Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-14
'HOWARDRANK|N
WIFE:
Then SUICIDES
Well Known Young Man
Dead as Result Of Shoot
ing on Street Early Sun
day Evening.
Couple Had Separated and
Divorce Proceedings Were
Pending in District Court
Mrs. Rankin Not Ser
iously Hurt.

mis-. Rankin NOI OoT-
iously Hurt.
After firing a shot which he believed
had ended the life Of his wife. How
ard &c. Rankin Of South Boise. Sunday
evening at $50. sent a bullet crashing
through his brain and died three hours
later at a hospital.
The attempted murder and suicide
occurred close to the west entrance of
the Mode on Idaho street. Mrs. Rankin
had just quit work at the Simonson
tamale parlors and had gone less than
block when her husband. from whom
she was separated, met her. pulled
revolver and at close range fired. The
ball struck her in the head just above
the ear. glanced upward, inflicting
only a scalp wound. went through her
hat in which quite a hole was burned.
She fell to the walk and after seeing
her PROSTATE. Rankin turned the
weapon on himself.
Mrs. Rankin was at once moved to
the city hall. then to st. Alphonsus
hospital, where her wound was dressed.
Finding it was not serious she was
later taken to the home Of her mother,
Mrs. Cronk in South Boise. Rankin
was taken to the hospital in an ambu-
lance but died without regaining con-
seriousness.
CALLED BY PHONE.
1t was learned that Rankin twice
! called his wife to the telephone Sun
day evening shortly before the shoot
ing. On both occasions she hung up
the receiver, refusing to talk after
learning it was her husband. She quit
work shortly after 6 o'clock and had
walked less than block when she was
confronted by her husband. who after
few words. pulled the revolver and
shot her.
Trouble between Rankin and his
wife has existed for some time. On
| Oct. 16, she filed suit in the district
court asking divorce upon the grounds
| of cruelty and in which she alleged
he struck her several times on two
occasions. She also asked the custody
/ of their minor children, a son aged 3
years and baby boy, aged Is months
! and an interest in an estate left to
her husband.
The case was to have come up on
Saturday. the attorneys for Mrs
Rankin, Delana g. Delana, asking that
default be entered. An objection to
the service of the summons was made
by an attorney representing Mr.. Ran
kin and the case was postponed for y
week in which to give the defendan:
time to answer.
TO AVOID DRAFT.
1t is claimed that Rankin agreed to
give his wife divorce, providing she
would swear that he supported his
children, in order to give him grounds
to avoid being drafted into service
This statement the wife made on his
behalf, 1t is said.
4 Mrs. Rankin was reported to be rest
ing quite easily today although ex.
tremely nervous from the shock. Il
will be several days before she will be
able to be about.
The body of Rankin is at the schrei.
Der & Sidenfaden undertaking parlors
The inquest will be held this afternoon
before Coroner Summers.
Howard Rankin was the son Of Ed
ward Rankin, formerly a contractor o.
Boise. He is survived by four brothers
Albert. who is in the service of hi.
country and now in the hospital in New
York on account of rheumatism; Will
q student Of the Boise high school, ans
Floyd, q student of Franklin school
Donald, aged IL, and a sister, Mrs
Ethel Riley. who arrived from Nysss
at noon today.
Framed Pictures and Fine Prints
Silk Komonos, Pottery. Fancy China
Moccasins, at Schackner.s Arr Store