Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-29
GIRL SHOT TO DEATH !
BY HER UNCLE ON !;
GRADUATION EVE
Florence Cope, 19 Years
Old, Victim of Kinsman',
Rage When She Interferes
to Save Mother. J.. ., .,,,
Tragedy at Bucks County Farm.
house Followed by AlI-Night
Hunt for Man Who Fired Fatal
Shot.

DoYLEsToWN, Pa. Sept. 2e,-Au
ready for her graduation from IN.
Philadelphia Business College, pretty
Florence Cope, IS years of age wa,
shot to death last night by bs,
uncle, John Cope, 42 years of age. n,
the home of her father, Clinton Cone IN
the little village of Buckingham Valley
near here. What prompted the unc,.
to Kill his pretty niece is not entirely
clear, although 1t is believed to be zeal.
ousy. She had upon several occasior.
repulsed his caresses, saying she did No,
like him because he drank. He wa,
under the influence of liquor when ths
shooting occurred. Cope escaped. and
has up to this time succeeded in eud,
Ing capture by the posse of officers and
neighbors who were beating through tn,
thickets of Buckingham Mountain all last
night searching for him.
John Cope, who is painter living In
the vicinity, went to the home of his
brother, Clinton Cope, at 10 O'Clock last
night. 1t was a bright moonlight night
and Clinton Cope was out in the field
of his little farm cutting corn. The Wis.
itor was IN an ugly mood from drink
and hurled abusive language at Mrs
Cope. Florence. who was In an upper
room of the house. heard the noise be.
low and ran downstairs 10 her mother
When she appeared in the room her uncle
called her vile name and declared.
'I'll shoot you. too"
lie thrust a revolver against her The
girl Srasped the weapon, but Cope pulled
the trigger and the shot passed through
the girls abdomen. She died within an
hour.
After the shooting Cope ran out OF the
house without shoes, coat or hat.
posse, which included a member of the
State police, Doylestown police and
farmers in the vicinity, was organized
But an all-night search of the buildings
In the nelghborhood and wood slopes
of buckingham Mountain failed to reveal
the hiding place of the slayer, The posse
is still beating the woods as 1t Is be-
lieved Cope could not have gotten far
The death of Florence Cope cast deep
gloom throughout the school rooms Of
the Philadelphia Business College, 1911
Chestnut street. where she had been a
pupil since her graduation from High
School last year.
Miss Edith Ritchie. of Paulsboro n. j..
a pupil at the school, who had heen her
companion since they entered the school
together, could not attend class this
morning owing to the shock OF her
friends sudden death The entire school
was somewhat upset by the tragic affair.
As late as Yesterday afternoon Miss
Cope spoke to Joseph Leming, the pres-
dent of the school, regarding her sradua-
tion. which was to take place on next
Friday. She was one OF the most en-.
thusiastic pupils that has ever attended
our school," said Mr.. Leming this after
noon. The teacher who has had charge
of Miss Copes class could not discuss the
affair at all, so heartbroken was she n
the news.
Mics Elizabeth Thompson, a neighoot
Of the slain girl, who is an instructor az
the school, went up on the same tram
with Miss Cope last evening, and she
spoke of getting an early train into town
this morning to catch up with some Oh
her studies
The girls death has so upset the school
that graduation day in the college may
have to be postponed until next week