Evening star., 1909-06-24
OOTSTWOWOMEN;k|lLSSELF
MAN TRIES TO SLAY HIS WIFE
AND STEPDAUGHTER.
Effort by Suicide, Who Had Been
Separted From Spouse, at
Reconciliation Fails. :,

BALTIMORE, Nd. June 24.-Enraged
| at his wife's refusal to become Feconciled
| to him, George A. Rocks, fifty years old.
| of Ensor street. near Ashland avenue,
] shot and killed himself after he had tried
| to kill his wife, Mrs. Ida Rocks. and his
| stepdaughter, Miss Lily Cole, fourteen
years old, by shooting them with the
| same pistol at their home, 2S17 Frisby
| street. The two women are at St. Luke S
| Hospital, where they were taken In the
| northern district ambulance. There is
| hope for their recovery.
Rocks had been separated from his wife
since last March, and numerous efforts
at reconciliation had failed. He had only
been released from the northern police
station about four hours, having been
fined S. and costs for assaulting his
brother-in-law. Howard Lamb, 2S1O Val
ley street Tuesday at 18th street and
Greenmount avenue.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rocks were married about
ten years ago. and for long time lived
in Wavery. Both had been married be-
fore. and Mrs. Rocks has a daughter and
Rocks son, both grown. Until last
March they lived together but, it is
said, Rocks became addicted to drink
and grew quarrelsome.
Mrs. Rocks had him arraigned at the
northeastern police station in March and
exception of period of two days.
Asks to Be Taken Back.
Shortly after o'clock yesterday after
noon Rocks went to his wife's home.
where she conducted a grocery.
Where is Ida?'' he asked as he entered
the store.
"She is back in the Kitchen said one
of the younger children.
Rocks embraced the child. Then he
was met by his wife, who inquired what
he desired.
Ida, please forgive me,' he said. II
will treat you all right in the future.
Let me come home with you and the
children"
Mrs. Rocks declined to have him back
with her under any consideration.
We'll, then, I want some money" he
said, "and am going to stay here to
supper"
Leave the house, You are not wanted
here, and you cannot stay for supper,
Mrs. Rocks said. She then left him and
went back into the kitchen.
A remark from Miss Cole seemed to
incense Rocks, for he grabbed her
around the neck, and, pulling a pistol
from his pocket, pressed it to her fore
head and fired.
Falls to the Floor Screaming.
She fell to the floor and screamed
Mrs. Rocks heard the shot, and as she
ran from the kitchen to the dining room
Rocks fired at her. The bullet went
through her mouth and lodged in her
throat.
Rocks two youngest children were in
the room when he shot his wife and
stepdaughter, and they ran screaming
from the house. He walked coolly back
to the kitchen. after stepping over his
wife. who lay on the floor. Placing the
muzzle Of the pistol in his mouth he
fired.
The two women managed >to get to
their feet and ran screaming into the
home of Mrs. Harry Norris, 2S15 Frisby
street. Mrs. Norris had heard the shots
fired, and when she saw the two women
run into her yard, bleeding profusely,
she sent her nephew, Raymond Shettle,
for DR. w. ]. Pillsbury, 2SO1 Green
mount avenue.
Pa;rolmen Wolters and Gernhardt of
the northeastern district and Sergt.
Dunn of the northern district soon ar
rived and found Rocks dead. After re-
ceiving medical attention. the two wom-
en- were hurried to the hospital on the
advice of Capt. Cuttings. Rocks body
was taken to the morgue in the north
eastern district wagon by Patrolman
Hoffman.