The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-19
Tragedy Enacted at Varnouf
Home, 1886 N. Mkt. St.
WAS 0UTGR0WTH OF FEUO
Both Men Were Dead Within
10 Minutes.

DR.. ". L. Doyle of 1893 North Market
street shot and instantly killed George
p. Varnouf of 1888 Norts-. Market street
few minutes after seven o'clock last
evening. Immediately after the fatal
shot was fired, Or. Doyle walked back
to his home and swallowed a heavy dose
of strychnine and died within fifteen min
utes after his victim.
The murder and suicide were deliberate
~ planned and carried out without a
hitch DR.. Doyle was avenged and also
saved the shame OF arrest and trial for
murder. The tragedy ended a felI last
ing many months and the murder came
as a result OF fight just a month ago.
when DR.. Doyle was severely injured dur
Ing night with his neighbor
Dr. Doyle lived on the west side of
Market street and MIR. Varnouf lived on
the east side and about fifty feet south
OF Dr.. Doyle. The murder was commi.-
ted just north of Mr.. Varnouf's home
and directly in front Of Dr. Doyle's resi-
dence
Mr.. Varnouf was shoveling dirt from
around the old foundation of a burned
residence which stood north Of his home
DR.. Doyle went home Il few minutes be
fore seven O'Clock and it is said that
when he reached his own property his
neighbOr saw him and began cursing.
DR.. Doyle then made up his mind to Kill
his peighbor, for he walked directly into
the house, picked up his shotgun and
walked ACROSS the street to where Mr..
VarnOuf w7s working He walked close
to mis- victim and fired the shot. Seven
bucksh>t struck Varnouf just below the
left nipple, some of them penetrating
to the heart. causing instant death DR..
Doyle returned to his own home, pro-
cIired a package of strychnine which he
had purchased to kill gophers and swaI-
lowed the powder. He calmly laid down
on the bed in his room to await the eff
feet of the poisson and as he noticed
that the strychnine was getting in its
work called his wife to him and told her
what he had done. He went into con-
vulsions and died within fifteen minutes
No one saw the shooting except Mrs.
Varnouf who ran around the house just
in time to see the flash OF the gun and
her husband fall. She reached her hus-
bands side before DIR. Doyle could turn
away. Several neighbors heard the re-
port, but it was several minutes until
the people living within stones throw
OF the spot knew that a tragedy had
been enacted under their very noses. II.
@. Ruggles and~a Mr.. Chambers, who
live on Lawrence avenue. back of the
Narnouf residence. heard the report and
started TO find out what it was about.
-ney reached Mr.. Varnoufs side as he
was drawing his last breath and carried
him into the house.
The news of the shooting spread quick
ly and the neighbors soon gathered about
the spot. DR.. {. T. Jones was summoned
and also the police. DR.. Jones reached
the scene ten minutes after the shoot
ing He went first TO the home of Mr..
Varnouf and finding that he could do
nothing walked across the street to DR..
Doyles home. but he was too late to
save his life. Commissions had already
set in. He gave a strong hypodermic
injection but it had no effect, as the poi
son had reached every part of the sys-
tenn At the time that a doctor reached
the stricken man it would have been
impossible to have saved him DR. Doyle
had not eaten his supper 1t was just at
supper time and the stomach glands
had become excited The moment the
poison reached the stomach it was
whirled into the blood and within few
minutes had been thoroughly scattered
about the system.
The patrol wagon full Of officers was
sent to the scene. They found both men
dead and turned their attention 10 learn
ing the particulars OF the affair. The
officers secured the gun. a No. L gauge
and carefully examined the premises
Coroner McCollister and Sheriff Schad
went 40 the scene and began the inves-
tigation. Mr. McCollister stated last
night that the inquest would be held
Monday morning unless the relatives de-
cided that they did not wish an inquest,