The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15
IN HER LAST SENSATION
MRS. GEORGE w. KOEHNE. NEE Eff
FIE CORDELI, HANGS HERSELF.
Her Jealousy Again Causes Rash
Deed-The ARRAY with Min
ME GraysOn Recalled.

Mrs. George Koehne, until recently Effie
Cordell, committed suicide yesterday after
noon by hanging herself to the upper sill
of her bedroom door by a sheet. She was
last seen by the janitor of the Fair block,
on South Illinois street, in which building
she roomed, about o'clock yesterday after
noon, and 1t is supposed that she went di-
rectly to her room and killed herself.
Since her marriage with Koehne several
weeks ago the couple have spent consider
able time in Chicago and West Baden, and
Mrs. Koehne returned to this city from the
latter resort Tuesday afternoon, accom-
panied by her husband, who left almost i'm
mediately for Terre Haute, where he
claimed to have an engagement with some
business men in regard to his hotel BUSH
ness. He was to have returned yesterday
morning, but failed to put in his appear
ance at his wifes room where he was evil
IDENTIFY expected. The wife's roommate,
young woman, has also been out of the city,
and only returned early this morning to find
the cold stiff body of Koehnes wife hang
ing in the doorway of her bed chamber.
The door of the room was locked as usual,
and the room was dark when the young
woman entered. Striking match, she lit
the gas while her back was turned to the
door in which the body was hanging. When
she turned she saw the white object, but
at first believed it a prank of Mrs Koehne
to brighten her. A closer investigation
vealed q shocking disclosure and she ran
from the room screaming The janitor was
easily reused and policeman was soon
upon the scene. Captain Dawson, with the
aid of Patroman Schaffer, soon unfastened
the knot which held the bed clothing to the
door sill and carefully laid the dead woman
upon sofa in the adjoining room.
The deed was well planned. chair had
been moved to the doorway, and, standing
on this, the woman tied the sheet above.
Then, securely fastening one end in slip
knot about her own neck, she deliberately
stepped from the chair. The death was
slow. Her fists were cllnched and her
mouth was wide open. She was dressed in
her night clothing, and presented grew
some sight in the poor light of the room.
When found she was cold, and her limbs
were rigid. The blood had run to her hands
and feet and they were discolored.
LETTER TO HER ROOMMATE.
On the stand in the front room a photo
graph negative of Koehne and herself was
found and in a book which lay upon the
table was found a letter addressed to her
roommate. 1t furnished the motive for the
deed 1t is as follows:
Dear Mamie-I wish you were with me
this morning. | am in much trouble |
don't know what to do with myself. looked
for George all last night, but he did not
come He went over to Minnie's from the
train. Mamie, l can't stand it any longer.
He will never do any better as long as he
lives So l am going to end my troubles
Yours lovingly, SUNSHINE"
Her theory as to Koehne's whereab bouts
are wrong from the investigation made by
the police last night. They went through
Minnie Grayson's resort, on South Senate
avenue, but failed to find Koehne or any
trace of him. The Grayson woman denies
that she has seen or heard of him since his
marriage with Miss Cordell.
This is the last chapter of a long story. 1t
has been a case of one woman Jealous of
the other, first the Grayson woman and
then Miss Cordell. On the night of July Is
the Grayson woman drove to the Fair
block, where Eftle Cordell was then room
ing, and asked for Koehne. He had been
in the room, but when he learned that the
woman was coming to look for him he left
as he says, to avoid trouble. The Grayson
woman pushed her way into the room
WFere Miss COrdell was sitting and made
some remark to the effect that she would
fix her. Miss Cordell was seated at her
bureau, and, opening a drawer, Withdrew a
revolver and fired twice, striking the Gray
son woman both times in the neck One
bullet only glanced. but the other entered
and is still in the shoulder of the Grayson
woman, where the doctors were unable to
extract il. The wounds were painful but
not dangerous, and the Corden woman was
arrested and bound over to the grand Jury
fer shooting with intent to Kill. Minnie
Grayson appeared before the grand jury
and said that the shooting was her fault
and assumed all the blame for the affair
Miss Cordell w&s released, went to Chicago
with KOehne, where they were married and
supposed to be living happily.
Miss Cordell was an exceptionally beauti-
full woman and attractive in her manner.
The GraysOn woman is we'll known in the
city, having been the keeper of resort
Koehne is the proprietor of the Normandie
Hotel.