Evening star., 1918-07-02
COCKRELL IS HELD
i FOR KILLING WIFE
His Mother-in-LaW Manifests
Sympathy for Him Following
Verdict.

Persons who gathered at the
morgue yesterday afternoon to hear
testimony at the inquest over the
body of Mrs. Pearl Hortense Cockrell.
who was killed yesterday morning
while in bed at her home. 610 F street
northeast, expressed sympathy for her
husband, Philip Shirley Cockrell, her
confessed slayer.
Mrs. William H. Brown, his mother
an-law, occupied a seat directly be-
hind the slayer, who was not repre-
sented by counsel. and after the jury
had reached a verdict holding him for
the action Of the grand jury she en-
braced him.
DR.. William B. Carr deputy coroner,
who performed an autopsy. testified
he found Mrs. Cockrelrs skull had not
been fractured, but that death re-
suited from a broken neck. There was
an abnormal formation on her skull
which made it appear from an ex-
terror examination that the skull had
been fractured.
Declines to Make Statement.
Cockrell, in custody of Policeman
Rossiter, listened to the testimony of
Detective Guy Walsh of the sixth
precinct, Detective Charles A. Strobel
Of the ninth precinct and the deputy
coroner. and spoke only when the cor
oner asked if he wanted to make a
statement. He responded in the mega
tive.
Detective Walsh related the story
Of Cockrelrs visit to the police station
and of his admission that he had slain
him he had left piece of pipe, the
weapon he used, in a closet in the
room in which the crime was commit
ted. Detective Strobel produced the
pipe and told the jury he found it at
the place designated.
Alleged Cause of Killing.
A young man living in Northeast
washington was in attendance. the
police having summoned him there
because of statements made by the
prisoner linking his name with that
of Mrs. Cockrell. In a statement by
Cockrell, read to the jury. it was made
to appear that he had found the young
man with his wife and made certain
accusations, asking his wife to cease
accepting the young mans attentions
end to begin life anew with him. The
wife was quoted as having refused to
give up the young mans companion
ship.
Following the inquest, Cockrell was
taken to Jail and surrendered to the
custody of the warden Funeral
services for Mrs. Cockrell, which will
be private, will be conducted at the
residence tomorrow afternoon. Inter-
ment will be in Glenwood cemetery
Story Of Unhappy Married Life.
Cockrell was taken to police head
quarters yesterday afternoon. meas
ured and photographed for the gallery
and interviewed by Inspector Grant
He told the inspector the story of his
unhappy married life, related meet
ing between his wife, a young man
and himself and told of his wife's re-
fusal to change her mode of living.
The prisoner then went on with his
story of the happenings of Sunday
night. telling of his wife's refusal to
partake of ice cream he purchased for
the family and of the all-night wran-
gle that followed. He said 1t was
about midnight when he went to the
cellar and got the piece OF pipe, and
II was at that time that he made up
his mind to kill his wife.
Mrs Cockrell did not see the piece
OF pipe when he returned to the room
and hid it, he stated, because he car
ried it behind him. The wrangling
continued until about 4:3o o'clock. he
kdiU, WHEN luOQSHt, Jesus nave i
got to do It? I said 1 guess the Lord
Is with me; I will do tt"
Sat on Bed and Watched Her Die.
The young man declared he dealt his
wife only two blows. When the first
blow was dealt she raised her head
and called him an objectionable name,
he stated, and a second blow knocked
her head to the bed.
He said he sat there on the bed and
watched her die. knowing just when
she breathed her last.
Cockrell said he remained in the
room until about 1880 o'clock, when
he went out the back way, speaking
to a younger member of his mother
in-1aw's family as he passed out.