The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-02
BRIDE OF WEEK
IS SHOT IN BED
Mrs. B. H. Wooten SuCcumbs
at Erlanger Hospital From
Bullet Wound In Head.
POLICE QUIZ HUSBAND
Who Cannot Offer Explana-
tion-No Powder Burns
Found by Detectives.

Mrs. q. II. Wooten, aged 30, bride Of
only a week, was found Monday morn
Ing about 1880 O'Clock In her room at
the home of her sister.ln law, Mrs. N,
N. Richie, on South Orchard Knob
avenue, with a bullet hole through her
head
She was unconscious and In a dying
condition. The end came shortly after
her removal TO. Erlanaer hospital In
Wann's ambulance.
Chief. w. H. Hackett and Detectives
Scott Swafford and Tom Gillespie Inn
medately began an investigation. ques-
tioning Mrs. Wooten's husband at the
chiefs office. He was there when his
wife died, Secretary Ray Bryan broke
the news to him. At first he appeared
to be stunned. A moment later he
broke down and sobbed, tears coursing
down his cheeks.
Although he showed signs of being
deeply affected he remained calm, and
when Atty.-Ge George w. Chamlee
arrived he answered questions quietly
but with much feeling.
Coroner Jack O'Donohue, after MAX
ing an investigation and viewing the
body. which is at Wann's, announced
that neither an inquest nor an autopsy
would be held, as all parties concerned
were located.
The coroner was of the opinion. as
were undertakers and others. that the
bullet entered Mrs. Wooten's head on
the left side, because the hole was small.
while the opening on the right side was
larger and appeared to be torn. The
ball ranged upward
A strange feature that puzzles Coro-
ner O'Donohue, the attorney general
Chief Hackett and detectives in that
there were no powder burns on the side
of the deceased's head. It appeared
that there was n powder burn just on
M ho 6aq al
was black.
Three Possible Causes.
Gen, Chamlee said deatn could have
been due to one of three causes. namely,
the accidental discharge of the revolt
yer, suicide, or intentionaf shooting.
The weapon belonged to Mrs Ritches
husband and was kept on the mantei In
the room in which Mrs. Wootens body
was found.
Wooten made statement at Chief
Hackett's Office to the effect that he Is
a boilermaker for the Chattanooga
Boiler and Tank company. that his home
is Mt Harrison and that he met his wife
on Aug. &c, while she was teaching
school ut Kings Point in this county.
She was Miss Agnes Thomas. of Nc
Kinzie.
He said that when school closed she
went home and remained there unit
she came to meet him In Dallas Tex.
where they were married on July "a.
Wooten had been in Dallas on work
for the local company, He expected TO
be there for some time, hence the ar
rangement for her to meet him there.
He explained that they left Dallas
for Chattanooga on July 81. arriving
here Sunday night about 1880. After
taking supper in town, they went to the
home of his sister. Mrs. Richie. Ac-
cording to the statement of the grief
H.. 10. \
planned Of assevere headache when
they alighted from the train at the rail-
way station, but after supper she made
no further complaint. They reached
the Richie home about and retired
two hours later. Wooten declared his
in the best of spirits, About 1880 Mon.
day morning loud report that sounded
as II revolver had been discharged
awoke him, he said, and he heard his
sister scream, whereupon he jumped out
of bed in his night clothing and found
his wife lying at the foot OF the ped
with a pistol by her head.
II his wife did take her own lie,
Wooten. could assign no reason Tor IT,
declaring that no trouble existed. Rela-
tives were also at loss ior a reusoI',
II developed in the Investigation that
the Ritchies gave up their bedroom
Sunday night. and desiring to go in ana
and occupied the sitting room' Eaiiy
this morning Richie arose to ~, 70 ms
work. He left his keys in the bedroom
Sunday night, and desiring to go n ana
get them. discovered that Mrs. Wooteh
was awake. She told him to come IN
and get the keys He did So Upon
entering the room, he said. he noticed
that the shade was up. He suggested
that the shade he lowered in order that
Mrs, Wooten might sleep LONGER II she
desired. II was understood when tneV
retired that he was to get his nreak-
fast in town and there would be late
breakfast at home.
Found by Sister.
While Mrs. Richie was in the kltchen
building n fire on which to cook the
morning meal, she was startled 10 near
q nistoI shot and rushed into the ned
room. She was Mortified to md Mrs'
Wooten lying on the floor with the re-
volver nearby. 49,. A..
Gen. Chamee is of the opinion that me
bullet entered the right side OF Mrs'
Wooten's head. III ,,r.r,u
The deceased's husband is wen KNOWN
In Chattanooga. having resided In tn's
section most OF his life. A brother was
formerly In the FIRE department put -
now farming near Chattanooga Wooten
bears good reputation. rs hard
worker, has been with the hoiler NV
tank company long time. and is highlv
regarded by friends.