The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-01-06
KILLED GIRL AND
ENDED HIS LIFE
Double Tragedy in Dining-Room
Of a Hotel.
THE MATTRESSES WERE IN A PANIC.
Roy Mckinney, Separated From
Dora ChappeIl, Finds Her A
Waitress In BosteIry At Peru,
Ind.-Shoots Her In The Left
Breast And Then Puts A Bullet In
His Heart-Committed Robbery
To Get Cash For Trip.


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Peru, Ind. Especially A man who
had registered at the Bearss Hotel as
L. B. Lenhart, of Chicago, but who,
1t develops, was Ray Mckinney, Of
Indianapolis. shot and killed Dora
Chappell and then killed bimself in
the dining-room of the hotel here.
The woman, who was a waitress IN
the hotel, bent over Lenhart to take
his order for dinner, as 1t appeared
to the other mattresses in the room
Lenhart put his arm around her, as
If in affection, and drew her close tc
him. With his other hand he drew
revolver. shot her in the left breast
and let her body slip to the floor
AS Sumner Hart, the son of the
proprietor of the hotel. ran into the
room Lenhart shot himself in the
heart and fell from his chair. still
clinging to the revolver. The wait.
resses ran from the building in
panic. There was no other guests
in the dining-room at the time of
the shooting.
Lenhart registered at the hotel in
the afternoon. He went about in
Aiy oeSi iCuo way, anu 10 StNeTdl per
sons he said he was deputy United
States marshal making inquiry about
a government matter.
Several letters were found in the
mans coat pocket addressed to Roy
Mckinney, 938 West Pearl Street,
indianapolis, Ind. The man was
about 23 years old.
Dora Chappell was IS years old
and graduate of the Peru High
School. She returned home two
weeks ago, after having been employ
ed at hotel In Indianapolis She
and Lenhart talked at the supper
table and at the breakfast table, but
apparently had no more than a cas-
ual acquaintance.
According to advices from India
napolis, Mckinney entered a lunch
room there and rifled the cash regis.
ter while he covered the man behind
the counter with revolver.
Letters found in the dead mans
pockets indicate that the holdup and
the crimes were planned. 1t is
thought that Mckinney committed
the robbery to get money to come
to Peru.
The letters were addressed to the
coroner. the girls father, Frank
Chappell, of Peru, and to McKinney's
wife, at East Germantown, Ind.
In the letter to the coroner Nc
Kinney first directed that his body
be sent to a medical college and
then added
Il left my first wife because she
was not true to me. | left my sec
ond wife last March. On March is,
1909, I met Dora Chap2ell, and went
with her two months, at the end of
which time found that she was the
only girl for me- / could not leave
the girl loved. Several days age
the girls father went to Indianapolis
and caused me much trouble and
brought Dora to Peru. 1t was i'm.
possible for me to forget her, so ]
came to Peru. I asked her to 60 to
the theatre with me, but she had
other. arrangements. could not
sleep. and God knows life has been
hell May God helD Dora and take
pity on me. Before | close, | hope
that everybody will take a punch at
me before l pass over the great di-
vide"
In the letter to his wife, Mckinney
said:
II only wish you were with me
so could take you with us, too
When Mckinney came to the hotel
and registered as L. B. Lenhart, of
Chicago, he posed as q United States
marshal and displayed Secret Serv-
ice badge. 1t is not known where he
obtained the badge, as he had not
been In the government service.
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