Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-09-27
UNREQUITED LOVE
Portland Once More the Scene
of a Double Tragedy.
CASE OF MURDER AND SUICIDE

A welI-Known Civil Engineer Shoots
and Kills Mrs. Mabel Calvin and Him
self-They We're People of Splendid
Family Connections.
PORTLAND, Or, September lit was
about l:30 O'Clock yesterday afternoon
when John w. Stengele, a well-known
young civil engineer, shot and killed
Mrs. Mabel Calvin OF Worcester, Mass,
who has been visiting with relatives
here, and then, placing the deadly re-
volver to his own head, blew out his
brains. The tragedy occurred on the
sidewalk on the south side of Yamhill
street about 100 feet west Of Thirteenth
street. Three shots were fired in quick
succession, and the man and woman fell
side by side on the pavement. Stengele
died instantly, and his victim gave only
one or two gasps after the arrival of sew
eral bystanders who witnessed the shoot
ing. Unrequited love prompted the
double crime.
The news OF the terrible affair created
intense interest, owing to the splendid
family connections OF both the dead and
also their large circle OF acquaintances
throughout the city. Mrs. Calvin was
daughter of S. Forehand, President
and principal owner Of the Forehand
Arms Company of Worcester, Mass, who
is reputed to be worth several million
dollars. She came here about eighteen
months ago for the purpose Of securing
divorce from her husband, and had been
making her home with her relatives Mr..
and Mrs. Jewett, at 472 Yamhill street.
Stengele had been in Oregon five years,
and for some time was employed at his
profession Of civil engineering. More
recently he had been working for the
city as receiving clerk in the work of con-
structing the new water works. He had
exemplary habits, and was well thought
of by host of acquaintance, and had
friends all over the State, who will think
it incredible that he would commit SO
foul crime. His mother is quite
wealthy, and lives in Chicago.
This letter explains that the shooting
was premeditated. 1t is as follows:
PORTLAND HOTEL, September IS, 1894.
My Dear Clohessy: Could any one
overlook the fact that am mad? l have
done lot OF worrying, and you can now
see why | am not well and why do not
sleep and eat as / used to. You know
we were to be married as soon as Mabel
got her divorce, and you know of our in
timacy for the past year or more. l
found to my sorrow after watching her
that 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. / hope you will never
make such d f of Yourself as
have made of myself. / cannot stand
life any longer, although have been
fairly successful all along. There is
enough money in my pocket to pay for
burial, etc. am not particular how l
am put away. Mabel is the only woman
l really love. / cannot live without her,
and If you knew how have been treated
of late, you would not blame me.
ut is almost impossible for me to
write; / am so nervous. l realize what
D.! am about to do perfectly, and I cannot
for the life of me check myself. This
desire to kill her and then myself came
over me few days ago. l cannot live
any longer. Best wishes. JACK"
Mrs. Calvin was a strikingly hand
some woman. She had a particularly
graceful carriage and a sweet face, but
her most striking mark OF beauty was
her clear, healthy complexion. She had
dark eyes and hair, and was of medium
height and buxom figure. Her father
supplied her with sufficient means to
satisfy every whim, and although she
had an extensive wardrobe of the latest
style garments, they were all of subdued
and modest shades. She spent two
months during the past summer season
at the seaside, and is we'll remembered
by many who met her there.