Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-11
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
AN INFATUATED PAINTER SHOOTS HIS
PARAMoUR AND THEN HIMSELF
Closing Chapter of Long and Disagree
able Story of Marital
Infelicity.

bloody tragedy shortly before six O'Clock
last evening. The principals in the affair
were Mrs John Shellars, wife of the confec-
toner, and John A. Henning, a painter who
works for Austin & Austin, house and sign
painters, whose place of business is in the
basement Just beneath the confectionery.
Mrs Shellars was shot fatally by Henning,
who afterwards shot himself.
Owing to the fact that there s ere no eve
witnesses to the tragedy, particulars of il
are rather vague.
Ii appears, however, to be one of those
mysterious unaccountable affairs in which
a married man becomes infatuated with
o.ner mans wife, and, realizing the
nopelessness of his case goes a gunnipo
Henning has wife and two chill r., hIst;
SbaiIse met snd fell in love win NJ
nehars-somethinR liAn . -. 80 49, VI >:
ago-he has shamefully neglected. his o osn
~ Nc he Formerly owned little sbon
on Ninth street, and was doing a th,;iSP
business at sign painting; but, in order 70
be nearer the object of his illicit affections
gave up his own place and went to work
for the Austins.
She, it is said, encouraged Hennins's
suit, BY accepting presents and money from
him. Mr.. Shellars was wholly unconscious
OF anything improper in the relations of
his wife with Henning, and became a fast
friend of the latter. In fact, he intrusted
bis establishment to Henning on one occa-
sion while he and his wife took vacation
in Santa Cruz.
HE WAS UNCHECKED.
In this condition matters ran along for
many months. Henniug became deeper
and deeper in love with his friends wife,
until it finally became the talk of the
neighborhood, and people wondered how
Shellars could be so blind Henning's
wife became acquainted with the state of
matters and, taking her children with her,
left him. This did not have the effect of
checking his passion for Mrs. Shellars-as
matter of fact it only served to make him
more desperate. He impoTtuned the Shell
lars woman to fly with him from her hus.
band, and it was not until this had become
almost mania with him that she came to
her senses, and saw the error of her ways.
1t was then that she realized the wrecked
condition Henning was in.
She took immediate steps to remedy
matters by telling him fatty that she had
been tritiing with him and did not love
him-that his suit was useless, and the
best thing for him TO do would be to go
back to his wife and not be q fool
BURNING WITH RAGE.
Henning ragged and stormed for almost
week over this and then began drinking to
such an extent that he would work but
two or three days week. AT night he
walked up and down the sidewalk in front
OF the little confectionery muttering and
talking incOherently about his troubles"
He related the story to several of his
acquaintance, and one of them, Young
man who had once worked for Henning,
advised him that his drinking and cursing
would not serve TO help matters at all
that he was only making an idiot of him
self, and would soon be the laughing stock
of the town. This remonstrance seemed
to rally Henning considerably, and he adj
mitted the wisdom of his friends advice.
The next day he sent for his wife, announc-
ing that he had given up his mad passion
for Mrs. Shellars, and promisingin future to
be good and kind husband and father,
provided he could obtain forgiveness. Mrs.
Henning gladly forgave him, and came
back to this city to live with him. For
few weeks Henning appeared to be a man
again, resumed his work and treated his
family as husband and father should.
But, alas the evil spirit which had be-
come possessed of him had not yet salts
fled its cravings. Henning was more or
less thrown in Mrs. Shellars' way, and the
smoldering embers kiudled anew He
reiterated his declarations of love for her
and again importuned her to run away
with him. This was within the last few
days. She resented his advances, and did so
rather sharply. Heswore vengeance and left.
Since then he has been more or less under
the influence of liquor constantly, and at
time was almost insane
At noon yesterday he was very drunk,
but had
soBERED OFF SOMEWHAT
By evening. At about half-past 5 o'clock he
met friend to whom he owed bill for
materials. There was some conversation
between them in regard to the debt, when
Henning suddenly turned away from his
companion and walked directly for the rear
entrance to the building in which the con-
fectiOnery is located. This entrance is
made from Seventh street.
The friend was standing where Henning
left him, wondering what could have come
over the latter to cause him to leave so alb
ruptly, when be was startled by the sound
OF two pistol shsts, coming from the direc-
ton of the bakery. H. waited for while.
not knowing from whence the sounds pro-
ceeded, but soon Joined the crowd which
was fast gathering about and inside of the
confectionery.
The police were soon on the scene. and
cleared the crowd out of the store, and at
the same time sent for physician. Itwas
soon learned, however, that the services of
the latter would be unnecessary so far as
Henning was concerned He lay upon the
floor OF rear room or bedroom of the
store, in pool of blood which was rapidly
spreading over the floor, as it poured from
small bullet hole in the unfortunate
mans left temple, and another i'll his
throat where the bullet made its exit.
glance satisfied those present that the
man WIS dead
Mrs. Shellgrs was also lying upon the
floor, with bullet hole behind the left ear,
and also bleeding protusely. Drs. Sim
mons and Nichols examined her and found
that, though she was not dead,
SHE WAS FATALLY INJURED,
As the skull had been fractured and the
ball passed into her brain. She was placed
upon bed and made as comfortable as
possible. She regaIned consciousness soon
afterward and complained of great pain,
but could not be induced TO say anything
about the shooting, except that Hennire
had shot her. When her condition was
made known to her she requested that a |
priest be sent for. This was done and |
while the priest was in consultation with |
the dying woman, the doctors aud other |
persons present respectfully Withdrew from |
the room.
Mrs. Shellars is acomely Spanish woman |
of about thirty-two years of age. She was |
formerly married to saddler in this city, |
but divorce separated them. She then |
went to Montana and there, it is said, lived |
rather gay life for while, but afterwards |
returned to this city where she met and |
married Shellars.
Henping was large fine looking man,
weighing nearly 200 pounds, and about the |
same age as the woman. He was light |
complexioned and wore a sandy mus.ache. !
His body was taken charge of By the Coro- |
ner soon after the shooting, aud removed |
to the morgne, whereitwas later on viewed |
by his distracted wife.
DID THE WOMAN DO IT?
Thomas L. Acock says he was one of |
the very first persons to enter the confec- |
tionery after the tragedy had occurred. |
Upon entering the rear apartment he says |
he stumbled over the body of Henning. |
He stopped down to examine the PROSTATE !
form when be heard groan on the other |
side of the room. Upon looking up he |
saw Mrs. Shellars lying on her back and |
near her lay a smoking pistol. She
was trying to push it away from |