Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1920 — TAXICAB DRIVER SHOT BY HIS FORMER WIFE [ARTICLE]

TAXICAB DRIVER SHOT BY HIS FORMER WIFE

Lafayette, Ind., June 4.— A driverless taxicab, coasting backward down Columbia street hill late yesterday afternoon, revealed-a tragedy when it stopped after a collission with another car standing near the curb at the foot of the incline. The bleeding and unconscious forms of Guy McLaughlin, age twentyseven, driver of the taxi, who had been shot and seriously wounded by his former wife. Pearl Mansfield McLaughlin, who had then_ turned the revolver on herself and inflicted a scalp wound, were found in the machine. Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin were divorced in 1917, a short time after McLaughlin entered the army. Last week McLaughlin married Miss Anna Billharz ,of Louisville, with whom he became acquainted while he was in the military servicp at Camp Zachary Taylor. “I was working at a skirt factory here today,” the police say Mrs. MAT .anghlin told them, “when I cortceived the idea of shooting Guy and myself. I drew some of the pay I had coming and bought the revolver at a second-hand stpre. That Was only an hour before I called the taxicab, I made up my mind I would kill Guy and end my own life. Now I trust he will recover and I only wish I could die.” The police say that Mrs. McLaughlin called the taxi office where McLaughlin was employed and asked that he be sent to Sixth and Main street. When he arrived he met his former wife and she told him to drive her to her parents’ home. She got in the rear seat of the machine and after the taxi had gone several blocks, the police sayy she took the revolver from a bundle she carried and fired from behind at her former husband, the bullet entering his right temple. He collapsed and the woman then turned the revolver on herself, evidently in an attempt to end her own life. Physicians removed the bullet from McLaughlin’s brain today.