The record-union., 1894-09-18
Special to the RrcoRp-uN1oN.


PORTLAND, Sept. 17.-Side by side in
the Morgue lie the remains of Mrs. Mabel
Colvin of Worcester, Mass, and John w.
Staengle of this city. The woman was
shot yesterday by Staengle, who then
killed himself.
The Coroner's jury, in the case of
Staengle, brought in a verdict that he was
an American, 80 years old, and that he
came to his death from gunshot wound
inflicted with suicidal intent, and in the
case of the unfortunate woman. that she
had been murdered by Staengle.
The victims belonged to the higher
walks OF life. and drink cut no figure in
this instance. John w. Staengle was a
well-known civil engineer. recently en-
ployed in the office of the City Surveyor.
Mrs. Colvin came from Worcester, Mass,
and was visiting her uncle and aunt. Mr..
and Mrs. Jewett. She was the daughter
of ). Eorehand, President of the Fore
hand Arms Company of Worcester,
Mass, man reputed to be very wealthy.
Mrs. Colvln came here about year
and half ago to obtain a divorce from
her husband. During the earlier period
OF her VISIT she met Staengle, and they
formed an attachment for each other,
-
cepted as fact among their friends that
so soon as the court had freed Mrs. Col
vim from her unpleasant matrimonial
alliance she and Staengle would marry.
For the past fortnight Staengle's usual
high spirits seemed to desert him, but his
changed nature was attributed to any,
thing but the right cause. However,
none knowing him had the slightest sus-
picion that Handsome Jack,'' as he was
1amlllarly called, had murder and suicide
III his heart.
Soon after 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, Staengle left his boarding-house at
I4l West Park street in company with his
room mate, NJ. J. Clohessy. and walked
TO the hotel parlor. where they parted.
Staengle entered the hotel, and seating
himself at a table, wrote The following
letter, which was found on his person
after death:
PORTLAND HOTEL, Sept. 16, 1894.
My Dear C{0heSSy: Could anyone
overlook the fact that l am mad? l have
done lot OF worrying, and you can now
see why am not well, and why l don't
sleep and eat as l used to. You know we
were to be married as soon as Mabel got
her divorce, and you know of our friend
ship tor the past year or more. l found,
to my sorrow, after watching her, that /
was not the only man in the case. We
bad row once before, but then 1 was
not as positive as am now, and we made
DIP. You nave proved the oniy friend I
have ever had. l hope you will never
make such fool of yourself as / have
made OF myself.
Il cannot stand life any longer, al
though L have been fairly succe sfuI ali
along. There is enough money in my
pocket to pay Tor burial, etc. / am not
particular how l am put away. Mabel is
the only woman | really love. l cannot
live without her, and if you knew how I
have been treated OF late you would not
blame me. 1t is almost impossible for
me to write, l am so nervous | realize
what am about to do perfectly, and |
cannot for the life of me check myself
This desire to kill her and then myself
came over mo few days ago. l cannot
live any longer. Best wishes. JACK.n
He left the hotel and went to the corner
of Thirteenth and Yamhill streets, where
he waited for Mrs. Colvin, who had been
TO church with her brother. Mrs. Colyin
came home alone, and Staengle met her
almost in front of her home where he
fired the fatal shots.
Mrs. Colvln was about 80 years of ace.
and was a very handsome woman. About
i've years ago she married Henry Colvin.
the son of a wealthy man of Worcester
Mass, but the marriage proved unhappy.
Staengle's widowed mother makes her
home in Chicago, but was in this city
only few days ago. His sister. the wife
OF DR.. Joseph kirschner, resides at St.
Joseph, Mo. Staengle was born in
Princeton, Ill, and was educated in Chi
ssaoO