Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1914-01-16
DOUBLE TRAGEDY
OF COLE.RObSON
EXCITES TEN|N0
Former Saloonkeeper Kills Ply
sician -Unfoundsd Jeal-
ousy Motive.
THEN COMMITS SUICIDE.
Victims Meet Accidentally ON
Street-Shooting Over Before
Bystanders Realize.

Bystanders Realize.
Tenino is still stirred up over the
murder and suicide which occurred
there about 2 o'clock Tuesday after
noon, when M. C. Cole, former sa-
loon keeper of that city, apparently
beside himself from unfounded jeaI-
ousy, shot and killed an old friend,
DR.. c. E. Robson, and then walked
over to his own home, gave his wife
81 900, bade her goodbye and shot him.
self Both men were we'll known in
Tenino, DR.. Robson was a respected
physician, having lived there for about
nine years, and the sympathy of the
entire community has been extended
freely to the bereaved families.
The body of DR.. Robson was brought
to the Sticklin Undertaking parlors in
this city, while that of Cole remained
at the home, and funeral services for
him will be held at the Odd Fellows
hall, Tenino. Dr.. Robson's funeral will
not be held until the arrival of his
mother Mrs. c. R. Bartlett, and sister,
Miss Ella Bartlett, from their home in
Delaware City, Del.
The tragedy occurred on Main street
Tenino, almost directly in front of DR..
Robson's Office, which is across the
street from the Cole home. Tuesday
morning Cole had gone to the Tenino
State bank and drawn out his deposit
of $1.O50, remarking to friends that
he was going to Centralia and might
start up in business, Mrs. Cole said
he did not have revolver before he
went to Centralia that morning, while
Frank Smith Of Tenino says Cole At
tempted to borrow revolver from
him last Saturday and refused an old
style weapon when he could not bor-
row Smiths Colts automatic, the kind
Of q gun he used In the shooting.
DR.. Robson had just come from his
home when he met Cole near his oflce
apparently by accident. A friend Of
both men who was passing said the
men appeared to be talking quietly, but
he had gone but short distance be-
fore a shot was heard end Cole was
seen bending over DR.. Robson, who
was calling for help, and firing into his
body, four shots being used. Cole
then walked across the street, entered
his own home and handed the pack
age of $1,000 in money to his wife
and when she hesitated, threw 1t ON
the table, saying goodbye. mother"
He walked out on the back porch. say
ing goodbye again just as he closed
the door, and shot himself through the
head.
Two shots took effect in Robson's
body, one penetrating the brain and
the other the heart. Later information
developed that shortly before the
shooting, J. F. Canon had been talk
ing with Cole at the latter's home
relative to insurance and had hardly
reached his Office before the shots
were heard.
Cole, according to friends. had been
under physicians care for some
months, first DR.. Robson and later
an Olympia doctor, and is said to
have acquired several delusions, one
of extreme jealousy for DR.. Robson
relative to domestic matters, which is
said to have been unfounded. The
first intimation of this, according to
Mrs. Cole, was about two weeks ago
when Cole came home in an enfeebled
condition due to drinking consider
able alcohol and when she offered to
call DR.. Robson, said, "If you do, I'll
kill him."
DR.. Robson was 81 years old and is
survived by widow and little daugh-
ter Cole was AZ years old and Is sur
vived by widow, two sons and one
daughter.