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LATESTImportant Cable And Telegraphic News.SPECIALS TO THE DEMOCRAT-THECOPELAND-BRUNING SHOOTINGA FULL ACCOUNT OF Till] II IMiORABIiE AFFAIRAh Given l»y Those Present, at. the Hliootiiitf. Brunlnit’s Wound Not Neeessnrlly Fatal—Copelnntl Out on Ilail fcaml Will Re Home This Evening.Yesterday as the Democrat went to press the city was set in furor of excitement over a dispatch from Indianapolis announcing the fact that Wm. II. Copeland, attorney of this eity had shot his brother-in-law, Wm. M. Bruning, and also his attorney Atldison C. Harris, in that eity. The press was stopped anti a brief mention made of the tragedy. Today we give full particulars of the sad affair.The offices in whieh the shooting occurred are in the Wright block, (ISAridge in his pistol, and Miller’s first attempt was to tie Copeland’s arms, so that he could not use the weapon. Mr. Winter had meantime come to the assistance of Mr. Miller. Finally Mr. Miller wrapp'd both arms around Copeland’s body, pinioning his arms to his side, and after a desperate struggle, forced him into a corner, with his head against the office safe. There Copeland struggled witli the ferocity of a maniac. They were in this position for several minutes, Mr. Bruning in the meantime offering incidental assistance while the blood poured from his wounds. Mr. Harris also came out, and with one uninjured arm sought to prevent further violence.Very opportunely Supt. of Police Powell came into the room.Mr. Powell taking in the situation, seized the revolver from Copeland and placed him under arrest. Messengers were dispatched for doctors and the patrol wagon summoned.Mr. Harris, meantime, was conducted down stairs to the office of the Union Trust Company. Hen* I)r. Marseo found him and attended to the wounds.Mr. Bruning was taken to the doctor’s office. He had been struck by two ot the bullets one of wtdch made a flesh wound in the left lower arm, which is painful but not serious. The other hullet entered at the side of the chin and fractured the lower j»w.Mr. Bruning picked the bullet out from where it had lodged against his teeth.□□□?' tr.□Mr. Harris’ Story.Mr. Harris, gave ilie following account of the shooting: “As theFederal Court adjourned Mr. Co|mv-land, of Madison, for wlio.se wife I have two or three lawsuits in the Federal Court, came to set; me. Notice had been given for the biking of depositions at Madison bxlay or tomorrow before W. P. Fish back, master in chancery. Mr. Winter is on one side of the case and I am on the other. I asked Mr. Copeland what was the matter and he said that Mr. Ivorbly had said thedespositions could not be taken today; that the notice was not ready. I said that M r Korbly was here, let us go over to Mr. Winter’s office and have the matter arranged. I suspect I was a little petulant with Mr. Copeland. When we came to Mr. Winter’s office tin* defendant—I cannot now recall his name—was sitting in a chair. Mr. Korbly was also there and Mr. Wintei was there. I walked in ahead and went up to shake hands with tlu* defendant. At that moment my client ran ahead, drew his pistol and began to tire. He fired one shot. I threw my hands around him from behind. I had his arms tightly down but with nis right hand he fired andMr. Bruning was at that time sitting in a chair near the window and Mr. Korbly was sbmding near another window in the front of my of-1 flee. As Mr. Harris came in, and I could seni who accompanied him, I; rose from* the chair, and stepped up ' to him and said: ‘How do you do,Mr,' Co|cland? bknew you in the Login lature of 1885.’ I shook hands with him. Hojlookedat me and half nodded, but he dul not reply. As soon as I released his hand he drew a revolver like a*flash and firetl at Mr. Bruning, who jumped up. He followed it by another shot, and yet another, and then some one jumped at at CojH'land, and there was a scuttle and another shot fired, and all was 1 confusion. Mr. Bruning ran from: the trout room into the middle room,: and Copeland broke away from those j who held him, followed Bruning into J the inside room and tired another j shot. At this moment Mr. Miller, caught him by the collar and pulled him back. Other people ruslasl in, I grubbed him, and we got him to the floor. Then the door hurst open again and Superintendent Powell came in j and wrested the revolver from the, man’s hands. Mr. Bruning was struck by one shot in the jaw, which was broken, and one bullet lodged in bis left arm. I did not know that Mr. Harris was hit until it was all over.”Copeland married Bruning’s sister in 188f. He was in the Legislature. The family was opposed to his marrying Clara. She went to visit a cousin in Iowa, and it was arranged between Copeland and her that he was to meet her there, and they would he married. The old folks heard of this ajrangement in some way, and, though they were bitterly opposed to the mutch, they chose the least oftwo evils and consented to the marriage taking place at home. Clara Bruning came home and was married to CbpnJand in September, IHHo.J didn’t understand that there was any tiouhle until these suits were brought. Copeland and his wife lived with his wife’s father and mother at Madison until the parents died. She brought these sui's in 185):}, but, of course,there had been bad blood between the members of the family before these suits got into court. They tried in every way to come to some compromise, and it was only when it was found that neither side would make concessions that these suits were brought. Both Mr. Harris and I tried to get the thing settled jieaoeably, as it was strictly a family affair. That’s all I know about the affair.”Highest of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. Sb Gov’t Repot*jsszsm absolutely purslw.4 ..... 4 1.........I. 41,„ .......M r. Korri.v’s St at km knt.Mr Korbly, gning a brief history of the shooting, said: “Mr Bruning formerly lived at Madison, hut now lives in New York city. He is awill to set it aside, and also to set aside the deed that tie had fraudulently obtained. He took my wife to New York with him, where he was in business with the Union Co tree Company. He was trying to seperatc us, and he did everytliing in his power possible to bring such a thing about. He kept her in New York four months against her will, and threatened if siie left him he would have nothing more to do with her, and she would have to get along the best she knew how. He would not let her come hack to inc. My wile lias been in mortal tear of her brother ever since we were married, and I never understood why she was so completely in his power until this morning. Today my wife made an astounding statement, giving reason why she had lieen afraid of her brother from her youth.“I came to Indianapolis to see Mr. Harris about fixing a day for taking proof in our eases before Mr.Fisliback. I came here at the suggestion of Mr. Allison and Mr. Bear, our attorneys at Madison. As soon as I arrives I here I went to Mr. Harris office. I was told that he was in the United States court room, and I went over there. 1 waited until court had adjourned, and then I saw Mr. Harris. He took me across the street to some one’s office,! don’t know whose office it was, I know we went up a stairway and walkeel into a room. All I remember is.I saw that vidian seated in a corner, I did not know that he was in town, or had any idea of meet itig him. llej seemed to rise right up toward me, and I don’t remember what was done or who was in the room. I could see no one but him. I know a lot of men pushed me into a corner and hurt me. The amount involved in the cases is about fifty thousand dollars in real estate, and from seventy-five thousand to one hundred thousand dollars in the partnership matters.”Mr. Bear’s Story.Ferry E Bear, one of Mrs Copeland's attorneys, started for Indianapolis on the morning train. Arriving at Nortli Madison lie was met■ 4 1, .. 4,.1/wclaiming that ho was simply trying to put olf the deposition until it was too late to get them in and then have the case thrown out of court.The consultation resulted in advice to Mr. Coiclaiid to proceed to Indianapolis yesterday morning to see the lawyers there and have the case continued so us to give plaintiff* more time to got in her evidence, and also to set a time, agreed to and signed by theattornics on both sides, when the deposition should lo taken here.Mr. Korbly had claimed to methat he was going to Indianapolis on business other than this case, but we * did not believe him, the terrible result proving we were right.None of us knew that Mr. Bruning was in Indiana|M)lis, and we did not know it when Mr.Copeland went to that city yesterday on my advice. I think Mr. Korbly is very largely to blame in this affair and that he was trying to take an unfair advantage of my client. Mr. Copeland went to Indianapo.is on the morning train yesterday and going to the Attorney’s office saw Bruning and Korbly there. The result is known.Mrs. Copeland left on the train yesterday evening for Indianapolis when learning of the shooting.Mrs. Copeland consented to an interview last night and to a Sentinel reporter told the story of her unhappy life since her marriage. She corroborates her husband’s story in every particular and says she believes the direct cause of the shooting was on account of a story she told her husband shortly before he took a train for the city yesterday morning. She said she kept him in complete ignorance of the affair until yesterday when she told him the whole story.At the time the alleged crime is supposed to have boon committed she was seven *1 and her brother thirteen years ot age. She further stated that since the cases have been pending in court she has been annoyed on several occasions by her brother. who several times disguised him-selfand lurked about her home. She said that cn one or two occasions he attempted to break into the house and once succeeded in doing so. but
Newspaper Details
Madison Twice a Week Democrat
Madison, Indiana, US
Fri, Apr 20, 1894
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
John N.
USA 31 Aug 2023
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