New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29
Coroner Finds Action Of Re-
volver So Stiff That Victim s
Fiancee Could Not Have
Pulled Trigger by Jerk at
Silken Ribbon.

Bridgeport, Conn. April 28. Emily
Dunbar Wheeler, fiancee OF Arthur
Hearn Cowl, who committed su'cide
al her home last Monday night, diu
not fire the shot which killed HIM
when she pulled, at his bidding the
ribbon he had attached to the trigger
of his revolver.
Following his investigation to-day
Coroner John Phelan not only exoner-
ated the girl from all blame, but IN
sisted that il would have been impos-
,ible for her to pull the ribbon hard
enough to discharge the weapon. TINS
assertion is based upon the coroners
own experiments with the revolver. lie
tried to fire it by means OF the ribbon
hut the frail silk band broke without
releasing the hammer.
Haggard from loss Of sleep ana
trembling with nervousness, MISS
Wheeler talked with the coroner IN
her home to-day, recounting between
sobs the events leading up 10 the
tragedy Monday night. Her questoner
was deeply affected by her condition
and the blame which she insisted on
placing on herself for young cow 5
death. On leaving her. he took charge
of tho revolver from which the shot
was fred and tested it thoroughly
He found it's action extremely stitf'
ID uas forced 10 use a strong press
ure 10 pull the trigger. When ne at
temntod TO discharge the pistol by
nullinp the ribbon which Cowl mad
fastened to il, the silk broke without
firing the weapon.
Girl Not to Blame.
az am satisfied that Miss Wheeler
had nothing more to do wltn the ne, Hla'
action of the trigger than | had Cor
go pbeI,n said afterward. The idea
81 that Girl being responsible for the
sbootine of the man is, think, en-
/ tirolv absurd. in view of the stif con-
dition of the trigger and the smallnesS
of the half-inch ribbon. and is as
proved entirely by my own experiment
/ when [ broke the string in endeavorlng
to pull the trigger. Cowl must nave
had his finger on the trigger "heH '"'
/ pistol went OIL
One cartridge only was found in the
revolver end il was the bullet from
/ this which entered the young mans
brain. This fact has given rise to the
| theory that Cowl mad not intended TO
/ shoot himself. but was possessed with
morbid craving TO frighten his
! fancte. His mental condition for the
/ last six months substantiates this
! theory.
Coroner Phelan indorses this pre-
mise "Verv likely the young man
thought the bullet was not in the right
place to explode" he said yesterday
''I should be inclined to think that the
cause OF the whole shooting aitalr
! would rather be the result OF menta!
unsoundness and desire Tor the
/ heroic.
I'm view of what happened and what
he desired her to do. my mind is clear
upon the point that he was lsboring
/ under come kind OF mental excitement,
| so that the deed might be more IN the
nature of an accident than by design.
| would be inclined TO give him the BEN
eft of the doubt"
Ring on Her Finger.
/ The statement made by DR.. Garlck
| in his official report OF the deatn OF
Young Cowl which asserts that the en-,
gagement ring was attached to the end
of the ribbon which the man pressed
/ into his fancee's hand, was termed yes
terday mere moonshine" by the cor,
oner. Miss Wheeler told him she had
placed the ring upon her finger when
+ Cowl gave it TO her, and that she mad
some time later he urged her to pull
/ the ribbon. =.
In spite Of the fact that she is
broken nervously, and has not been
able 70 sleep since the tragedy. MISS
Wheeler pluckily insists that she Will
attend her fiance's funeral to-day.
Services will be held this morning at
/ All Saints Episcopal Church, Great
! Neck. l.. |. Or. Kirkland, the Cowls's
x.,,or yiII ofrciate.