The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-05
CAUSES MURDER
A Brakeman Kills Himself and Wife
Before a Crowd in Kansas City.

Kansas City. Nov. arthur L-SnOok
a brakeman on the Missouri Pacific
railway running between Kansas City
and Nevada, Mo, shot and killed his
wife. Arletta, who was a general agent
for the Monroe Publishing house, Chi
cagO, III. at 1915 o'clock yesterday in
the entrance to the Belmont hotel, BOB
West Ninth street
Then ne sat down on the steps and
watched his wife die, when he placed
the revolver and fired two shots into his
heart. He fell forward across his Wife's
feet and died instantly.
At the time of the shooting the street
in front Of the hotel was filed With peO-
pie. the most of whom witnessed the
affair.
Friends say that jealousy caused
Shook to commit his dual crime. One
month ago, Shook, who is said to have
been jealous without cause, left his
wife after several months of trouble. He
was her second husband, she having
been divorced nine years ago from
man named MCGOWAN, by whom she
had one child, Myrtle, now is years old
Myrtle was ia her mothers room at the
Gibson house at the time Mrs. Shook
was killed
Shook returned to this city Tuesday
night from Nevada, Mo, and for the
first time in a month went to call on his
wife. He had expressed wish to his
friends that he might live with her
again He went to the Gibson hotel.
kept by Mrs. Kate Gibson. 315. West
Ninth street, where his wife and step
daughter have been living for three
months. He was not permitted to en-
ter the hotel but Mrs. Shook went out
on the street and had a long talk with
him after which she went to Mrs. Glib
son and told her that Shook would stay
at the hotel with her. During the night
Shook and his wife had a quarrel and
shouted and talked so much that the
boarders complained and Mrs. Gibson
told Shook this morning that he could
not stay at her house any longer
He went away but returned about
noon In going to his wife's room he
met Mrs Gibson. who told him to get
out of the house
4 want to see my wife" he said
you cannot see her" said Mrs. Glib
son. Get out
IN send a policeman for her.
DO it, ratOrted Mrs. Gibson.
Shook Went away and in a few min
utes sent a note to his wife, asking her
to come to the Belmont hotel few
doors east She went and when she
stepped inside of the entrance of tne
hotel Shook closed and latchcd the door
behind her. The next instant people on
the street saw them scufiing, saw
Shook place a revolver to his wifefs
head and fire and saw her fan back
ward Then Shook sat down on the
steps and watched his wife die before
he placed the revolver to his own chest
and fired two balls, not two inches
/ apart. into his heart. A man tried to
enter the hotel after Mrs Shook had
been shot, but he found the door lock
ca.
J. ". Todd engineer in the employ
of the AtchisOn, Topeka & Santa Fe
railway stood across the street and
Witnessed the affair.
Soon a great crowd of mOrbidly cur
4 ious persons blocked the sidewalk in
front Of the hotel The police ambu-
4 lance was called, but the surgeon found
! life extinct when he arrived Coroner
/ Bedford took the bodies away to Wag-
/ ner's undertaking establishment Shook
still held the revolver in his hand when
+ the coroner arrived Four chambers
{ were empty.
MIR. and MRS. Shook We're each Sc
years old Mrs. Shook came here from