Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-01
The CURTAIN FALLS
Upon the Prison Scene In the Life
of Theresa Sturla.
WILL SHE RESUME HER OLD LIFE;
A Correspondent Sketches Her Career o
Mingled Crime, Love and Suffering
and Her Dramatic Tria!
For Murder.
Special 10 tie REGISTER.

For Murder.
Special to tie Register.
JOLIET, ILL, November 30.-No woman
ever confined in the State prison at this
place has attracted such wide interest and
sympathy as Theresa Sturla, better known
as Madeline Stiles, who was discharged
from the Penitentiary last evening. Less
than eleven months after numbering Charles
Stiles in the Palmer House, at Chicago,
she is free woman with ample means and
hosts of friends willing and ready to help
her to lead better life. Her brothers in
Baltimore have already placed money to
her credit in one OF the banks of this city
and it is more than probable that in the
future she will make her home with them.
While there may be few queens Of gilded
| palaces of sin, or few men OF doubtful
| principles and fast proclivties waiting to
entrap her and induce her TO continue a
life of shame, all reports that such is the
case have no creditab!e foundation. Your
correspondent through Off ial sources
learned that the unfortunate girl was
heartily sick OF the life she had previously
lead and disgusted with its degrading con-
sequences; that she had firmly resolved to
turn her back upon her former associa.
tons and lead moral, secluded life.
Whether her
Hot Blood and Passionate Italian Ma.
ture
will permi: her 10 carry out her resolution,
, or whether, when she encounters the heart
less jibes and mockjng frowns OF an un-
charitable society, she will change her
mind and throw herself into the Elusive
pleasures OF the demi.monde remains 10 be
seen. The fiery Sturla has many thorny
paths to tread, against which her impul.
sive heart may oft rebel, so that it is dim
cult to fortell The future course OF the frail,
high strung brunette.
The story # III aresa SturIs's life, says the
Philadelphia Press, eliminating in TRACE
iy OF intense dramatic interest, is one o.!
mingled crime, love and suffering. Ii is
,neXtricably entangled with the life OF the
nan ste murdered, Of whom some sketch
:, Therefore, necessary. Young Stiles, the
son OF General Stiles, passed two years IN
the gay capitals Of Europe while yet boy,
aud came to this city a social lion. He
soon, however, threw of all restraints OF
society and
Became an Abandoned Roue
and gambler. He speculated recklessly
| in the Board OF Trade and made and lost
large sums of money. He became caller OF
| the Board, and also developed great skill as
pool seller 1t was while following the
races eight years ago that he met, in Balti'
| more, the woman who killed him. She was
engaged TO be married 10 a young man in
| that city, but he acquired such al influence
| over her that he easily persuaded her 10
| become his mistress aud follow him 10 this
| city.
Here she lived with him as his wife.
| They were a strange couple, now rolling IN
| wealth, and now pawning jewe!ry Tor food.
| Losing All Idea OF Honor.
he frequently forced her into nameless
trade. for the purpose Of supplying him
| with money. He abused her shameiulIy.
She had a Jealous and violent temper and
| be would frequently, for his own bruta!
| amusement tease her into madness and
| then beat her into COwed submission. His
| cruelty to her seems 10 have been OF the
| most wanton kind. He would choke her,
| beat her and kick her about the room. On
| one occasion he drove with her 10 the lake
| and threatened TO kill her. She begged
| for mercy, and he made her swear in the
midst OF a violent thunder storm al.
ways to BE- true TO him. and then he would
sgain
| Force Her Into Prostitution.
Here is her story of the murder, told in
her own word:
Sunday afternoon We went out TO the
| South Park together on the cable cars
We returned early, hired horse and bug
gy, and went 10 spend the evening at
| downing Hotel, at Sunnyside. He stopped
| On the way to drink beer 81 wan TO drink
lots OIL, ,"Ie said, "for wan; to yet up
| fight with you thought he was Jnkn'
While We were eating at lloTnine's h.
| said DO you know | feel Ike killing
| YOU" laughed so hard nearly choke !,
| aud when Mrs Downing entered the room
Charley began TO laugh TO. lie wanted me
| 10 drink beer, but wouldn't. He took II
| blmseli and then asked me for 800. ltlid
| could not let him have it, but, il he was
| broke, ! would pay for The supper. re
| member that
PuI NV Arms AbOnt His Neck and
kissed Him.
At half past 9 o clock lie ran out OF tn
room. saving he would leave me, aud he
iumr,G into the buggy and drove Off He
.rl n.e alone there to walk home through
IA, r.Ll and ran. had 10 go three miles
uu foot ,urOugh the storm before | reached
;he sjI,', cars. ny God, / said TO myself
wi! ! yer go without a revolver again.
VAS !'rsid Il tramps. When / reached
home said to myself | will leave him
forever The rning. will 90 to him
sEd .ay - hares We must separate. R'-
membsr, have been a good wife to you
You Will have one picture in your mind AS
long as you iive-the picture OF your fathe er
diving in my arms" That's what ] in.
tended to say TO him. So got up early
the next morning and started for the
Palmer House. I took my pistol with me;
but didn't intend to kill him. | wanted
to kiss him goodby.
knocked az the Door.
and heard him ask: Who's there" "a
messenger boy with letter" said. He
opeped the door, ard said IFS me"
He let me in and said, Charley, we've
got 10 separate. I'm going back to Vat
sons" "D-n you he said, you IL
never go back" and be pushed Inc on the
sofa. broke away from him, and he
| knocked me down and kicked me in the
side. was blind and dszed when got
| up. and he choked me. He threw me back
on the table and pulled the revolver out
of my pocket. Look out Charley. said
I, i've got pistol pointing at you" He
| sti,! choked me, sEd then, don't know
Low, but the pistol went OF. They tell me
\ | followed him and fred again. ] don't
| remember. Sometimes | can't remember
| anything. And they say ! took his head
il my lap and kissed him when be was
Lying Dead In the Hall,
| but don't remem ber-I don't indeed.
| can't realize il row. can't believe that i:
happened. wish could cry, but | don't
| know how" =,
Her lips parted slowly in q smile, aud
she laughed musicsliy. 1t seemed Ike a
| CHASTITY climax to the tale that she should
| end il with q laugh.
Her trial, which took place sbou. year
| ego, attracted the utmost interest. Stiles
| who was go we'll known that bis death