The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-04-05
ST. JOHN s CRIME.
The Terrible Domestic Tragedy Enacted
at Oklahoma city.

at oklahoma city.
The awful crime Of Representative
Harry st. John, who in cold-blood,
shot down his supposed faithless wife,
as chronicled in THE LEADER bulletin
yesterday, was the subject OF much
comment on the streets here. The
Oklahoman OF Oklahoma City gives
the following detailed account Of the
tragedy:
oklahoma City was thrown into trc-
mendous excitement yesterday after
noon by the news that Harry ST. John,
prominent land attorney Republican
politician and leading member Of the
recent legislature had shot and killed
his wife, Matte, at their residence,
about a mile southwest OF the city.
The first news of the terrible affair
came from St John himself. lie came
10 town Immediately after the killing.
and told DR.. H. W. Witten about it.,
The doctor, accompanied by DR.. Dclos
Walker, went out 10 the place at once,
ana found her body in the front room
lying on her face. Life had been eN-
tinct for an hour or more
SLJohn was very rcticicnt about the
matter, and refused TO talk, except to
say that it was an accident 70 par
ticular triend, however, he gave his
version OF the affair, which n proba-
bly, true account Of IL II is as fol-
lows.
For a month past hc has had doubts
concerning his wife and fears that she
was untrue To him; that a certain
young blood OF this city named Niles,
a. T.. 4. 4
Reports OF several indiscrcct actions
on her part while ST John was occu-
pied by his duties in the legislature
had reached him, and the frequent
meetings OF his wife with her pre-
sumed lover were not unknown to
him lie believed she was writing
and receiving letters from this lover,
and was keeping a watch on her.
Yesterday about ] p. m. he went "a
the postoilice and took from his wife
private box letter addressed TO her
II was from the lover and signed by
the initials, and asked for an appoint
ment lie read the letter in the alley
between the bank building and the
post office, and Immediately his wors,
fears were realized Going to the land
Office where he was attorney in a land
case, he had IL continued for a few
days and going to Tom Hough's livery
stable, hired a rig To take him home
Mr.. llough says this was about e:2G p
M, and that he noticed nothing un
usual about Mr.. st. Johns appearance
When he got home Harry hitcheC
his horse and went inside and callcc
his wife. The house they lived IN is Z
very handsome little cottage, on,
story, with porches, and an !. on tn,
In l.as "a. -
containing a stove, bed room suite anC
other furniture-the whole house /,
nicely and eNpensively furnished
Into this bed room St John called hii
wife. who was sewing i'm the othel
room, and she came with her needle il
her hand and thimble on her finger
When he got her in the room he pulled
the letter from his pocket, charged
her with her intdelity and demanded
the name OF the author, at the same
time pulling the revolver from hi,
pocket and holding il at her breast
declaring he would shoot her il sh,
did not tell. She was very nervy aut
brave. however, and seemed To know
that IL was great big bluf, and con
fessed in substantially this language
why you old chump; of course I've
got a lover, and have had for two years
am too young for an old man like
you, and ] am going TO leave you i'm
the morning and take the youngest
boy with me. lie amt yours any.
way.
Then, ST. John says, everything be
came as a blank 10 him, and the next
thing he knew tho revolver went of
aud his wife lay gasping her life away
al his feet He bent over her and
said: 'Oh, May, have / killed you?
But the only answer was an awful
How OF blood from her mouth aud nos.
trls. She Strengthened out lying
partly on her right side, with her face
10 the floor one arm doubled under
her aud the other over her head, and
was dead.
The hired girl was in the kitchen,
and hearing the shot came 10 the door
~. John opened IL and told her what
he had done and then went and call,
ed Harry FELTON,, his wifes brother,
who lived with them, aud told him,
81 have shot Matte accidentally, and
fear she IS dead He then, as the
two testified at the inquest, read To
them the le ter he had taken from the
pOstOfiee in the morning. They could
not remember il all, but say il was
full Of endearing terms and asked her
10 meet the writer while Harry, her