The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-20

ment the hospital authorities stated
that Atherton had been received at
the hospital and was badly hurt, but
was getting along all right. The Uti-
ca relatives were instructed to write
to the hospital attaches and full par
ticulars would follow by return mail.
When this letter reached Pittsburg
the hospital nurses Immediately dis
covered that a mistake had been made
and that their patient was not the
man inquired after by the Utica rela-
tives, but a man with name some
what similar. The confusion In names
resulted from an unsatisfactory talk
over the long distance telephone.
They Immediately wrote to Mr..
Mossholder, informing him of the mis-
take and he decided to Investigate per-
sonally. With another brother-in-law,
Clarence II. Barnes, he left for Pitts
burg.
They sought the aid of the police
and the rounds of the hospitals and
undertakers were made, without sue
ceeding in locating Atherton or his
body.
They then went to Cannonsburg,
where they found the body of the
morgue of the McNair undertaking
establishment. After learning the de-
tails of his death they caused war
rant to be issued for the arrest of
Mrs. Treen and word was sent to Uti-
ca to hold her for the arrival of the
Cannonsburg constable.
After her arrest, Mrs. Treen told
the story of Atherton's death. This
was the same related to newspaper
men at the B. & o. station Thursday
morning while the train was standing.
She was seated with Constable j. J.
Miller and they both greeted the news
paper men pleasantly.
Mrs. Treen willingly consented to
be interviewed She denied that she
was of foreign birth, in answer to
question from one of the reporters.
Cant your hear most anything?"
she said with toss of the head.
'1'll tell you the whole story" she
said. IL have nothing to fear from any
investigation. The shooting was mere
ly an accident. Atherton was sitting in
a big Morris chair working with a
revolver, when the weapon was dis
charged.
Earlier in the afternoon he had
purchased suit of underclothing and
other clothing. He came to the room
and tried them on and found that they
would not fit. He was preparing to re-
turn them to the store for exchange.
"When he returned with the pack
age, he had pint of whisky, the Sec
ond bottle he had purchased that day.
He started out and got half way down
the stairs, when l called to him that
he had forgotten his package.
"He returned to the room after
the package, and seeing the revolver
on the dresser, he picked up the weap'
on with the remark that 1t wouldn't
snap
HE said he was going to adjust
the spring and began fooling with the
gun. Just before this, the landlady
had sent piece of pie to my room and
was seated at table across the
room, eating the pie.
"Atherton, with my little girl at
his knee, snapped the revolver sever
al times and then there was report.
Atherton mrched forward in his chair
with the blood streaming from the bull
let hole.
II called the doctor and he was
there within ten minutes after the
man was shot. He called an ambu-
lance and vent with them 10 the
hospital They operated upon him, but
said he would not recover. They said
ne would probably live until the
booze was out of his system. He died
rhe next morning shortly after mid.
night.
The accident happened about 500
o'clock in the evening. | took the
train the next morning for Newark and
arrived Saturday evening"
Her story OF the tragedy was cut
short by the departure OF the train.
Before she entered into the details
Of the story sho stated that she was
"A native of Licking county, being a
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. d. G. Jones
of 7S Grant street this city. She was
born north of Granville, whore she
spent most of her life
She was married to Treen while a
resident OF Centerburg, the license
being obtained in Mt. Vernon.
Her husband accompanied her from
Utica to Newark, where he bade her
goodby, In replay to question as to
whether he expected TO go to Can
nonsburg, he stated that It cost too
much money and he would have to
lose too much time from his work.
AS 1'reen and the reporters hur-