The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-08
LOVE NOT
REQUITED,
Tragedy Closes a Love Affair
That Was Begun at
Long Distance.
LOVER SENT A BULLET
Straight Through the Heart
That Beat Alone For
Blanche.
AT SWEETHEART'S DOOR
He Ended His Life When He Found
She No Longer Cared
For Him. rsr.
FROM THE PACIFIC SLOPE
He Had Come to Claim as q Bride the
Young Lady Who Had Written
Tender Letters to Him-The
Danger of Matrimonial
Advertisements.
Special to News-Democrat.

Special to News-Democrat.
Alliance, Sept. 1.-THE extremities to
which unrequitted love will drive a
man of impulsive nature were shown
here last night by the suicide Of John
A. Koon before the eyes of the
girl he loved but who did not return the
affection. The sad affair also shows
the danger of the modern matrimonial
agency.
A couple of years ago girl friend
of Miss Blanche Filson, of Noble street,
this city, sent Miss Filson's name to a
matrimonial agency just for joke and
in short time she began to receive let
ters. In a spirit Of fun she answered
one of them and almost before she could
realize it she had a desperate long dis
tance love affair on her hands. There
was very affectionate exchange of let
ters and finally fourteen months ago
John A. Konn, her correspondent, came
to Alliance from his far away home at
Oak Point, Wash, fully determined to
marry the little Ohio girl She seemed
to like him we'll at first and until three
months ago they were the best of
friends. Konn got work first at the
Mongan Engineering works, and then at
the American Steel Casting works and
was very devoted in his attention to
Miss Filson.
Finally, her love began to wane and
thrse months ago he was forbidden to
visit the Filson home. He threatened
to shoot the girls mother and himself
and acted like an insane man. He con-
suited lawyers to try to force her to
marry him and finally threatened to
publish her letters. He would frequent
ly shoot near the house and the family
became desperately afraid of him and
for the past month the police kept a
close watch on the house at night. 1t
was useless; he could neither coax nor
intimidate the girl. She admitted ali
their affairs as here stated but claimed
that owing to being cripple it would
be impossible for her to marry.
Konn went to the house Wednesday
evening and his rap was answered by
the girls brother Charles. He asked to
see Blanche and was refused. He then
iielhbcu SiieiA lSo a pdIhciSS lClliiiG illul W
give it to her and turning. walked dis
tance of about eight feet, pulled a 32-
caliber revolver and snapped it several
times while pointed at his heart. 1t
finally exploded but rebounded so that
the bullet struck him in the neck. He
fired again and the bullet passed
straight through his heart. He fell dy-
ing before the eyes of Miss Filson who
had been attracted to the door by his
actions.
Konn was about 35 years of age and
was Of Finnish birth as was shown by
his naturalization papers, He came to
this country about eight years ago, leav-
ing mother who is still living at Fin
land. He is said to have had an uncle |
who is immensely wealthy. He was
member of the Oak Point, WASH, lodge |
of Maccabees, who have been notified of
his DEATH The girl and her mother are |
almost wild over the affair.
Coroner Shuffel came over last ni,ht |
and took testimony in the case but there |
was no question as to the manner of |
death.