New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-27
FIANCEE PULLS
STRING, KILLS
ARTHUR H. C0wL
In Darkness Did Not See
End Was Attached to
Revolver Trigger.
VICTIM GRANDSON
OF JAMES A. HEARN
''It's a Surprise" He Told Her,
Before He Made Sweetheart
His Slayer.

Arthur Hearn Cowl, son of Clarkson
Cowl. and grandson of James A
Hearn, was shot through the head and
killed last night when his fancee. Miss
Emily Wheeler, of Stratford, Conn.
pulled, it his direction, a string which
he had, unknown to her, attached to
the trigger of a Ss-calibre revolver.
Young Cowl, who was a member OF
the firm of James A. Hearn, returned
only yesterday TO the United States
from Bermuda, where be had been for
some weeks on account of i'll health
He went immediately to Stratford
where Arthur De Forest Wheeler, re-
tired banker Of Bridgeport and father
of his fancee, has a residence.
At about 10 o'clock last night Cowl
proposed TO the girl that they walk
about the estate. When they were
descending the steps from the house
he halted her a moment to give her
an engagement ring. A little later he
stopped her again.
A Death Surprise.
Emily. have surprise for you'
Miss Wheeler told the physicians he
said to her. Take hold of this string
and pull it,
II was dark. but the girl could see
he was holding something in his hand.
His manner frightened her, and she
objected tugging at the cord he pressed
into her hand. Its a surprise" he re-
peated. and she pulled the string. The
report Of a pistol sounded, and young
Cowl dropped to the ground.
Miss Wheeler screamed for help, and
the young mans body was carried into
the house. together with the revolver
found beside him on the ground; io
the trigger Of this was attached the
string he had given his sweetheart 10
pull.
Mr.. Cowl had been shot clear through
the temple. the bullet entering on tne
right side of his head and coming ou'
on the other. lie was still breathing
when brought into the house, and Mt
Wheeler telephoned to Bridgeport Ior
an automobile ambulance, in which Dr
J. ". Wright. leading physician OF the
town. and DR.. D. c. Patterson were
rushed to Stratford
DR.. W. B. Cogswell, of Stratford, was
already there, and after consultation
the three physicians decided the young
man had no chance for life. but tha'
il might be better to take him to nos
pital.
Retold Tragedy in Hospital.
He was carried back to Bridgeport
and died in the Bridgeport Hospital
at 1910 o'clock this morning, without
recovering consciousness. Miss Wheel
or and her father motored to Bridge
port and were with him when he died
He told the grewsomc tale of the string
both TO DR.. Wright and the house sur
geon at the hospital.
Mr.. Cowl and the girl had been close
friends for more than year lie was
a constant visitor at her fathers coun-
trv place during the summer, and there
was little surprise felt when their en-
eagement was announced. Miss Wheei-
or is one of the most popular young
women in Bridgeport society
The dead mans parents were notl,
fed bv telephone Of the tragedy, ana
CIorkson Cowl was expected to reach
Bridgeport some time early this morn
ing. ..
Young Cowl was twenty-five years
old and had been recently admitted
70 the Hearn firm, of which his father
was q member. He was fond OF out-o1-
door sport, and when. this winter, he
hoceme i'll ne was sent TO Bermuda IN
tbe hone that open air life there would
cure him. When he appeared at the
Wheeler house last night he seemed IN
Until Until thew had gone out into the dark
ness together that Miss Wheeler mo-
ticed his manner had changed SUI
denly. NJ ond
Arthur Cowl was the son OF Mr.; and
Mrs. Clarkson Cowl, of West, Snore
Road. Great Neck, Long Island. Mrs
Cowl was the daughter OF James A.
Hearn. and her husband is member
of The Hearn firm and president of the
Central Mercantile Association.