The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-16
A HONEYMOON TRAGEDY.
A Bride of two Weeks Slain by Her Husband,
Who Makes an Attempt on His Own Life.

New YORK, June 15.-On June 10 a YOUNG
couple engaged room No. %, on the second floor
of the Sturtevant House. and were registered as
Winfield Lee Thompson and wife. os Kansas City,
Mo- He was twenty-four years old and she was
about three years his junior. This afternoon the
hotel Office bell was rung from room No. 25.
which the young couple have closely retained
since their arrival But when the bell boy re.
sponded and raped at the door, there was ne
response. After repeated rappings with na
sound from within, carpenter was summoned,
who forced open the door, Both Thompson and
his wife lay side by side on the floor. Mrs.
Thompson had been shot in the back of the head
and was dying when the attendants entered.
Thompson was conscious for a moment aud asked
that a doctor be sent for. In Thompson's hand
was revolver. There were bullet wounds ia
his head and breast but not necessarily fatal
An ambulance was sent for, but before it arrived
the woman was dead. There are indications that
the pair were on their wedding tour and the in
scrlpton inside her ring indicated that they had
been married on June 2. The bell-knob in the
room was bloody indicating that the shooting
was done before the bell was rung.
What brought about the tragedy remaius
mystery. The couple had been stopping at the
Sturtevant House since last Wednesday, which
marked their return from their wedding tour,
which extended through Rhode Island and Mas.
seemed to exist between the pair. Genevieve,
the bride, was rather pretty, with dark complex
ion. Her parents live in this city and ara
well to do. A family quarrel caused
the bride, Miss Kopler to leave home three
years ago. She found employment in a store.
She first saw Thompson last November Ha
called upon her through the winter, and an en-,
gagement followed. Her friends approved tbs
match. He is the son of people well known Id
Kansas City. Thompson has been in New York
for two years, attending the College of Physi.
clans and Surgeons. The couple were married
in this city, by Rev. DIR. Elder. of the Church OF
the Epiphany lBaptist) on June 2, President
Cleveland's wedding day. Miss Koplers parents
sent presents but did not attend Since the
young couple returned from their wedding trip
they had been very quiet. To-day they lunched
with friend of the brides, Mrs Pratt at 130
NJ. Scarcely twenty minutes after Mrs. Pratt
had left the rooms. the bride was dead and the
husband lay by her side horribly wounded. At
the hospital the coroner tried to find out what
prompted the act Thompson refused to state.
II would rather not say" was all that could be
got from him.
Two letters, apparently written in haste. and
still unsealed, were found One was directed
'R. S. Yard care w. r. Grace, Hanover
square, Mayor Grace's business address. Ii
told Dear Bob that the newly married couple
would GO to Mauch Chunk tomorrow morning
and stated that &c. was an angel" "Go thou
and do likewise" was the admontion of the
writer. The other letter also spoke Of the
wife's admirable qualities, and also spoke of the
trip to Mauch Chunk
If hemorrhage of the lungs does not set Ia,
thompson may recover