The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-23
RUINED GIRL TRIES
TO END HER LIFE
MISS CORA PADaEgT. OF BASIC
CITY, DYING IN MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL.
GIVES POLICE DETAILS
ENTICED TO RICHMOND ny COUSIN.
POLICE ALLEGE, IN VIOLA
TON OF WHITE SLAVE ACT
AND MADE yICTIM.

position al hiCnUioHu. MISS 1oid L.
Padgett tried to commit suicide in the
house of Mrs. Clarke Cohen, on
Twenty-tirst street, in South Rich
mond yesterday afternoon. by shooting
hrself through the breast
She is in a critical condition and Is
not expected to live. A dying state
ment of her downfall was secured by
detectives early last night
Mrs. Cohen is under arrest, charged
with being suspected of having yto-
lated the Mann white slave act. by
paying the young girls railroad fare
to this city. Another charge of run
ming a disorderly house has been 1odg-
ed against her. Mrs. Cohen denies
the first charge, but, following her
arrest about 1880 o'clock last night,
admitted to the police she had run
a disorderly house
The statement OF the girl follows:
August %, 1914.
Miss Cora Padgett admitted to the
Memorial hospital this date august
%, 1910. with pistol shot wound
in the right breast. which penetrated
through the entire chest. coming out
just below the angle OF the right
scapula posterior.
Il. j, NJ. Duffy. police officer in
the city of Richmond. submit the dy-
ing declaration of the above (Miss
Cora Padgett) -that the said Miss
Cora Padgett was brought from Basic
City by woman named Clarke Cohen,
of Twenty-frst street, South Rich
mond. with tho understanding that
Mrs. Clarke Cohen was to get her a
position on her arrival in Richmond.
After her arrival IN Richmond. the
position which was promised did not
forthcorne. SO she inquired of Mrs
Clarke Cohen about 1t, and she told her
that the positions hero did not pay
much, and asked her why in the hell
didn't she make money easy. and her
reply was that she had not been
brought up that way.
Several days after her arrival here
Mrs. Clarke Cohen called up a
gentleman to come to SEQ her and
when the said gentleman called he
found the said Miss Cora Padgett.
whom Mrs, Clarke Cohen had called
him up 10 see.
This gentleman. finding out the
kind Of a place she was in. and what
kind of a woman this Mrs. Clarke
Cohen was and that he would get her
out Of that place even If he had to
have her arrested
Il (DuTy) asked this girl Cora
Padgett) If she was perfect lady up
TO the time she met Mrs Clarke Cohen,
anu HeF answer WaS ! tS anu tndL sbe
had been ruined in her house since
withheld by policel.
u, j NJ. Duffy also asked her II
she wanted to commit suicide, and why
she didn't shoot herself through the
heart, and she said because she want
ed to live long enough to tell what
kind OF a place and what kind of q
woman Mrs. Clarke Cohen was.
trp 4 r.
what made her XIII herself. and her
answer was because Mrs. Clarke Co
hen had been quarreling with her and
called her such vile names that she was
ashamed to mention them, and de-
spondency,
II. j NJ Duffy. asked her If Mrs
Clarke Cohen paid her way from Ba
sic City to Richmond, and her answer
was yes The amount she doesn't
know, but 1t was something over 81
She also says that she paid her ex
penses here in Richmond.
"On entrance to the hospital she
had said she had shot herself acct
dentaly but when l, j. NJ. Duffy, ar
rived and asked her did she realize
that she was in a dying condition
and that she was going to die, and her
answer was yes. and then I asked her
If she. knowing her condition, would
she tell me the whole truth Of the
affair. no more nor no less. and her
answer was yes. She likewise said
that the reason why she didn't tell the
truth at first was because Mrs. Clarke
Cohen hal told her what TO say and
told her ifAshe told the truthsthat she
would kin her.
tSingned) CORA l. PADGE EFT.
Witness:
Or c. r. Young.
Or J. c. Parish,
II M Duffy. Police Officer"
It was in july that the girl was
brought to Richmond from her coun-
try home Since that time it was
learned that she had several times
complained of being unwell and had
been taking medicine in the hopes
that her condition might beibettered,
Learning after three weeks that her
condition was not improved Is be-
lieved by the police to be the reason
for her act
Mrs Cohen told the police last night
that she had been leading a bad life
for years, part Of the time residing in
resorts In Newport News and other
cities About three months ago the
woman. according to her statements,
moved to her present home in South
Richmond from the segregated dis
ITlCI- In July she itAAtilNd }itbAc IVA
a visit Then 1t was that she intlu-
enced her cousin TO come to the city
under fair promises of securing her a
position.
Arriving in Richmond the promises
of a position did not hold out and
Miss Padgett talked of going home.
She was told that positions here In
Richmond did not pay we'll and was
asked why did she not earn her mon
ey easily During this time her eX-
penses were paid by her cousin.
Later, men were asked to the re-
sort to see her To the first one who
called she told her story. He left
without accomplishing his purpose
and promised to take her from the
house.
With this idea in view he called
at the home yesterday afternoon to
learn that the young girl had been
ruined and the she had tried to com
NIT suicide.
Mrs. Cohen told the police last night
that she. and two or three men, To-
gether with the young girl, had Just
completed their midday meal. MISS
Padgstt arose from the table. accord
ing to Mrs Cohen. and walked into her
room. In about five minutes a pistol
shot was heard All of them ran into
the room and found the girl standing