New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-01
SHOT THROUGH WINDOW
MRS. L. c. TUCKERMAN, OF
NEW YORK, KILLED.
Mauor Buses Brother WaS Testing
Pistol in Chicago Apart
nlent House.

Chicago. jan 31-George Busse, brother Of
Mayor Fred A Busse Of Chicago, accidentally
shot and killed Mrs. Lucius c. Tuckerman, thir-
ty-two years old, OF New York tonight The
bullet struck Mrs. Tuckerman in the heart and
she died almost instantly
The shooting occurred in the Walton apart
n1ent building No. sos North Clark street. Mrs.
Tuckerman visiting her father. General A
c. Girard retired. who occupies an apartment
in the building Shortly before I O'Clock. George
Busse IN his apartment, across areaway
from General Girard's apartment. was demon
strating the use of a revolver to Miss Bertha
Lambke his housemaid. that she could en-
ploy the weapon in case burglars came The
revolver was accidentally discharged, and the
bullet went through two windows, crossed the
sreaway into the Girard apartment. and pierced
Mrs. Tuckermans heart
Mayor Busse was present at the shooting and
as soon as he learned of the fatal result in
formed the police.
Mrs. Tuckerman was in a bedroom dressing.
When struck by the bullet. which crashed
through the area window at her side. she stag
gered into hallway General Girard and Mrs
Tuckerman's fve-year- old son Alfred rushed
from an adjoining sitting as the woman
cried "Oh, father, I've been shot and I'm dy-
ing!"
A minute afterward Mayor Busse and his
brother George entered the Girard apartments
TO see whether the bullet had done any damage.
They were Mortified TO find that Mrs Tucker
man was dying from bullet wound. Mayor
Busse's wife and mother tried to assist the
wounded woman, while the Mayor summoned
physician. Mrs. Tuckerman died before the
physician arrived. however No arrests were
made. General Girard expressed himself as sat
is1ed that the shooting was accidental.
According to the statements made TO the po-
lice, George Busse was about to leave Chicago
for Cincinnati on business trip. He did not
care to leave his mother and the maid at home
without some means of protection. He there
fore bought a revolver, and was instructing
the maid how to use It when the trigger was
pulled accidentally. Mayor Busse was 70 have
left the city tonight for Springfield, Ill, on po
iit!cal business Mrs. Tuckerman had been out
walking with her son. and was preparing for
dinner when she was shot
An inquest Will be held tomorrow morning.
My brother is a nervous wreck because Of the
affair. and he cannot make statement"
said Mavor Busse tonight. He had recently
bought the revolver for the protection of my
mother and the maid while they were alone
While showing the paid hon, 10 -Ise il he afci-
oentaf., ytlk4ell the = ger. We had no idea Of
the fatal consequence until We entered the
Girard apartment The general. after hearing
how it happened. was satisfied that it was an
accident and he did not want my brother ar.
rested"
Mrs. Tuckerman's little son was not told OF
his mothers death. but was led to neighbors
apartment. where he was fast asleep.
I.ucius G Tuckerman is a member Of the Players
and University clubs In this city, and has home
at Milton n Y. He graduated from Harvard
College in 1921. Mrs. Tuckerman was the daughter
OF Brigadier General Alfred c. Girard. one Of the
most distinguished surgeons in the United States
service General Girard who Is the present medical
reference librarian the John Crerar Library. IN
Chicago. was chief surgeon Of the Second Army
Corps in the war with Spain and is veteran OF many
frontier campaigns against the Indians lie was
chief surgeon Of the Department of Luzon and OF
the DEPARTMENT Of California and is requent con
tributor 10 medical journals. He was retired with
the rank Of brizadier general in April, 1895.