Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1901-08-08
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Murder and Suicide at fhe Park
H0feI--Bofh Deaths are
instantaneous.

From the Dodge City Democrat, Aug. ?!
One of the most horrible tragedies
occurred last Monday at the Park
Hotel in this city whereby two per-
sons, Mr.. and Mrs. E. Kirby lost
their lives. About five minutes be-
fore I2 O'Clock the guests were
startled by hearing several shots
fired in the basement of the hotel.
Mr.. Lynch, boarder, was sitting
in the Office at the time and when
he heard the first shots fired he
started for the stairs that lead to
the basement from the sidewalk.
When he reached the lower floor and
entered the outside door he found
the door to Kirby's room closed
and locked. He secured sledge
hammer which lay in the passage
and burst in the door. By this
time several of the guests had fol-
lowed him. When they entered the
room they saw both Mr.. and Mrs.
KIRBY upon the floor, dead, the
room being yet full of powder smoke
Lynch Immediately started for
doctor and to notify Sheriff Hale.
DR.. McCarty and the sheriff arrived
in short time after and on examina-
ton found both dead. On further
examination it was discovered that
Mrs. Kirby had been shot twice,
one ball entering the head just above
the left eye and the other one at the
left temple near the ear, both balls
coming out at the back of the head.
Kirby was shot in the right temple
just in front of the ear and the ball
lodged over the left eye.
Sheriff Hale Immediately took
charge of the room. A large crowd
had gathered about the entrance
which he quietly dispersed. He
sent telegram to Coroner Hollo-
peter and received an answer that
he would arrive on the 5:3o Rock
Island traiu, Owing to the heat
the sheriff was advised to summons
coroner's jury to view the bodies
so they could be turned over to the
undertakers, which was done about
3 O'Clock that afternoon. The jury
viewed the remains and investigated
the room. They found 3S caliber
revolver lying under Kirby's right
side and five empty shells in it,
showing that five shots had been
fired. The bodies were lying close
together and from the appearance
of Mrs. Kirby she must have been
dead as soon as she fell for she was
lying in an uncomfortable, half
twisted position on the floor, and
one of the shots must have been fir
ed at her after she fell, from the
way the ball ranged outward.
Col. Gill, one of the boarders at
the hotel went down to the room
just after Mr.. Lynch did and felt of
the pulse of Kirby and discovered a
slight flutter of the pulse, but Mrs.
Kirby, whom he also examined, gave
no signs of life.
The bodies were turned over to
the undertakers Adams and Coons
who then took them to their rooms
on Chestnut street.
On investigation it was learned
that Kirby and his wife had been
having some trouble over property
which had all been transferred only
short time ago to Mrs. Kirby by
Kirby. They had quarreled all Mon
day forenoon and about 20 minutes
before IL O'Clock Mrs. Kirby had
started for the basement to dress as
she said, and secure lawyer to get
divorce. Mr.. Kirby went over to
the City Hardware Store and bought
a revolver and put in S loads telling
young Schmidt that if he did not use
it he would return it the next day.
He went from there direct back to
the hotel and to the basement where
he found his wife dressed for the
street. What passed between them
will never be known as only a few
minutes after both were dead.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kirby were married
about four years ago, in Missouri
and came to Kansas about three
years ago, locating on a ranch in
Meade county. In February last he
purchased the Park hotel of Mr..
Dupree and had been doing a good
hotel business. They were well
thought of and to all outside appear
ance lived happily together up to
the present time. This is Mrs.
Kirbo's third husband, she had Sc
cured divorce from the second one
who is yet living. She had one
daughter, aged II years, by her
former marriage. He has son, IS
by former marriage, both of these
children were living with them at the
hotel. Kirby's father and mother
were also living with the family at
the hotel and assisted in running the
business. Mr.. Kirby was possessed
of considerable property before the
transfer to his wife, and why he did
this is mystery. He no doubt be-
came alarmed over the matter and
sought to recover it again from her,
which she refused, hence the unfor
tunate occurrence. Had she secur-
ed divorce, Kirby or his son would
have been left out of any property
rights and all would have gone to
Mrs. Kirby's daughter by a former
marriage. But she dying first leaves
the property divided between the
son and daughter.
The funeral took place yesterday
morning from the Undertaker's
rooms and the remains were buried
in the G.. A. r. cemetery. The
Rev. VIM. Westwood delivered a
short sermon.