Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-07
WITH A SHOTGUN
Miss Kengla Ends Her Life This
Morning.
RESULT OF A DISORDE MIND
Sudden and Dramatic Death of a
WelI-Known Lady.
EPIDE MIC OF SUICIDES

Just about twenty-four hours after Cor
oner Woodward was informed Of the suicide
OF Mrs Crook yesterday he was called upon
TO inquire into the Death OF Miss Mary +.
kengla who ended her life with Il shot
gun. 1t was about II O'Clock this morning
when she committed the act. She had plen-
" of money, good home da large circle
of friends. but her mind was disorderei, AID
that is the reason why she sought peace In
the manner stated.
Miss Keng!a was more than fifty years
old, and was member OF the weil-known
family of kenslas i'm Georgetown. Since the
death of her father she has lived with
various members OF the family.
She was by means Il healthy woman.
and. in addition To causing physical pain,
her menta! suffering became SO great that
she lost all hope of becoming other than an
invalid, ard for the past four years she has
experienced a sad case of melancholia
one year of her life about three years
ago, was spent in Mount Hope Asylum.
Baltimore, la hopes of restoring her menta;
faculties. but even under the best treat
ment possible she did not show much signs
of Improvement.
Failing to be benefited at this institution
she concluded to return to her friends and
relatives and spend the remainder of her
life. Life In an asylum did not suit her.
She was a religious and charitable woman,
and her many good deeds are known to
her friends and relatives, as well as those
whom she had befriended, and to them the
news of her sad ending will prove a severe
blow.
\ Complete Surprise.
For u year OIL more she has lived at the
home of her brother-in-law Mr. Edward
Lydiane. No. 14l6 33d street He has re-
tired from business, and, as already stated
the unfortunate wCIcan had means. Be
sides what she had she WAS interested in
the family estate. which is still before the
courts, and has not been settled owing to
her mental condition.
Miss kengla. being a good, religious wo-
man, always attended to her church duties
and. although her mind was by means
sound. she had never even intimated that
she intended to shorten her days on this
earth. Consequently there was no reason
TO fear that such would be her ending
or the way poisonous drugs or firearms.
and her act today was a complete surprise
not only to her relatives, but also to her
friends.
The Terrible End.
She occupied a room on the second floor
of the house adjoining the room of her
sister. in whose room she frequently went
TO spend a pleasant hour.
In this room Mr.. Lyddane kept his shot
gun, Dut IL "ds Kept uniOade0. lie
however. kept his loaded shells near at
hand. and it was but little trouble to load
the weapon used on cunning expeditions
Miss kengla went in this room. and, load
ing the gun. placed the muzze of il to her
side. and leaned over in order to reach the
trigger.
single pull of the trigger and the fun
charge entered the left side of her body
causing instant death.
No one In the house heard the report of
the shotgun. but the falling of the body
upon the roor attracted the colored servant
Mrs. Mary Smackum. to the upper story
When she reached the room and saw Miss
Kengla's body on the floor she did not
wait to make any further examination, but
hurried back down stairs to inform the
tainted.
Died mmediateIy.
minute later 1t was discovered tina. the
shotgun was on the floor near the body. and
there being no signs of life visible the men,
hers of the family concluded tina. Miss
Kengla's sufferings had been ended with
the weapon.
hole in her garments. and then it was GER
tain that load of shot had entered her
body.
A physician was summoned bu; there
was nothing that could be done The
charge from the gun had done its deadly
work and the woman had died without
struggle.
Coroner Woodward viewed the body about
noon and gave certificate of death from
suicide. the wound being inflicted as the
result of disordered mind.