New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-16
A YOUNG HUSBANDS CRIME
KILLING HIS WIFE AND SERIOUSLY WOUND
ING HIMSELF.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN THE sTURTEvANr HOUSE.
NO CAUSE FOR THE SHOOTING KNowN-rHE
COUPLE IN GOOD SPIRITS FEW
MINUTES PREvIoUs-THE HUs-

terday afternoon, when Winfield Is. Thompson. young
medical student. killed his wife and then wounded him.
self mortaly without known They had been
staying at tho hotel since Thursday morning. Thcy
registered as "W B. Thompson and wife, Kansas City
NO." Much Of their time since their arrival had been
spent In set OF rooms tho second oor parior No.
20 ana bed-chamber and bathroom which connected
with each other fow friends, mostly welldressed
young women. had visited them in their but the
hotel people thought the young couple strangers
In the city. The husband o tall, well-bult
man Of twenty.four years. with clean-cut feat.
ures and gentleman!y appearance. His face was
smoothly shaved, except that he had faint
mustache. He wore check suit OF English cloth, we'll
made and appeared to have plenty OF money Tho bride
WAS OF the same TALL finely formed, with regular
features Jet black hair and dark flashing eyes. The
couple attracted attention at tho hotel account
OF their appearance and evident devotion. plain
from the tender In which each treated the other
In puzzle that they we're recently welded.
When they entered the hotel. after brief Absence at
l p m. yesterday, they were accompanied by young
woman who had visited them at the hotel before. Tie
three had luncheon together and appeared to be the
best or spirits Thompson had said to the hotel clerk
that he intended go Philadelphia with his bride
late In the afternoon. About p m. the young woman
who had been visiting the Thompsons left the hotel.
Twenty minutes later there was violent ringing OF
bell in the Office and the clerk told Oliver Carroll, col
ored waiter, to to parlor No % and what
wanted Carroll found tic door locked. He about
TO turn away. thinking that mistake had been made
in the number OF the room. when he heard moans IN
side the paror. He Knocked but there
The waiter also could distinguish the faint of a
woman. while the groans apparently uttered by
man. fastening down stairs, Carroll gave an alarm
and several employees accompanied him to the door OF
No. 25. George Hutz the hotel porter, forced the door
open.
On the floor OF the paror lay Thompson and his wife,
aide by side. The woman insensibe, and blood
flowing from pistol wound behind her left
Her stretched wide apart
she lay on her back. She
gray travelling dress and check Newmarket coat, and
her hat the floor her head. Evidently she
had just dressed herself for the street before she
shot Thompson lay on his face, which was covered
with blood. revolver OF small cabre was on the floor
at his side. He turned when OF the hotel
poyes entered the and garei at tnem. They saw
he able to speak. but he said nothing His coat
Off and there red spot his shirt front where
bullet had entered his breast Blood was flowing also
from a ragged wound behind his right ear. Over his
hands and clothing and upon the blood had been
spatered freely The handle OF the bell pull in the room
and the wall 1t bore red marks. showing that
Thompson had finished his bloody work before he rang
the bell. Drs. G. s. Milford ard W. Katzenback were
summoned from their offices not far from the
hotel They ascertained that bullet had entered Mrs.
Thompson's brain at the base, inhictng fatal wound
A bullet had gone into ThJmpsons breast below the
more than bullet Tho seven chambers OF his re.
voIver discharged but three of the bullets had
made holes plaster OF the walls and ceiling Of the
policeman who was calet into the room asked
Thompson why he had committed the crime but the
young man did not reply. Calls Tor coroner and an
ambulance sent from the Thirteth street Police
station Before ambulance had time to get from the
New-York Hospital to the hotel Mrs Thompson was
dead She had not been conscious after she was shot
Thompson removed to tho hospital and placed in
Ward Two short letters which lie had written late on
Monday evening but which still lay table unsealed,
were delivered the police one note was addressed
TO Dr. c. l. Thompson. OF No. $40 West Fourteenth.st,
Kansas CITY, Mo-. and read:
DEAR Doc: Just few moments to send you line
ere turn don't want TO keep little girl awake
Tomorrow IN. we 20 to Manch Chunk for day Back
again in the evening. and to Philadelphia Oh Wednesday
a H., think. W. H. l.
The other written to Robert s. Yard clerk III the
office OF w. X. Grace & Co.. and ran as follows:
DEAR Bop Yon fraH mot 70 come and see
Iuesdayj, and to Philadelphia on Wednes.
day on the evening train; n.1.v or "Wednesday s1snay
%GsHSs aeP Ard uni 10 are 's Happy heart
G. is an angel. "Go thou Snas. and do likewi'e wnn
Word or the tragedy sent to Mr.. Yard. who ap-
peared at the hotel late In the afternoon. He was anI.
ous have much publicity given to the murder and
suicide, and refused to tell what he know about the
Thompsons. When Coroner Levy went to tho hotel to
could not attended quietly Later when the Coroner
wanted Mr. Yard as a witness tho clerk had left
the hotel. Tho Coroner gave permit for the
removal OF Mrs. Thompsons body to an undertakers
shop No $50 Fourth-ave. Then the Coroner went to
the hospital and talked with Thompson. who was weak
but rational Tho young bridegroom at first refused TO
talk the shooting but lie gave some account OF
himself and his wife. He said
Iwas born Kansas City. but have lived In this city
for about two years boarded az No. .crsS M wess 81
the College OF Physicians and surgeons Ia
sns %ss T;.S k.se last f''s% ann
twenty years Of age and she was only rev months
Twsnty.thiri-s She did not with her parents but
boarded with her FRIEND Mrs d. b. Pratt, at No. 36i
East ,s Ssy Dr. JosepS werf Eder Baptist min
ns i:ter "o Of NO No. ss7 East slIly,eighh: my wlfes
we went to Boston. Newport and other places aud re-
turned to the city Thursday. We were devoted to
each other.
Thompson's eyes grew misty at that point Coroner
Levy asked had been quarrel previous to the
shooting Thompson refused to answer the question
What was the cause of the shootngi" Mr.. Levy
would rather not tell" the faint reply.
so far as the shooting of myself was concerned.
{" Did you shoot your wife by accidcnti"
~ don't know why did IT,"
Thompson sail he expected to die. but that made no
Sasssnof Sanse Of tho shooting @ Alter the crime
mted he said. he rang the bell to call assistance: is
words and manner dspelled theory that No migh nave
shot his wife by accident
IL was ascertaned last night that Genevieve kahler
nreyIous 10 her marriage with Thompson had lived for
about two years with Mrs Pratt. IN Sixty-nnth Sc
Her father Conrad Kahler IL cartman. aud lives In
the tenement-hous No. $50 West Forty-hth-st Mrs.
Pratt with the Kahlers before she was married.
about four years ago. FAMILY quarrel
caused Gcnevieve to leave ner home
and go to live with Mira Pratt.
who also had employed at Serns drygoods store.
Genevieve mad worked IN the store several years
A TRIBUNE reporter carried Information OF tho
tragedy 10 tie Kahlers Mrs ThompsOn's
father. mother. two younger sisters ana
brother were In the dining room
on the second OF the tenementhouse. They were
much affected By IN. They said that Genevieve
had the house her marriage and return to
The city They had not seen her husband and knew
scarcely an tbng about HIN Geneveve had lived
away from home for long before her marriage They
had no objection the match, however. and had sup
posed that Thompson would make her good husbhnd.