The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-28
Phelan Snaps Ribbon On Cowl's Pistol As He
 Attempts To Shoot
(continued from Page I. )

shine. She now has it and it. has not been off her finger She fs deeply distressed over published reports.
 ''I strongly endorse the conclusions .of Dr. Garliclx. The only thing in which he may be in error is as to the nervous disorder. should be 1nclin- ed to think that the cause of the whole shooting affair would rather be the result of mental unsoundneSs and a desire for the heroic.
 ttIf Dr. Gar1fck got the information I did, he would probably have given the dead man the benefit of the doubt and said: Suffering from nervous disorder The idea of the girl hav- the man is think entirely absurd in view of the stiff condition of the trig- ger and the snallness of the half-tnch ribbon and is dtsproved entirely by my own experiment when I broke the string in endeavoring to pull the trigger.
 stCowI was a young man, not. in good health prior to last November or December when he sustained a nervous breakdown.
 The question of letter talked about is of no Consequence whatever, save this fact: he wrote a letter tell ing her in view of his illness he did not think he would be the kind of a husband desirable. This letter how ever was never sent He gave it to her. Sn9 read IL hSES6lT the fGIn6F night and it was burned up.
 ssIn view of what happened and what he desired her to do my mind is clear upon the point that he was la- boring under some kind of mental ex- cftement so that the deed might be than by design. would be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
 ESQ far as the young lady is con cerned it is a great pity. She is a lovely young woman. T greatly re- gret the prominence that has been given the incident in which she was apparently an unwilling participant. They held each other in the highest esteem and might almost add love. There was no estran cement whatever and no reason for doing what he did other than that he was always prac- ing odd stunts. A
 ssI might mention that he would wait for trains to pull out or stations and then run and catch the rear while in motions also that he is known to have had a penchant for Jumping from great heights into pools of water and taking chances while swimming.
 ssThese proclivities in my mind ab-l solve the young lady from any blame in reference to the tragedy. She is heart broken as a result Of the death. s3 During my inquiry at the house. the young lady, her mother and Dr. CogsWel1 were present. When the act was committed the couple were seated on bench at the edge of the steps and not on the steps themselves as has been suggested. He ran upstairs and brought down the pistol concealed in a pocket.
 sT entirely endorse the finding of Medical Examiner Garlick save that Fl think it might be modified to the ex- tent I have already stated,
 
 a1niner Gar1ick on the death of Arthur Hearn Covzl, as delivered to Coroner Phelan after reciting the age of the victim as 22s years, residence Great tBridgeport hospital on the morning Of April 27, gives the cause as "Cere- bral Traumatisrn from gunshot wound of the head self inflicted with 3 suicidal intent.' The report continues:
 fsIt appears that said COxvI had been Of mental depression for which he had been under medical treatment and travel. On the 27th lapparentIy meant for the 26th1 he visited his if ance at Stratford, Conn. After dining he, with said fiance went out on the porch, that after said CowI handed her the ring attached to a ribbon, ask ing her to pull the ring and she would be Surprised. It appears that said ribbon was attached to the pistol as immediately upon her pulling on the ring the pistol shot occurred and said Cowl fell to the steps shot through the head pistol in hand. The bullet had entered the head at the right temple and passing in an upward and for ward, direction made it's exit at the left temple Said fiance was not noti- fled of the nature of the Surprise and was to keep her. eyes closed while talk ing part in the trick. This episode occurred at about1O to 10:3O and he arrived at the Bridgeport hospital at 11:05 and death followed at 12 o'clock midnight during which time he was lscontinuously unconscious.
 sExternal examination at a. nn on the 27th, two hours after death, The wounds and condition of the body above described. Burial at WoodIawn cemetery, New York
 Miss Emily Wheeler, today exoner- ated of all blame in the shooting of aner dance, wept almost continuously as she recovered from the shock which she has undergone since the fatefu1in- cidents of Monday night. That she will attend the interment of CUwl at the simple oosequies which will be held in Woodlawn cemetery tomorrow is now almost certain. Though mem- bers of the family still retain that ret fcence which has almost continuously sealed their mouths during the past two days, it was learned today that preparations are being made that Miss Wheeler may take a last look at the body of the deceased youth before the coffin isA lowered into the newly made grave.
 Undertaken Frank Curtis, who yes terday conveyed the body to New York city turned it over to an undertaken at the Grand Central station from whence it was understood that it had ben removed to Great Neck, L. l. To Medical Examiner s. M. Garlick, how ever, the family declared that inter
 nent would be in the family plot at Wood1awn. It is understood that the ceremonies will be performed in All Saints Episcopal church, Great Neck l.. L., Rev. Kirkland officiating, after which the body will be taken to Wood l lawn.
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