Evening star., 1911-06-09
Prominent CIubman Seriously
Wounded by French Maid.
is KNOWN IN WASHINGTON
Shooting Follows Disagreement in
Damage Suit in Frisco.
ASSAILANT FIRES TWO SHOTS
Spends Night in Prison Praying for
Recovery of Man She Tried
to Kill.

SAN FRANCISCO. June 9.-The condi-
ton of c. Frederick Kohl. prominent cap
italist and clubman. who was shot and
dangerously wounded yesterday toy Adele
Verge. French maid. was slightly i'm
proved this morning According to his
physicians. Kohl may recover. No effort
has been made to locate or extract the
bullet lodged in his breast but an X-ray
examination will be made today.
Adele Verge spent the night at the city
prison praying for the recovery of Kohl.
Hysterical and unnerved, she would only
say in reply to questions that she did not
know why she shot Kohl and did not
want him to die. She declared she had
bought the pistol many months ago as a
protection against the detective whom.
she says. Kohl and Frank Miller hired to
watch her.
Prominent in Club Circles.
Kohl is wealthy. and is well known in
San Francisco. New York and Washing
ton club circles. The woman shot him
twice. one bullet taking effect close to the
heart. He was rushed in to the Central
Emergency Hospital. His assailant was
locked up in the city prison.
The shooting occurred Immediately fol-
lowing the disagreement of the jury in a
suit for $4,000 damages against Mr. Kohl
and Frank a. Miller. wealthy hotel
man Of Riverside. Miss Verge alleged
she had been illegally imprisoned at the
instance of the men and that they had
prosecuted her ever since. The court
threw out the charges against Mr. Kohl,
as he had never seen the woman until
she appeared In court.
MI Miller remained as defendant in
the suit, which was given to the jury at
noon yesterday. A disagreement. was
reached at 2:3O O'Clock. Miss Verge ac-
companied Mr.. Kohl and the attorneys
down the corridor of the eighth floor of
the Grant building to the street in the
elevator.
Gives No Warning.
She left the elevator first and walked
out of the building ahead of Mr.. Kohl.
Just at the entrance she opened her
satchel. drew out revolver and fred
twice as Mr.. Kohl was in the act of
INshkHx ., cigar. The shooting was wit
messed by Howard Graham. who was SIT
ting in an automobile in front Of the
building. He jumped out Of the machine
and attempted to stop the woman, but
was too late.
Mr.. Kohl at the hospital identified Miss
Verge as the woman who shot him.
Il don't know why l did It," she cried.
Historically. Il have been carrying a
pistol for some time and when l saw
him l fred
James Leonhardt. who keeps the cigar
stand at the Grant building, saw the
shooting. He, with a chauffeur named
Healy. pursued the woman and held her
until the police came.
Kohl Exonerated by Court.
During the trial of the suit Judge Ges-
ford dismissed the case against Mr.
Kohl on all three grounds of malicious
persecution. slander and illegal arrest,
but ordered it to be tried against Mr..
Miller for illegal arrest. 1t was shown
by testimony to the satisfaction of the
court that Miss Verge was suffering
from species of mania which led her to
her.
On the witness stand Mr.. Miller ad-
mitted that he had caused the arrest of
the woman. but said he did SO on the
complaint of persons stopping at his
fashionable hotel. at Riverside, that the
| woman had slapped them and spat in
their faces.
Miss Verge. who is about thirty years
| old. came to America from France three
years ago. taking a position as maid to
| by Mrs. Kohl and arrested on a charge
| of insanity. The charge was dismissed.
although one of the lunacy commission
held that she was insane.