The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-03
THE STURLA-STILES TRIAL.
THE STRANGE STORY THAT rs TOLD
IN CHICAGO COURT ROOM.

THE STRANGE STORY THAT ~ TOLD
IN A CHICAGO COURT ROOM:
The Passionate Love 81 . Girl netsrsea
with the Meet Brutal Crueity-The Thrill.
ling Narrative OF Theresa sturla's Life
with Charley stiies-Its Tragic End.
CHICAGO, Nov. 3O.-Most murder trials in
Chicago arc commonplace enough. Tho one
now in progress in the Criminal Court. how
ever, is striking exception. 1t Is the sequel
to a crime. the causes leading up to which rival
In interest the most thrilling romance.
ATT O'Clock on tho morning OF July 10 last
styllshly dressed young woman knocked at the
door Of tho room in tho Palmer House occupied
by Charles stiles. He was yet In bod. but on
being informed by tho person outside that
messenger wished to see him he turned the
key and the young woman entered. People
in an adjoining room heard a few high
words and then two pistol shots. Rushing into
the hall they found Stiles lying dead in the
doorway. and the young woman kneeling by
his side. stroking his hair and passicnately
kissing his colorless lips. She was promptly
removed to the county jail. where she gave her
name as Madeline Stiles. aged 81 years. She
expressed no regret for what she had done.
and In reply to some reproaches simply said
that the law would have to take its course.
Charley" Stiles as he was called. was 80
years Of age. He was son Of Con. T. d. Stiles.
q man once prominent In political and bus-
ness circles in illinois, Measured by gaslight
experience. Stiles had lived Q hundred years,
He was the typical man about town. and prob
ably the best representative In this city Of that
adventurous class who live only for to-day.
His youth was passed in Europe, whittier he
went when only IA years old. He had
for companions several boys, who. like himself.
most III their onporttnities in the CAV On pitais
q the Continent While abroad stiles mastered
German and French, and 70 the day OF his us
tongue. Returning to Chicago he engaged
with his father In speculation on the Board OF
by the time he was. as years old he was a con-
ilrmed gambler and IFS fast g man as there was
M e s s1i hs
self an outcast. Having taken q fancy ior
a Quite na@o ier himsslt II that line. ana &c:
GA Sens ss Ssss 81
Th IN a. ah s 9SS
Killed him. She was then young but singu-
SIiy SsaStI9l gIE whose real r, name e wa.
ried. but. meeting, Stiles she, became infatu-
ated with him. as he did with her. and they
Gc Conn 70 GSicaro four years ago he was made
about s.. OOO His ungoyernabe propensity Tor
over heels in debt ten months out Of the. twelve.
His enTa 81 fs sds wheS he % could mott
obtained in any other way, but there was very
little in between him and the per
everybody but there rev was ne no fellowship BE-
tween him and self respecting men.
and h ha asaRss Is 0e Mss S
known. He had knocked her down in the
streets. had ehoked her in the theatres. and
| was passionate and imperious. but very forgiv-
ing. She idolized him and he knew n but he
to have done many things to excite her. simply
shs 81 seE 10
| She was his willing slave. Wherever he went
Sn her, sn sGs se
ssS sS i SS ss .ssS ana s.
delivered to him, he reProached her with un:
ens eesaso aa mt the sde fRs
next day, he told her he didn't mean 1t. and she
her with which to gamble. promising to pay
her when he made, Q big stake. Instead Of re-
the Tad
came to beiievSe s' that Whisky was The
sossa Scare She Bought satin
dress. and had reaches. lizards. snakes. spiders
sSs 81
into repentance. but he only Laughed. She
Ing: Before this she. would kneei and pray
4 year or two ngo. she furnished q fiat nicely
and went to keeping house for him. l Se;ns
xork: and sppearsd! 70 bs the = 5aepies. woman
some business. and boarded with her. He was
6in TO- lss yS.ri hsr. S ana one , 81 then ~
home which she had made. Stiles himself re-
his h; Of her and She re-
made out Of Sess. carrots and caSbass leaves
hours At tho Cali Board Stiles Went to The
the cirl. they f Induced her GH to give up 81.
letters and photographs and to pTSHlse thu
later they found him in her Company. He T ep
q room at the Palmer House. but was with bel
The sunday night before the Monday OF
which the shooting occurred the two rode ou
to Sunnyside. hotel at the north end OF the
usual. and She paid for the refreshments. The; @,
were at first in good spirits but 1t was not loni
before they Quarrcllsd. Ho ordered his horses
the carriage and drove away, leaving the sir
there alone. A furious rain storm WAS raging
She became tired Of waiting for him. and wa!
informed that he had gone. Her anger wa
indescribable. Hiring a chore boy to ao
company her. she started out on foot to walk L
the city through the darkness and storm. Sh,
WAS terribly agitated. and the strange pair pro
oE s She had he'll
said. in q meditatiye way as she splashet
through tho mud. have loved that man sine,
was IA years old and have sacrificed every
thing for him." When they reached Gracelan,
Cemetery they learned that the nearest con
ysyansY9, could be secured ,rs A. DIyeys{ street
running for the night. The boy at thi
point OF the story drew q feeling picture
It had ceased raining for . few moments
he said. and the shafts Of marble In the grave
yard attracted the girls attention. - wish ]
was over there tonight for am worse thai
dead" she gasped: At .Dlversey street the cir
alone. Tho girl reached her lodgings In pitt
full plight. Early the next morning she mad
her toilet carefully. and going to the Paine
House. shot Stiles dead She claims that sh,
went there to have y SETTLEMENT forever will
him, and had no intention OF shooting him. HI
swore ut her however. and choked her, an!
| abe remn mhe rinQ her All fferinU for him fired