The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-10-14
KILLED BRIDE AND GROOM.
Then Charles Renkin, Who Was IDs
sanely Jealous, Took His Own
Life, Leaving n Note /.

first reported. The bride, as well as
Frank Walker, was also murdered.
They died side by side at the wedding
supper, and Charles F. Renkin, the per-
p~etrator of the crime, committed sui
eide at the front gate to the home
where the young couple were cut down
by him in the full bloom of their love
and happiness.
1t was well that the posse of men
found Renkin dead. A more deter
mined and angry crowd nevergathered
in this section.
On the body of the suicide was a
photograph of the woman whom he
had slain and the following note:
"Friends-You may think m
strange, but it is all my fault that this
has happened tonight; tits my w
unworthiness if this rash act has been
done by her and the fatal results. With
q parting gocd-by to my friends 1 will
close with a request that my brother
/ Odd Fellows bury me by the rites of
that sacred fraternity. Good-by to all
and especially my home folks, for I ex-
pect I shall go to hell for this deed, as
it makes two lives unhappy and I will
end this world of misery for US both"
The AssassinatiOn.
Walker was a young and industrious
farmer and Miss Maudc Goshorn was
the daughter of W. S. Goshorn, a prom
inCnt farmer living near Bellefiower, a
small town north of here. They came
to this city Tuesday afternoon and
were married at the Methodist parson-
age by Rev. B. d. Sipple. They then re-
turned to the home of Mr.. Cook, IN
intimate friend of the groom, where
they were rendered an elegant bridal
reception. At the supper hour, while
the merry wedding party was in prog
ress, a shotgun was fired through the
window of the dining-room. The shot
took effect in the heads of both Mr..
Walker and his bride. Neither uttered
a sound or moved a muscle. Their
hands dropped on their breasts, and
their bodies remained rigidly upright
in their chairs until removed.
Blood flowed in a stream from the
head of the bride and filled her coffee
cup before she could be taken away.
Neither regained consciousness. Both
died almost immediately.
Mr.. Cooks child was only slightly
injured.
Mr.. Cook took his gun and went in
search of the perpetrator, but no trace
could be found. Soon after he re-
turned to the house the report of a
gun was heard. 1t sounded as if it
were a quarter of a mile away. Shortly
afterwards, excited and angry farmers
arrived and organized a posse.
Suicides Body Found.
Another shot was heard, apparently
coming from neal the gate, but under
the excitement of the moment no at
tention was paid to it.
As Bailey Ball, a neighbor, rode IL
the house, his horse stumbled over Z
dark object, which he took to be a
hog. Upon d~ismounting, he discov-
cred that it was the body of Charles +.
ReEkin, and that the whole top of his
head was blown off. He had executed
self-murder with cunning and ingenui-
+; He removed the shoe and stock
ing from his left foot, tore the rim
froT his hat, hooked one end over his
great toe, fastened the other in the
trigger of his shotgun, placed the
muzzle of the gun at his forehead,
Inc pulled the trigger by moving his
foot.
Renkin was a former sutton of E-s.
yyyr11-o, ,.1 - =, .,r,oI $500, ,.t,,,%
ed by his insane love and jealousy.
After committing the murder, he wan
dered away. apparently undecided
where he should kill himself. Finally,
he returned to the scene of his crime.
Verdict.
The body of young Renkin was
placed in Il large watering trough to
await the arrival of the orone DIR.
Hudson, of Wellsville.. The suicides
head presented a fearful sight. The
top and back part of the skull was !
blown entirely away. Not as much as
a teaspoon of brains remained in his
head. His body was neatly attired, |
rs i: he intended going to n party.
Mr.. Cooks house fronts north to-
ward the road, but sits back from the
road about 100 yards. The dining
room is on the west end of the house, /
and n window therein looks out upon
n garden, which has a fence running
along the house. One end of the din
Jig table was directly in front of the
window, and the bride was by his side.
The shot was fired through the screen,
and tore a big hole in it, also shat
to1ing a portion of the window frame.
Coroner Hudson arrived about ten
O'clock, and impaneled the following !
jury: John Ahmann, Henry Obe-.
smith, Berry Hudson, Samuel Hinton,
Albert Messenger and John Perkins.
The verdict was that the three dead
parties came to their death from gun
slot wounds inflicted by Charles T.
Renkin. The murderer and suicide
was a son of r. Renkin, a prosperous
farmer, and had hitherto been no;cd
TO" his quiet and gentlemaEiy bearing
at all times
Dewey Has Washington to Himself.
Washington. Oct. 6.-The absence of
the president and cabinet from Wash
inglcn, and the conclusion of the Of