Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-02-20
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
j eremiah Starnold Shoots Bridget Eagan
and Then Kills Himself.

MILWAUKEE, HSDIu Ii, 4CO4s -
A terrible double tragedy was enacted
at about IL o'clock last night on Huron
street, near Jackson, jeremiah A. Star
mold, the telegraph operator at the
Northwestern railroad depot, shooting
his betrothed wife, Bridget Eagan, the
pastry cook at the depot restaurant, and
then killing himself in the same man
ner. The couple had spent the evening
with the girls sister, Mrs. Charles d.
Manning, whose husband is a
fireman on the st. Paul road,
and who lives at 60 Eighth
street. They started for homo at 1870
o'clock, apparently on the most friendly
terms. Near the corner where the trag-
edy occurred they were seen conversing
together earnestly, when suddenly Star
mold drew q revolver and fired at the
girl, the ball entering her right cheek.
She sank on her knees, when he fired at
her agaiD, the shot taking effect about an
inch and half from the first. Both
balls entered about half an inch
below the right eye. The girl sank to
the ground unconscious, the blood flow
ing down her face.
Two more shots were heard and
entered the right side of his head near
the base of the brain. The mark of the
other bullet could not be discovered.
Dan McCaigue, who lives at the corner
Of Jackson and Huron streets, was an
eve witness of the tragedy. When
Officers O'ConnelI and Niezerowski, in
whose beat the shooting, arrived from
the corner of Jefferson and Detroit
streets. two blocks distant, where they
were standing when the shots
were fred. the woman was found
lying on the inner side of the
sidewalk, her head towards the fence.
Starnold was lying on the other
side, his head being near the gutter.
The revolver with which the shooting
was done was lying at his side, near his
right hand. On examination it proved
to be a five shooter, of 32-caliber. Only
one cartridge remained in the chamber.
A large crowd collected about the spot.
The patrol wagon was summoned and
the two lovers were taken to the central
police station and placed on mattresses
laid on the floor. DR.. Hasten was sum-
moned and the mans case was pro-
nounced hopeless. He died at 11:55
Miss Eagan was pronounced more hope
full, as her pulse was steadier. She was
taken to a room in the rear of the sta
tion-keeper's room.
Starnold had been employed at the
Northwestern depot for almost two years.
He was a quiet, gentlemanly fellow,
about 81 years old, and was well liked.
His father is said to be wealthy farmer
in Minnesota. Miss Eagan, who was
about % years of age, has been en-
ployed at the depot restaurant for ten
years. Her mother resides at Big Bend,
Waukesha county, and has quite fami-
" of grown-up children. Two of Miss
Eagan's sisters reside in this city, one
being the Mrs. Manning already men
toned. The other one is named Maggie,
and is employed as a domestic at Mrs.
Shadboldt's, on Marshall street.
The unfortunate young woman was at
tended by DR.. Fisher at the central sta
ton. She remained in an unconscious
condition all the morning, and was re-
ported dying at g o'clock. She was rem
dered as comfortable as possible under
the circumstances IN one Of the small
rooms in the women's ward, and every
thing that surgical skill could suggest
was done to alleviate her sutferings,
which were terrible in the extreme,
Mrs. Buchanan, the female attendant,
assisting the physicianin his task. Mrs.
Manning and Maggie Eagan, sisters of
Miss Eagan, and three or four intimate
lady acquaintance, occupied seats in the
hall leading to the room containing the
diving girl. The relatives were almost
oh IooI
grief and lamentations of Mrs. Manning
over the sad fate of her sister, from whom
last night she had parted at late hour
IN the best of health and spirits, being
pitifuI to witness. Mr.. Manning left at
an early hour this morning for Big
Bend, Waukesha County, in order to
break the sad news to Miss Eagan's par
ents and summon them to their daugh-
ter's death bed. Starnold's parents re-
side in small town 45 miles north of
st. Paul. on the Manitoba road. He
has been In the employ of the North
western road as night telegraph opera
tor for nearly two years, and was quite
popular among his friends. Miss Ea-
gan's friends are under the impression
that the murderer, who had repeatedly
proposed marriage, was finally equivo-
cally rejected owing to wide variance
IN their religious beliefs. Father Keogh,
of the Cathedral, administered the holy
sacrament to the dying girl early this
morning. Acting Coroner Wildish will
conduct the examination.
James @. MILAN, clerk IN the North
Western freight Office, who was an in
innate friend of Starnold, gave WIS
CoNsIN reporter to-day many interesting
fact regarding the latter's history and
habits. He was Of French descent, and
% years of age. His parents, brother
and two sisters reside at Becker, MINI.
After completing his education at Min
nesota academy, young Starnold taught
a district school In that state for a year
or two. He then went to GAINESVILLE,
this state, to study telegraphy, remain
ing there for several months. He sub
sequently went to Chicago and
obtained employment In the Western
Union Telegraph Office. In September,
1882. Starnold came to Milwaukee and
entered the employ of the Northwest
ern Road as night operator. Six
I,o 4~oTo sfo1~Y06 %O dow