The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-07
HAD PISTOL IN VALlSE
He Had Been Released in
New York on Promise
to Go Back.
CONSTABLE WITH HIM
West Chester, Pa. Lawyers Say
shortage May Exceed
S15O,OOO.

Vp,L\pEl riiIA, Aug. 6.--Accused OF a
,lortagc Of many thousand dollars from
nc estates entrusted to his care. Col.
Gibbons Cray Cornwell OF West Chester.
pa.. commander OF the Sixth Regiment.
National Guard OF Pennsylvania, and
prominent as lawyer. shot himself
through the head and died instantly in
= Pennsylvania Railroad train in this
,ty this evening.
He was on his way to West Chester
rom New York, accompanied by Will
IAN Mullen. a constable. and as the train
pulled out Of the North Philadelphia
station he suddenly reached into grip.
which he had placed on a seat in front.
whipped out a revolver and sent bullet
INTO his brain.
The shooting came as a tragic devel-
tpment that gave some inkling OF the
extent of Col. Cornwells entangle-
men,s.
Lawyers who have made a hasty in
tcstigation of estates for which the
colonel was counsel place the losses at
$4,000 but say the total amount may
exceed sl50,OQ0.
At the very time that Colonel Corn
veil fired the shot that ended his life
hundreds OF residents Of West Chester
were congregated at the railroad sta
ton. some to offer their sympathy. and
others drawn merely out Of curiosity.
awaiting the arrival OF the train.
In the Cornwcll home on Church
street the Colonel's four little sons.
dressed in white duck suits, were happy
in tho thought Of seeing daddy again"
as the eldest, Gibbons Cornwcll. 10
ears, put It,
Bondsmcn were ready in the office
of Justice Of the Peace PaNson to sup
Ily any amount asked to gain Col. Corn
we'll his liberty.
Then came the news that the guards
man had killed himself. The message
shocked the entire town. Mrs. Cornwel
'ainted when the news was broken tc
her and at midnight It was said she
MAS in a serious condition.
rol. Cornwell was arrested In New
York on Monday. charged with dis.
yosng Of bonds to which he had no title
He had been missing since the end OF
the National Guard encampment al
Gettysburg and search was started fol
him Monday morning.
When he was arraigned In New York
'o.day he agreed to return to Wes,
chester without requisition papers, and
srrangements were at once started tc
axe him back home. Accompanied
ty Constable Mullen. he boarded the
-sS o'clock train.
Mullen described the trip as follows
Lieut.. Rect and Detective Grover
Brown went with Col. Cornwell and
myself to the Coloners hotel after his
relcasc and there the Colonel procured
grip that he had left In his room
Then We went to the Pennsylvania
Rallroad station.
There was nothing unusual abou
he Coloncls actions He seemed salts
H.d to go with us and was pleased Il
gnow he did not have to remain II
prison 20 await extradition papers.
The New York detectives left us a
tho train. Col. Cornwell and ! sat II
day coach at the rear end. He sa
0'Nt to the window and was by h!
/. side He placed the valise on the fioo
front of us. We talked on genera
,.hlccts-thc weather. scenery. &c.
N'ter leaving New York Col. Corn
Wi l.ftod the valise to his knees
,poned it and took out an envelope.
lie put 1t In his inside pocket and re
marked that 1t was money for his wife
he said he would either mail II or give
20 mo to deliver. After that he LOCKED
the grip and instead Of putting It bacl
a. our feet, placed II on the seat In from
Of us, which was not occupied.
! Thought nothing Of that action a
time but now / see Its significance
a. In
-.t,ur. but never referred to his ow
."aiuly Later the Colonel said he fcl
1uI. that he had not slept well 10
several uight. Then he leaned forwar
! the ..oat.
H. r"mained In that position. Wit
..Al on his arms. until the trai
r'l .rd the North Philadelphia statior
'.H.r.ltly he dozcd. or tried to max
.' a''," he did, for he rolled his hea
Ii.n 0l" - side. peering from the win
''1 oHl blinking his eyes as the trai
'."' %, a stop.
'I,.t as the train had started HI
hrHt -nol down to the bag and the mex
'r.''. | saw IA revolver In II. tric
trap The weapon. but I was too lat
Colonel had placed II to his hea
rGi Drod."
I0nt YOU search Col. CornWell bt
.pu started with him from Me-
.I th" constable was asked
''. E's,' he answered. "W
.U'd his clothes, but nobOd
'tl "i IN" grip. I've been frien
''" o.un"ls for years, and ! didn
rl 10" would do such a thing. n
l-'' OF That ever entered my min
l' 80 sure tho Colonel would maI
mn f'' .'upi to escape or harm hmsc