Evening journal., 1889-05-30
CRAzED BY ARDENT LOVE
A Dissipated Young Man Kills
His Sweetheart.
AND THEN HE SHOT HIMSELF.

John Menken Became Desperate When
He Pound That He Could Not Wed
Bertha schreyer-she Already Had
Husband.
NEW YoRK, May SO.--John Msnken, dis
ssipated young bartender out of employment,
fatally shot Bertha Schreyer in the kitchen
Of her fathers home, on the top floor OF NO.
40S West One Hundred and Forty-second
street, and then killed himself Bertha was
taken unconscious to the Manhattan hospital
with foar bullet wounds in her head
Menken had been visiting the young woman
for nearly year. She was married to
young German brass flnisher named Schmidt,
but they disagreed about year ago and
separated She went home to her father,
conpositor on The Staats-zeitung She be-
came acquainted with Menken seven months
ago, while be was bartender in Fred Beck
ers saloon al the northeast corner of One
Hundred and Forty street aud Eighth
avenue half block from the frame fat in
which the Schreyers live, Bertha used to 60
to the saloon for beer for the family.
Used to Visit Her House.
On his days off Menken, who became COM
pletely infatuated with the fair girl-she
was not 2l--used 70 visit her house frequent
ly. When be learned that Bertha was mar
ried and TINT be could not become her hus-
band he began drinking heavily. He lost
his place al Becker's saloon, and, owing 10
his unsteadiness, was unable to get job
that lasted him more than few weeks. He
boarded with German family at 266 West
One Hundred and Forty-fourth street Dur
ing the past few weeks he spent much Of his
time in Beckers saloon playing cards and
drinking He still kept up his visits, but at
infrequent intervals as he was not encour-
aged by Bertha's family.
Crazed with Beer and Love.
Menken, as a friend said OF him, was
s'crazed with beer and love- when he left
Becker's saloon He told this friend that he
had just 81 left and that when he had spent
it be was going 70 blow out his brains He
loitered in the near neighborhood Of the
girls home until he saw her mother leave
Then be went in.
Barricaded the Door
Twelve-year-old Otto Schreyer, Bertha,
brother, had just returned from school, anC
was in the front room Of the fiat Menkel
entered by the kitchen door, and harricadeI
il with chairs The boy was frightened b,
the report Of pistol and his sisters scream
a moment later, and rushed out into the hal
and TO the street for help. He slammed th
door behind him 1t had a spring lock, an'
when the little fellow came quickly bacl
with policeman, they couldn't got in.
terrific struggle was meanwhile going on Il
the kitchen between Bertha and her frenzie
H.. -. Q.
nearly five minutes. Her screams arouse
all the other tenants and neighbors With
the block. She appeared twice at the win
dow overlooking the fire escape, with tn
blood streaming down her face. She wa
dragged back by the mad barkeeper
- Bullet in his own Head.
Another policeman from neighborin
post climbed up the fire escape after Il
fourth bullet had been fired, at close rang
into the girls head. As he reached the ops
window Menken fired bullet into his ow
head, and fell dead across the body Of his al
conscious sweetheart She was half mud
Menken having torn much Of her clothing
shreds in his de. perate attack. She was
stout, strong girl, and evidently gave him
hard battle
III the breast pocket Of Menkens coat
letter, written in imperfect English, W,
found II was dated March 28 and WI
addressed to Menlxen at Bode Bros alool
at 1SS Sixth avenue, where Menken worke
few weeks II began "AIy dear John, an
was signsd "As ever yours, BERTHA 81
asked him how he liked his new place, tol
him she longed TO see him, and that 81
missed him much. Other portions OF Il
letter ran:
John, that ring that Julius brought home
very nice. / have got IL on my finger now.
hope this win find you In good health, and hol
20 see You soon again If you have any stoc
ings 10 darn bring them with you. Ia Ia, goo
by, Nibsy.
The doctors say there is no hope Of b,
recovery.