The Washington herald., 1907-05-07
ENDS LIFE WITH GAS
John G. KOehleP Blames
Woman for Troubles.
QUITS WIFE AND CHILDREN
Lives Under Assumed Name with
Mrs. Bessie PheIps-COmmits Sui-
eide After She Leaves Him-De-
cInres in Note She Ruined His Life
and Wants Her Punished.

Apparently despondent as the result OF
a quarrel with and separation from
woman who posed as his wife John @.
Koehler. a wood hnisher. committed sui
eide yesterday afternoon. in his room, on
the fourth floor Of the house 1l31 Tenth
street northwest. by inhaling Illuminating
gas. His body when discovered. about
o'clock IN the evening. was stin warm.
but all signs Of life were extinct
d, F. Brown, who lives at the house.
and who was the first 10 discover the
body. stated last night that Koehler had
come TO his house several weeks before
and had engaged rooms for himself and
wife, giving the name OF Henry Phelps.
The couple lived quietly together during
the time until last Wednesday afternoon.
when Mrs Phelps mother. a Mrs Mary
McNair died suddenly at a relatives
house, near Brightwood.
Mrs. Phelps then was absent from home
a good part Of the time arranging for
sending away her mothers remains, which
she wanted TO have taken TO Aurora, III
Some delay hindered the arrangements
for a day or so, and the body did not
leave until Sunday afternoon, Koehler
was absent from the house during the
entire morning of that day, and did not
return until late in the afternoon. During
his absence Mrs. Phelps had suddenly
returned to the house. and. packing all of
her clothing and belongings. hurried away.
saying that she intended to accompany
the body.
KOehIer Becomes DespOndent.
She had been gone but few minutes
when Koehler returned and went TO his
room. Mr. Brown stated that the man was
in very excited state, and, throwing
himself on his bed, spoke Of a quarrel and
began TO sob and cry over the woman's
absence. This was the last seen of
Koehler by any of the occupants of the
house until last night. when his body was
discovered. Yesterday morning Mr Brown
tried the door 70 his room. and finding it
locked and hearing no response TO his
calls. concluded that the man had hur-
riedly left the place.
Toward evening the odOr Of escaping
gas was detected, and after a search
of the place it was found TO be Issuing
from Koehler's room. BY forcing the
door, MIR. Brown gained an entrance, to
find the man stretched at full length
across his bed, with one gas jet turned on
fuli Before his death, KOehler had evil
IDENTIFY been drinking heavily. a number
of partially emptied bottles of liquor be-
ing found on a stand beside him. on
bureau. where a number of letters and
personal effects We're lying. a note was
found. This was written in very con-
fused manner, but when simplified read
as follows:
please give this to my mother, who
lives at 1884 New Jersey avenue. Tell
her that the cause of this act is a woman
by the name of Phelps She has ruined
me That Is why I went by the name OF
Phelps here. She is now in Aurora, H..
where her people live, and has ali my
money, and they have plenty out there
Have something done with her. Don't
forget the name-Bessie Phelps-she is
the cause of this. I am not the first one;
her husband killed himself She has
sister living az 421 Main street Jackson
vile, Fla, named Harris
Doctors Are Called.
Mr. Brown Immediately hurried for
medical assistance. but when Dr Charles