The morning call., 1894-09-18
STENGELE'S ACTS.
Killing of Mrs. CoIvin and
Himself.
STORY TOLD BY HIS LETTER.
Discovered There Was Another
Man in the Case.
COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT HER.
both Parties in the Portland Trag-
edy Belonged to the Higher
Walks of Life.
COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT Her,

PORTLAND, Or, Sept 17.-Side by side
in the morgue lie the remains Of Mrs.
Mabel Colvin of Worcester, Mass, and
John ". Stenges of this cisy. The woman
was shot yesterday by Stengele who then
killed himself.
The Coroner's jury. in the case of
otengele. brought in verdict that he was
az American, 80 years old, and that he
came to his death from a gunshot wound,
inflicted with suicidal intent; and in the
case OF the unfortunate woman that sh e
had been murdered by Steagele.
The victims belonged to the higher walks
of life and drink cut no figure in this in
stance. John w. Stengele was well
known civil engineer, recently employed
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 S. Fore
hand. president of the Forehand Arms
Company of Worcester, Mass, man re-
puted to be very wealthy.
Mrs. CnlYin came here about year and
q half ago to obtain divorce from her
husband. During the earlier period of her
visit she met Streugele, and they formed
an attachment for each other, soon ripen-
among their friends that as soon as the
court had freed Mrs. Colvin from her I'M
pleasant matrimonial alliance she and
Stengele would marry
For the past fortnight Stengele's usual
high spirits seemed to desert him, but his
changed nature was attributed to anything
but the right cause. However, none
knowing him had the slightest suspicion
hat a ba 20
iarly called, had murder and suicide in his
heart. Soon after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning Stengela LETT his clearinghouse
at 141 West Park in company with his
roommate, NJ. j. Clohessy. and walked to
the Hotel Portland, where they parted.
Stengele entered the hotel, and, seating
himself at the table. wrote the following
letter which was found on bis person after
death:
PORTLAND HOTEL, Sept. 16, 1894.
Afy Dear CIohessy: Could any one overlook
the fact that l am mad? l have done a lot OF
worrying, and you can now see why / am not
well and why l do not sleep and eat as used
to. You know We we're to be married as soon
as Mabel got her divorce, and you know OF our
friendship for the past year or more. I found
10 my sorrow, after watching her, that l was
not the only man in the case We had a row
once before, but then was not as positive as
now, and we made up. You have proved the
only friend l have ever had. l hope you will
never make such fool of yourself as 1 have
made of myself I cannot stand life any long
er, although have been fairly successful all
along. There is enough money In my pockel
TO pay for burial. etc. 1 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 1 have been treated of late you
would not blame me. Ii is almost impossible
Tor me 10 wriie, L am so nervous. l realize
what am about TO do perfectly, and / cannot
for the life of me cheek myself. This desire to
kill her and then myself came over me a few
days ago, I cannot live any longer. Best
wishes. JACK
He left the hotel and went to the corner
of Thirteenth and Yamhill streets, where
he waited for Mrs. COlviu, who had been
10 church with her brother. Mrs. ColVin
came home alone and Stengele met her
almost in front of her home, where he
fired tie fatal shots. Mrs. Colyin was
about 80 years of age and was a very
handsome woman. About five years ago
she married Henry ColviD. the son of a
wealthy man of Worcester, but the mar
rage proved unhappy. Stengele's widow ed
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. Stengele was
born in Princeton, Ill, and was educated
in Chicago.