The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-21
Mrs Ella Coon Attacked by Kitchen Man, John
Brown, This Morning Shortly Before Nine
O'clock and Escaped Death
BLACK Man sewers THROAT. MAY DIE
Tragic Scene Enacted on South Third Stree,
When Drinking Workman Attacked Woman
Who Had Discharged Him

A double tragedy was nearly en-.
acted In Keokuk today when John
Brown, a negro cook, attempted to
end the life of Mrs. Ella Coon, by
striking her over the head with a
heavy meat cleayer and then in a
state of remorse sought to end
his own earthly existence by cutting
his throat almost from ear to ear,
with a razor. Mrs. Coon received only
a scalp wound about an inch and a
half long and three-quarters of an
inch deep, but her escape from death
was narrow one. Brown lowered
between life and death at st. Joseph's
hospital during the day and may live
although this is doubtful.
This afternoon he was reported as
likely to recover, being able to talk
and expressing regret for his actions
Act Committed in Restaurant.
The attempted murder and subse.
auent attempt at suicide were com
mitted in the restaurant conducted by
Mrs. Coon, at No. IL South Third
street, shortly before 9 o'clock this
morning in the presence Of three girl
employees and William F. Boudewyne,
whose presence probably prevented
the negro from accomplishing his muir
derOuS intent.
Mrs. Coon was eating breakfast in
the restaurant and was seated at the
rear table with her back to the door
leading from the kitchen, when Brown
entered, cleaver in hand, bent on re.
venge for receiving notice of his dis
charge for being drunk. $3.50
No Warning Preceded Act.
The blow from the cleaver which
fell heavily upon the head of Mrs
Coon was preceded by no warning
She turned her head in time to see
the uplifted hand Of the negro cook
which bore the heavy cleaver and was
unable to protect herself from the
blow which descended. The sharp
edge of the cleaver struck her direct
ly in the center of the head, about
IN inch above the forehead 1t is
believed that heavy knot of the
wonan's hair DETECTED the blow, fol
The weapon fell from the Negroes
hand and struck on the table in
front of her, breaking the dishes and
crashing to the floor.
Sees Boudewyne, Then FIees.
William Boudewyne was sitting al
the table in front of Mrs. Coon, but
had his back turned to her and did
not receive the warning. until aftel
the blow had been struck. He ther
Jumped from his seat to make fol
Brown, but the latter fed from the
room and disappeared.
Later, after officer Fuqua had
searched the upstairs he found Brown
outstretched in the middle of his own
room, with his throat cut and his en-
tire wearing apparel drenched in
blood
Cause for The Act.
The act is thought TO have been
prompted by notice from Mrs. Coon
that he could continue in her service
no longer because he drank. She told
him this while he was preparing
breakfast this morning, the cook hay
ing become SO addicted to the use OF
liquor and drugs that he was unable
10 properly discharge his duties. II
is believed that he was laboring I'M
der the influence of liquor when he
committed the act.
Three girls witnessed the act. They
We're Miss Velma Buck, Grace Black
we'll and Iva Ball, who fled from the
restaurant
Lone Officer Receives Call.
The call from South Third street
was received at the police station
at S:55 O'Clock and the only officer at
headquarters at the time was Lafay'
cite Fuqua. officer Fuoua hurried to
the scene Immediately and found Mrs
Coon in the Office of Vermazen's liy'
cry stable with Miss Valma Buck, a
girl employed in the restaurant, bath
Ing the wound in her head. The OF
iicer was hurriedly told what had hap
rened, but no one seemed to know
where Brown had gone after the ac'
had been committed. H. II. PaytoT
suggested to the officer that Browr
might have disappeared upstairs
which suggestion led to q search II
the rooms over the restaurant. Tbs
last room visited by the officer was
IN the rear and was occupied by the
cook himself.
Body outstretchcd on Floor.
With no intimation that the color
ed man had attempted to commit