The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-29
THE NEW ALBANY TRAGEDY.
The Relations Between the Dead Nan and Mrs.
Strunk-Further Particulars.

heporS III LOUISVILLE Courler-JoulnaI
Mrs Myra Strunk, the pretty wife of the slayer
of young Hoover. is at the bottom of the tragedy
OF yesterday.
Prof Strunk came to New Albany about if-
teen years ago from some place IN Pennsylvania.
He established the New Albany Business College.
and rapidly grew in the estimation of the people
and in wealth. He is to-day worth about $40,
600. In a few years he married Myra Sullivan,
one of the most prominent bellies of the town.
The union was considered an excellent one,
and the married life of the young people
was exceptionally happy. Two children, daugh-
ters, aged eight and ten years, were
born to them and all went we'll Professor Strunk
was church member a teetotaler, upright in
all his dealings, and was always regarded as one
of New Albany's best ard most prominent citi-
zens. Dr. Charles L. Hoover is sixty-three
years old. He was for many years senior warden
of st. Pauls Episcopal Church, and is one of the
oldest living male communicates of that church
Besides being prominent as churchman, he was
one OF the leading professional and business men
of the town. He was born and reared in New
Albany and his family ranked among the oldest
and Taost exclusive For years he a skill,
full medical practitioner, and finally entered the
Wholesale drug business, which he is now con-
Quoting on extensive scale
Charles V. Hoover, vino met his death yes
terass~at the hands of Ira G.. Strunk, was thirty
eight years old, the eldest OF the family. He
was pleasant conversationalist an agreeable
young man and quite handsome. He spared no
pains nor money upon his dress and was cutie a
beau He had plenty of time and money. pos
sessed a good voice and, though looked
upon as heart breaker was generally consid-
cred moral and nominally religious young man.
He belonged to his fathers church, and was a
prominent member of the choir.
Myra Sullivan and Charles Hoover were reared
almost together. They attended the came
school, their families were very intimate, and
naturally they we're thrown together very
much. There was no love affair between
them, however and when Myra mar
ried the Pennsylvania professor no one
was more hearty in his congratulations and gen.
uine goodwill than the friend of her childhood.
Charley Hoover AS girl, Myra Sullivan had
been much devoted to music and when she mar
ried she did not, as most women do when they
assume matrimonial responsibilities, give up her
study. She became even better musician than
before. and finally became the organist at ST.
Pauls Church. of which she and her mother
were also members. Young Charles Hoover
was already member of the choir, and, as their
tastes were much alike, and as they were thrown
much together, the intimacies of younger days
were renewed. Mr.. Hoover used to escort Mrs.
Strunk home from rehearsals from church and
from merrymakings and his conduct in this re-
| snect was heartily sanctioned by the husband,
who saw nothing to which he could object.
Thus mattersran on for more than two years
until finally the gossips began. and many were
the delicate bits of suspicion and scandal handed
around in feminine circles At last it became
the talk of the town, but the husband was blind.
| 1t has often been said that che husband is the
last to hear that his wife is suspected, and so it
| was in this case. The denouement came, how
ever, and last fall Professor Strunk left his wife
and children and took lodgings at the Occidental
| Hotel. not far from his former home He visit
| ed his wife and daughters at intervals, and con-
tinued contributing TO their support.
When he first learned that his
wife's good name was suffering. he
persuaded her to give up the place of organist at
| the church. and desired her to discontinue her
| intimacy with Hoover. She gave up the place,
| and for while was not seen SO much with the
| young man. 1t was not long, however, before
| she was again receiving his attentions. They
| apparently cared little to conceal the fact that
| they were, at least, good friends. He would
meet her on the streets, they would walk to-
gether, and sometimes he escorted her homo.
He always treated her with extreme Difference
upon the Streets and was often seen politely
bowling himself away at parting. 1t was while
matters were at this status that Prof Strunk
separated from his wife. There was change
IN the relations between Mrs. Strank and Alr.
Hoover after the division. They were fire.
quently seen together, and, it is said, he called
upon her great deal at her mothers house,
where she resided
The young man and his family refuted in the
strongest terms the words of scandal, and claimed
but the purest friendship. Professor Strunk did
not believe that his wife was true. however, and
took the matter much at heart He could take
no interest in his business and finally disposed
of it, saying that he would seek new country
and begin life over again. About this time Mr..
Stanley Hoover, brother of Charles, had diff
ficulty with Professor Strunk while they were
transacting some business month later Prof.
Strunk and Charles Hoover met in Maienthal's
clothing store, on Pearl and Market streets,
when the former attempted to shoot
Hoover The pistol would not work.
however, and Strunk was disarmed,
without doing any damage Hoover bad
him arrested and he was fined before magistrate.
Later Hoover had Strunk indicted for assault and
battery with intent to murder. Strunk gave
bond, and the case was set for the coming Sep
TENDER term of court The arrest under the in
dictment was made just as Strunk was prepar-
ing to leave town for Florida, where he owns an
orange farm. and whore he intended to locate
Shortly after the shooting fasco Strunk was