The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-02
WIFE KILLED
/. AS HUSBAND
. HOLDS GUN
Man, Street Car EmpIoye,
Unloading Revolver, Not
Arrested.
ACCIDENTAL, SAY POLICE
Weapon Purchased for Pro-
lection After Dynamiting.


When a revolver in the hands Of
her husband Rucker Todd, "a, an
Indianapolis Street Railway Conn
pany conductor, discharged as he
was unloading it, Mrs. Mary Todd,
27, Of 9S5 Church ST., was fatally
wounded this morning.
Todd said he bought the revolver,
a 22-caliber weapon, to protect him
self, following the dynamiting in
West Indianapolis of two cars on
which he was working
Police and Coroner Paul r. Rob
inson declared the shooting was ac-
cidental and Todd was not arrested.
The shooting occurred in the bed.
room Of The Todd home, a three
room half of double cottage.
Preparing to Hide 1t
Todd told police he had just re-
turned from work and was unload
ing the gun, preparing to hide it
under the pillow of the bed hrom
their two children. Betty Jean, 2,
and Junior, 4.
His wife had her pocketbook in
her hands, as he had just told her
he was late returning from work
because he had made an extra trip.
per run to earn a little extra money
and had stopped to buy an alarm
clock, and they were discussing fam
lily finances, Todd saidJ
He broke open the revolver as
they talked, he said, and removed
six of the seven shells in the gun.
Forgot Seventh Shell
The gun exploded. according to his
statement, as he closed the chamber,
forgetting about the seventh shell.
Shot in the right breast, Mrs. Todd
ran into the front room and col
lapsed. She died few minutes later
Coroner Robinson said the bullet
! glanced downward causing death.
Lord have mercy; / was fooling
with that gun and I've shot my wife
just as was going to put it away"
Todd told Mrs. Lille Lynn, 228 w.
Ray ST.. and Mrs. Maude Thompson,
$40 Church ST.. when they ran into
the house after hearing the shot.
Becomes Hysterical
Todd became hysterical when po-
lice arrived. He told his story later
between sobs.
II loved her. I'd never have done
anything like that" he said.
The two children in the family
were out at play when the shooting
occurred. The son, Junior, 4, came
into the room where his mothers
body lay, as police were questioning
the father. Neighbors took him
away when he saw the body and
burst into tears.
John Mulvihill, 1910 S. Senata
Ave, Mrs. Todds. father, said he
met Todd on his way home a short
time before~the shooting and Todd
told him he was late because Of the
extra work. Mulvihill said he
warned Todd that the children must
be kept from playing in the street
or one of them would be struck by
dn duIO anu lLdSSQy NlolL IHO AdIll'
lily.
Afraid for Children
II knew something would hap
pen when he first brought that gun
into the house." Mulvihill said. II
was afraid one of the children would
get hold Of it and kill himself"
Mulvihill said his daughter and
her husband had had some domestic
trouble sometime ago, but that re-
GENTLY they have had no quarrels.
"Rucker and are getting along
so we'll. I'm so happy" Mrs. Todd
told them last week. Mrs. C. B. Fol-
som and Mrs. Helen England, S25
Church ST., said.
Married Five Years
The couple had been married five
years. Todd was employed by the
street car company in September OF
last year.
Sergeant volderauer and De-
tectives Russell and Conway made
the investigation at the home
Superintendent James P. Tretton
Of the street railway company said
he was unaware that any OF the
street car employees had been carry.
ing weapons since the strike.
The men have been warned not to,
he said.