The herald., 1894-09-18
SIDE BY SIDE IN THE MORGUE,
John W. Stenegele and His
Victim.
Jealousy Was the Cause of His Awful
Crime.
He Was to Marry Mrs. UoIvin as Soon
as She Secured Her Divorce, but
Suspected That She Lovod
Another Man.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 17.-Side by
side in the morgue lie the remains OF
Mrs. Mabel Colvin OF Worcester. Mass.
and John w. Stenegele. of this city.
The woman was shot yesterday by Stem
egele, who then killed himself.
The coroner's jury, in the case Of
stenegele, brought in verdict that he
was an American, So 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
Stenegele.
The victims belonged to the highest
walks OF life. and drink cut no figure in
this instance. John w. Stenegele was
well-known civil engineer, recently
employed in the Office OF the city sur
veyor. Mrs. Colvin came from Wor-
cester. Mass, and was visiting her uncle
and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs. Jewett. She
WAS the daughter OF S. Forehand. presi-
dent OF the Forehand Arms company, of
worcester, Mass, man reputed to be
very wealthy. Mrs. Colvin came here
u
divorce from her husband.
During the earlier period OF her visit
she met Stenegele, and they formed an
attachment for each other, soon ripen-
ing into love, and it was accepted as
fact among their friends that so soon
as the court had freed Mrs. Colvin from
her unpleasant matrimonial alliance,
she and Stenegele would marry.
For the naeE fOrtriOht GkeuaUla' uaual
high spirits seemed to desert him, but
his strange nature was attributed to
anything but the right cause. How
ever, no one knowing him had the
slightest suspicion that Handsome
jack" as he was familiarly called, had
murder and suicide in his heart.
Soon after 10 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing Stenegle left his boarding house. at
l4l West Park street, in company with
his room mate, NJ. +. Clohessy, and
walked to the Hotel Portland, where
they parted. Stenegle walked into the
hotel, seating himself at q table, and
wrote the following letter, which was
found on his person after his death:
PoRsLAND HOTEL, Sept. 16, 1894.
My DEAR CLoHEssY Gould any one
overlook the fact that l am mad? l
have done a lot of worrying, and you
can now see why am not we'll and why
do not sleep and eat as used to. You
know we were 10 be married es soon as
Mabel got her divorce, and you know OF
our friendship for the past year or more.
l found to my sorrow. after watching
her that l was not the only man in the
case. We had row once before. but
then l WAS not as positive as nov, and
yraiy mAdis fAsdiesnapp: PIP: You have proved the
you will never make such a damn fool
OF yourself as l nave made OF myself.
cannot stand life any longer, although |
along. There is enough money in
my pocket to pay for burial, etc.
l am not particular how am put away.
Mabel ia the only woman l really love.
| cannot live without her, and il you
knew how | have been treated OF late
you would not blame me. 1t is almost
impossible for me to write, | am go
nervous. | realize What l am about to
do perfectly, and cannot for the life OF
me check myself. This desire to kill
her and then myself came over me
few days ago. cannot live any longer.
Best wishes. JACK.
He left the hotel end went to the COR
ner of Thirteenth and Ysmhill Btreets,
where be waited for Mrs. Colvin, who
had been to church with her brother.
Mrs. Colvin came home alone, and
Stenegele met her almost in front OF her
home, where he fred the fatal shots.
Mrs. Colvin was about 80 years of age
and was a very handsome woman.
About five years ago she married Henry
Colvin, the son of q wealthy man OF
Worcester, Msss., but the marriage
proved unhappy. Stenegsle's widowed.
mother makes her home in Chicago. but
was in this city only a few days ago.
His sister, the wife of DIR. Joseph
Kirschner, resides at st. Joe, Mo.
Stenegels was born in Princeton, ILL.,,
and was educated in Chicago.