The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-05
DE KNIGHT DONE FOR.
SHOT AND KILLED BY THE WOMAN
WHOM HE HAD DECEIVED.
A Pullman Conductor, Who Was Free
quently in This City. the Cause Of q
Shocking Murder and Suicide in q
Pittsburg Hotel.

Pittsburg Hotel.
At $50 o'clock Thursday morning fine
looking young man, attired in new suit,
accompanied by young woman OF pre-
possessing appearance and neatly dressed,
stepped into the office OF the Metropolitan
hotel, Pittsburg. He registered as G.
Lewis and wife, OF Philadelphia. He had
weary look, and told Clerk Mark Cook
that he was very tired, and that he and
his wife desired to be shown to their room
as quickly as possible. They were as
signed to room No. 9, which is on the
second floor, fronting on Grant street. 1t
was supposed that they had retired, as all
was quiet in the room for number Of
hours. At 9:l0 o'clock the stiffness OF the
house was disturbed by the sharp report
OF revolver. II was followed by several
Others, when the people in the house be-
gan to rush upstairs. Clerk Cook imme-
diately got step ladder, and taking 1t to
No. G,
rEERED OVER THE TRANsoM.
He saw enough TO convince him that O
frightful crime had been committed. A
key was procured and the door unlocked.
The scene within was sickenng and horri-
tying The diving form OF q man was lying
on the floor at one side of the room, while
on the walls were dripping blood and
brains Lying crossways on the bed was
the form OF young woman, almost COM
pletely unclad. In her lap lay a revolver,
the finger OF one hand being still upon it.
Her head rested upon the pillows, which
were crimson with blood, while the brains
were scattered over the bed clothes. A
bullet hole in the temple, Just over the left
eye. told the story OF murder, but what led
10 the murder and suicide will perhaps
never be known. II was evident from the
situation that the girl had first shot the
man, and believing her work well done,
she, with the mirror to direct the shooting
sent bullet
CRASHING THRoUGH HER OWN BRAIN.
The thumb Of the right hand was black.
ened from the smoke OF the revolver.
When the pair entered the hotel the
woman wore neatiitting blue Saline
dress, with large white rim, and a jaunty
little hat. She presented an attractive ap.
pearancc, although she was not hand.
some woman.
When found by the officers she was only
partly dressed. Her dress hung against
the wall. She had on red flannel skirt
and her shocsshc evidently had just pulled
ON, as they were not buttoned. The man
was dressed, apparently ready TO leave the
room. The woman had small hand
sachcl, which contained her pocket-book,
gloves, handkerchief, powder.box and u
few other little trinkets. There was about
30 cents in the pocket book. The sachel
also contained letter addressed TO Mr.
James Taggart, Birmingham, Huntington
county, Penn.
Following is copy OF the letter, which
is written in plain, legiblc hand:
"PirHBuEJ, Pa, August 1. isSS
"Dcar JIM suppose You will be sur
prised when you receive this from me and
when you hear what have done. am
tired living, and don't know what 10 do
was often going 10 tell you all about this
man, but was afraid, and you know what
for. jess Furlong has the check for my
ring, and want You TO get Il and keep Il.
You mind what | said to you about il,
and want you TO keep II aud not Let any
one get il but yourself. didn't have the
money, or ! would have sent II to you.
Goodbye. From yours truly, MAY"
II was subsequently learned that tho
dead mans name was Charles Dcknight,
and that he was conductor In the en-
ploy Of the Pullman company. Ills run
was between Pitisburg and Memphis, his
home being in this city, where his family
Is OF tho highest responsibility The girl,
who was not over twenty, proved 10 have
been May Patton, OF Jamestown, Pa,
where her father is furniture dealer, and
in good circumstances, and that the family
had always moved In the best Of society.
The girl was always considered a bright,
vivscious young lady, who always con.
Quoted herself properly in every respect.
The only motive known for the crime
Is that the girl, who had been engaged TO
be married TO 1aggar,, 10 whom the letter
was addnsscd, had become infatuated with
DcKnight, and having been led astray by
him, discovered that lac was not true 10
her, and determined 10 put him and her.
self ont Of the way TO end her disgrace
and hcart.burning.