Charles O. Tucker
Former Well-Known North Pharsalia Resident Killed at Seattle
Utica Saturday Globe, January,1910
Charles O. Tucker
1864 - 1910
Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]: Relatives in town received a message this week from Seattle, Wash., informing them of the death of Charles O. Tucker, a former resident of North Pharsalia [Chenango Co., NY] and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abner Tucker of that place. The message gave very little particulars regarding Mr. Tucker's death except that he was shot and killed. Deceased was 45 years of age and was born in North Pharsalia and went west about 20 years ago. He was a successful business man and had been engaged in various business enterprises during his residence in the west and for the past few years had conducted a furniture store in Seattle. His wife, whom he married there, died about a year ago leaving one daughter, Celestine. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Tucker; two brothers, George, of North Pharsalia, and Hubert, of Norwich, and a sister, Mrs. Phoebe E. Newton, also of this village.
Bullet Avenges Woman's Wrongs
Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington), January 25, 1910
Seattle Wash., Jan. 25: The bodies of Charles O. Tucker, proprietor of the Northwest Furniture co., and a young woman named Bunkleman were found in a room in the McLeod hotel yesterday with conclusive evidence that the woman had killed Tucker and than herself. Tucker was shot through the heart, Miss Bunkleman through the brain.
The couple had not been seen since they went to the room Friday night. At 10:30 o'clock that night two shots were heard in the hotel, but no investigation was made.
Tucker came into disagreeable notoriety last October at the time of the death of Lorraine LeMoine, a Frenchwoman who, according to stories printed here, lived with Tucker for years and was discarded by him after he had obtained from her a fortune which she had inherited. Tucker made no denial of the stories, contenting himself with saying that the woman had no legal claim on him, as he had not married her and further, that their 8-year-old child had no legal claim on him.
Miss Bunkleman was 25 years old and handsome. Her parents live in the southwestern part of the city. She had been seen much in Tucker's company during the past two years. Evidently she had gone to Tucker's room prepared to kill him. She had not removed her hat or street garments, except that she had taken off the glove of her right hand, which held a small pistol. The woman had fired three times, the first shot at Tucker missing him. The bodies lay on the floor where they had fallen.
Tucker came to Seattle from St Louis with Lorraine Le Moin more than ten years ago. According to the story she told her attorney she belonged to an old St. Louis family and was a niece of Mrs. Philip Rohan and Mr. John Rohan, wealthy and prominent there. On the death of her parents, she said, she became a ward of General William T. Sherman, and after his death she went to live with an aunt and was placed in a Catholic school in St. Louis. While at school she became infatuated with Tucker and went to live with him. She gave him, she said, $20,000 which she had inherited, and with this money he founded a dairy when they came to Seattle. He prospered in business, but treated the woman cruelly, she said, and four years ago she sued him for a divorce. Tucker's defense was that they had never been married. He made some sort of settlement with her. She went out to work at the most menial tasks, developed an appetite for liquor, and died of alcoholism October 17 in a squalid lodging house where, clad in rags, she had begged shelter, saying she was dying. She cared for her child to the last. Tucker was about 42 years old and his fortune is estimated at $80,000. He conducted a large furniture store, and has been successful in all business affairs.
Charles O. Tucker, proprietor of the Northwest Furniture Company of 2321 First Avenue, despoiler of the name and fortune of Lorraine Le Moin a pretty French heiress who died of alcoholism last October because he had thrown her aside and disowned their 8-year-old child, met retribution last Friday night, when he was shot through the heart by Miss Bunkleman, of Southeast Seattle. The girl then turned the weapon on herself and sent a bullet into her brain.
The dead bodies of Tucker and Miss Bunkleman were found at the McLeod Hotel, 2225 First Avenue at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Evidences of the time of the tragedy were furnished by the testimony of Mrs. Mary Doyle, proprietor of the hotel, and several boarders, who had heard the shots at 10:30 Friday night. At that time the electric lights also went out in the house and it was thought that these reports were due to the blowing out of the plugs.
Deputy Coroner William Borthwick was the first on the scene after the discovery. With the assistance of City Detectives Hudson C. Adams and Frank Clark he made an investigation and discovered that the woman had fired one bullet into the heart of Tucker, but that the other must have missed its mark. The third shot was reserved for her own undoing.
Under the form of the fallen man, who had broken a floor jar in his descent, was found a $10 gold piece. The police are inclined to the belief that this piece of money may have been the immediate cause of the falling out which terminated so tragically. Other evidence shows that it was the end of an infatuation the girl had for Tucker for more than two years.
That she was prepared for the deed if her demand, whatever it was, was not complied with by Tucker, is further evidenced by the fact that she had not removed her hat and was attired in a street costume. She had removed the glove of her right hand, the one with which she used the gun, a cheap 32-caliber affair.
The discovery of the tragedy was brought about through the search of two employees of Tucker's who were at a loss to explain his absence from his store since last Friday. They had at first believed he was at Irondale, but when this was disproved this morning, they went to his hotel quarters at the McLeod and there unfolded the story of Tucker's death and that of the girl.
The girl's given name was not known to either of the young men or to the proprietor of the hotel, and the only information they could give the officers was that she was a resident of Southeast Seattle. On the dresser of the room was found the photograph of Miss Bunkleman and also a photograph of Celestine Marie Le Moin, the child of Tucker's union with Lorraine Le Moin, the woman who was driven to drink and a drunkard's grave by the man's cruelty.
The coroner and the police are looking for the motive of the tragedy. While at first glance there appears to have been a trivial quarrel, yet the authorities feel that there was trouble between the pair for some time, the fact that the girl armed herself leading the police to believe that she was awaiting a favorable opportunity to take Tucker's life and her own.
Miss Bunkleman was about 25 years of age, and was a tall brunette of pronounced beauty.
Funeral services for Elvira M. Bunkelman were held at Butterworth & Sons chapel at 10 o'clock this morning. Interment was at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Charles O. Tucker whom Miss Bunkelman is claimed to have shot and killed before ending her own life the night of Friday, January 21, at the McLeod Hotel on First Avenue, was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery last Friday. Tucker was proprietor and manager of the Northwest Furniture Company.
Seattle Daily Times, January 24, 1910
Charles O. Tucker, proprietor of the Northwest Furniture Company of 2321 First Avenue, despoiler of the name and fortune of Lorraine Le Moin a pretty French heiress who died of alcoholism last October because he had thrown her aside and disowned their 8-year-old child, met retribution last Friday night, when he was shot through the heart by Miss Bunkleman, of Southeast Seattle. The girl then turned the weapon on herself and sent a bullet into her brain.
The dead bodies of Tucker and Miss Bunkleman were found at the McLeod Hotel, 2225 First Avenue at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Evidences of the time of the tragedy were furnished by the testimony of Mrs. Mary Doyle, proprietor of the hotel, and several boarders, who had heard the shots at 10:30 Friday night. At that time the electric lights also went out in the house and it was thought that these reports were due to the blowing out of the plugs.
Deputy Coroner William Borthwick was the first on the scene after the discovery. With the assistance of City Detectives Hudson C. Adams and Frank Clark he made an investigation and discovered that the woman had fired one bullet into the heart of Tucker, but that the other must have missed its mark. The third shot was reserved for her own undoing.
Under the form of the fallen man, who had broken a floor jar in his descent, was found a $10 gold piece. The police are inclined to the belief that this piece of money may have been the immediate cause of the falling out which terminated so tragically. Other evidence shows that it was the end of an infatuation the girl had for Tucker for more than two years.
That she was prepared for the deed if her demand, whatever it was, was not complied with by Tucker, is further evidenced by the fact that she had not removed her hat and was attired in a street costume. She had removed the glove of her right hand, the one with which she used the gun, a cheap 32-caliber affair.
The discovery of the tragedy was brought about through the search of two employees of Tucker's who were at a loss to explain his absence from his store since last Friday. They had at first believed he was at Irondale, but when this was disproved this morning, they went to his hotel quarters at the McLeod and there unfolded the story of Tucker's death and that of the girl.
The girl's given name was not known to either of the young men or to the proprietor of the hotel, and the only information they could give the officers was that she was a resident of Southeast Seattle. On the dresser of the room was found the photograph of Miss Bunkleman and also a photograph of Celestine Marie Le Moin, the child of Tucker's union with Lorraine Le Moin, the woman who was driven to drink and a drunkard's grave by the man's cruelty.
The coroner and the police are looking for the motive of the tragedy. While at first glance there appears to have been a trivial quarrel, yet the authorities feel that there was trouble between the pair for some time, the fact that the girl armed herself leading the police to believe that she was awaiting a favorable opportunity to take Tucker's life and her own.
Miss Bunkleman was about 25 years of age, and was a tall brunette of pronounced beauty.
Seattle Daily Times, January 31, 1910
Funeral services for Elvira M. Bunkelman were held at Butterworth & Sons chapel at 10 o'clock this morning. Interment was at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Charles O. Tucker whom Miss Bunkelman is claimed to have shot and killed before ending her own life the night of Friday, January 21, at the McLeod Hotel on First Avenue, was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery last Friday. Tucker was proprietor and manager of the Northwest Furniture Company.
Strong Words by Judge in Tucker Case
Seattle Daily Times, February 14, 1910
"A lot of ghouls and vultures around the dead body of a worthless father." is the manner in which Judge R.H. Lindsay, today in the superior court referred to the various litigants in the matter of the administration of the estate of Charles O. Tucker, a furniture dealer, who, some weeks ago met his death at the hands of Elvira Bunkelman.
"Since this man was killed," continued judge Lindsay, "my desk has been littered with correspondence from people in the Eastern States and from some who live in Seattle, all of whom want to do something for Celestine Le Moine, the unfortunate little child of Tucker's. I am disgusted, that is the only word I can use in reference to the whole affair. When poor little Celestine hadn't a cent to her name , nobody would do anything for her and she was an object of charity, but now that there are a few dollars in sight, they all want to do something for her." Judge Lindsay then called Celestine into his private chambers, and on returning to the bench announced that he would hear all of the partitions relative to the case at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon.
As the case stands at present, there are two petitioners for appointment as guardians of little Celestine and two petitioners for appointment as administrators of the estate. James E. McGraw, who claims to have been attorney for Lorraine Le Moine, the mother of Celestine, is an applicant for guardianship, and it was stated in court this morning that Father J.E. O'Brien, of the Chruch of the Sacred Heart, also is as applicant for guardianship. William Voight, one of the creditors of the estate, seeks to be appointed administrator, and also J.C. Norton, president of the University State Bank, who represents creditors, and also Abner and Laura Tucker, the parents of Charles O. Tucker have been mentioned as prospective administrators.
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