The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-18
MYSTESY
IS BATTLING
Why Should Young Man Have
Killed Sweet-heartP
HE THEN SHOT HIMSELF
Tragedy Ended in Taxicab at Reading,
Pa.--The Young People Were to
Be Married Next
Easter.
HE THEN SHOT HIMSELF

Reading, Pa. Feb. is--A murder and
suicide peculiar in their features, the
motive for which remains unexplained
occurred here in taxicab early yes
terday morning An ls-year-old CIR
was thot, the police believe, by mar
who then killed himself. The man IN
the case was 90 The two were engaged
to be married. The wedding was tc
takd place next Easter and both were
supposed to be very happy over the
prospect. This is one Of the mysterious
phases Of the case. The mother of the
girl declares that both she and her
husband approved Of the young man as
a husband for their daughter.
The dead girl was Stella Rocktashel
OF CAT North Grand street. The man
was George r. Knaut Of 2io North
Front street The parents Of the girl
are at a loss to account for the crime,
The mother Of the young man insists
that he must have been crazy His
friends had always known him as a
young man OF good character. He and
the girl had been much in each others
company for three years.
Another strange and unaccomtahlc
circumstance about the case IL that
not long before the shooting Knaut had
ordered the chauffeur to drive to the
girls home. The taxicab had not gone
more than a block from the spot where
the order was given when the chauf-
feur was amazed 10 hear shot. Fol
lowing the report the man occupant Of
the vehicle put his head out of the win
dow and ordered the chauffeur to drive
to tie Reading hospital. Before the
taxicab got there-as it was entering
the hospital gronnds-there was an
other shot, and when the door of the
vehicle was opened the man and the
girl were found dead
The last person, beside the chauffeur.
who saw the two alive was Raymond
w. Christensen, son OF the proprietor
OF the Arcade hotel Christensen had
seen Knaut before, but the woman he
did not recognize. 1t was at l o'clock
"Wednesday morning that Knaut en-
tered tho hotel and asked Christensen
to telephone for taxicab. He said
that he had left young woman out
side and asked permission to bring her
In until such time as the taxicab ar
rived Christensen granted IL.
Lewis Baker. chauffeur boarding
at tho hotel, was called upon to take
the two in his cab. Christensen saw
them enter. He noticed that they APP.
pearsd to be greatly disturbed over
something. Whether they had quarrel
led is a matter of conjecture Some
think now that the two had made A
suicide pact. but the girl was not Of
morbid nature. and those who knew her
best refuse to entertain such theory.
Knaut, helped his companion into the
cab ard paused for a moment to give
the chauffeur directions before enter
ing.
The cab was not far from the girls
home when Becker heard a pistol shot
from within and bullet smashed the
glass front Of the machine II passed
over the chauffeur's shoulder, barely
missing him, He turned IN surprise to
find tAd door open and Knaut's head
thrust ont.
Drive to the hospital" shouted the
man. The door was slammed shut
again.
Becker was uncertain as to what had
happened in the cab. but he knew it
WAS something serious and put on full
speed He reached the hospital grounds
and entered the gateway. As he did
so the second shot sounded. Then
there was silence in the taxicab
Neither the mans nor the womans
voice was heard
Thoroughly alarmed Becker brought
the taxicab to a halt at the hospital