Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-12-16
MANsLAUGHTER.
Teresa SturIa to be Ssnt to the
Penltsntiary for One Year.
The Story of Her Stormy Life with Charley
Stiles, the Fast and Loose Young
Man Whom She Shot
and Killed.
A HARVEST DAY FOR THE HANG MAN

CWcaso. Asesmber I5.-At 10:30 o'clock
this morning the jlry ia ne Jury in the
sss6 & rersss stssl 1ssse ilis3 Coaft and
YenSeted verdict That sfe H5s gsyga.s y
manslAughter and that the aisli5qent be
one year III ths pehi leutiaIy. A motion
for new trial was entered.
The crime for which tie yo4nE Yema1
was tried was comfhitted A. the Palmer
Honse, in this city, ON the Tornlng OF the
10th of July last, the victim ot her her mar--
he was best known-a man about thirty
five years of age, and the son OF Gen. Z. B.
Stiles, man once prominent in the point
ical and business circles OF Illinois. bis
early life, by the indulgence OF wealthy
father, was spent in Europe, where he
learned both the French and German
languages, and with other young men OF
his class led a gay career at several for'
eign capitals. On returning to this coun-
try he engaged in speculations on the Uni
cago Board of Trade, making and losing
large sums of money, and acquiring habits
that made him at twenty-three confirmed
gambler and one of the fastest men IN the
city, in all that the term implies. For
some time he was pool-seller on racing
circuit; and, finally, coming back to CHI
cago about four years ago, he was MADE
caller of the call-board at salary OF So,oVO
a year. His
Fxtravagant Habits
still continued, however. and he was most
of the time involved in debt and driven to
questionable devices for supplying his
wants. Everybody knew HIM and he
knew everybody, but he never gained the
respect of self-respecting men.
Teresa Sturla is a girl whom Stiles came
-, D,1,; thaU had
eral years sustained the relations OF hus-
band and wife. 1t was a case OF mutual
infatuation apparently, though in time
Teresa became much more his slave than
his mistress, and, in proportion as he tired
Of her. he began to abuse her, frequently
using personal violence in his fits Of PCS
sion, Knocking her down and threatening
to shoot her. These little episodes were
well known to those who knew the par
ties; yet the girl, who came to be known
as Madeline Stiles, appeared to idolize her
lover, and though of an irritable and i'm
perious temper, was very forgiving.
The Sunday night before the Monday on
which the shooting occurred the TWO rode
out to Sunnysi6e, hotel at the north end
of the city, and had supper. He was out OF
money, as usual, and she paid for the re-
freshments. They were at first in good
spirits, but it was not long before they
quarreled. He ordered his horses, and, ex-
cusing himself for a moment, entered the
carriage and drove away, leaving the girl
there alone. A furious rain storm was
raging. She became tired OF waiting for
him, and was informed that he had gone.
Her Anger
was indescribable. Hiring Chore boy to
accompany her, she started out on foot to
walk to the city through the darkness and
storm. She was terribly agitated, and the
strange pair proceeded in silence for some
time. She had hold of the boys hand.
This settles it," she finally said, in
meditative way, as she ,sPlashed through
the mud. al have loved that man since
was fourteen years old, and have sacrificed
everything for him.
Thereupon she seems to have vowed ven
geance not only for this outrage, but for the
long series of wrongs which he had helped
upon her. 1t was in this mood that she
doubtless went to the Palmer House on the
fatal morning in question, though in her
subsequent account of the tragedy, she says
that it was not her intention to kill the
man. While in Jail she has been visited by
many of the most highly respected and
benevolent ladies Of Chicago, to whom she
has talked Of the matter freely. To one OF
her visitors she related the following;
when ] got home from Sunnyside that
night in the storm l said to myself, 4 will
leave him forever in the morning. l will
go to him and say,
Charley, We Must Separate.
Remember, I've been good wife to you.
You will have one picture in your mind
as long as you live-the picture of your
old father dying in my arms That's
what intended TO say to him. So | got
up early and started for the Palmer House.
! took my pistol with me-a pistol that l
have had for years. But didn't intend to
kill him. ! wanted to kiss him good-by. l
knocked at the door and l heard him ask,
Who's there" : A messenger boy with a
letter said. He let me in, and l said,
Charley, we've got to separate D
you he said, and he pushed me on the
sofa. l broke away from him,
and he knocked me down. |
was blinded and dazed when
got up, and then he choked me. He threw
volver from my pocket. Look out,
CHARLIE said l, 'Pye got pistol pointing
at YOU lie still Choked me- and then
and then-l don't know how, but the pistol
went off. can't realize it now. can't
believe that it happened at all. l wish l
could cry, but don't know how" and her
lips parted slowly into a smile, and she
laughed musically. 1t seemed like a
CHASTITY climax to the tale that she should
end it with a laugh.
The trial attracted immense crowds OF
people from every walk in life. The pris.
Oner sat motionleSs during the session of
court with her face heavily veiled. Only
once did the public see her features, and
then monentarily. The defense was in
sanity and self.defense.