there are nc
witnesses to the shooting. nor any one
that heard the shooting. as there were
! fey passers-by as late as il 80
According to the police. the man was
not under the influence of liquor. nor did
he give any Indication of being mentally
! unbalanced.
The womans right arm is powder
/ burned from the elbow TO her shoulder
indicating that the revolver was held
/ close to her when it was discharged A,
the wound is behind the womans right
! ear il eliminates, i'm the opinion of tht
police. the possibility of suicide
The prisoner refused to talk. reiteratine
10 ali questions: I have nothing to say.