The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-12
''ShOrty" Brenner Shot Girl
and Killed Himself.
Tragedy in His Rooms in
North Topeka.
MISS MARIAN HOLLAR VICTIM
Evidence Is That She Was
Brenner's Sweetheart.
But She Denies Amy Acquaint-
ance With Him.

Saturday evening at s o'clock
Shorty Brenner, insane with drink
and jealousy, shot his sweethearts
Marian Hollar, then blew his own
brains out. The only witness of tho
two part tragedy at sos North Kansas
avenue was a whimpering fox terrier.
Brenner, without regaining conscious-,
ness, died Sunday morning at Stor-,
mont hospital. Miss HolIar, who was,
interviewed this morning by a State
Journal reporter, is not fatally i'll un-
less blood poisoning develops. She
was carried Saturday night to herr
home. 2O21 Clay street.
Brenner's rooms are above Benja--
Minis clothing store. and the Benja-
minis occupy the apartment in 'front.'
of his. Mrs. Benjamin states that
Marian HolIar was in the habit OF
Shorty, and telling her sister. Mrs.
Gus Hill. that she was visiting ths
Benjamins.
Saturday evening the Benjamins-
lunched alone in their kitchen be-
hind the store. A little after o'clock
'Scotty' Shanefelt, a Russian, strolled
up to Brenner's rooms Brenner un-
locked the door, and said, Come ON
up little later. I've got a friend
here now"
"All right" agreed Shanefelt. At
this moment, he states, Miss Hollar
slipped out of the door, and fed down
the hall. Two shots rang out, and
"Scotty'' dived down the stairs. In an
instant Patrolman Wilt saw a girl reel
down the stairs leading from Bren-
ner's rooms and stagger to the street.
Blood covered her dress and drippsd
behind her.
"Oficer, don't take me to the sta
tion," she gasped, "leave me alone.
did this myself"
III L,
piciously.
Il threw it away" she choked. and
pulled open the door leading to Ben
jamin's clothing store. Let me lie
down" she whispered, After the doc
gets through with me, I'll tell you all
about it,
DR. Rinehar dressed her wound.
The bullet had passed through the
fIeshy part of her throat, just missing
the jug1lar vein.
II want to tell you the truth about
H." she said to Chief Jenkins and Of
ficer Wilt after the doctor had left,
IT was going up to see Mrs. Benj3-
min; she was not at home, and as
was going down the hall Shorty CALI
ed me to come in. Let me alone
said, L won't have anything to do with
you Take that he cried, and a
flash came. I felt something sharp
and hot in my neck. Shorty, what
have you done?' 1 said. Then 1 STUN
bled down stairs, and that's all there
L
While Miss HoIlar was reciting her
story, DIR. Rinehart and Officer
woodward followed the red trail and
found Brenner soaking in his own
blood near his door. A frenzied fox
terrier, sole witness of the scene, was
barking woefully. Woodward said.
Shortly" and bent above the man, he
was unconscious, his brains dripping
on the floor. william Brenner was
past the court of appeal. He viii
wake up and find himself dead" said
Officer woodward, grimly, He Won't
know how he died, or why"
D. Rinehart placed him in an
ambulance and carried him to Stor-
mont hospital where he died at ago
Sunday morning, without regaining
consciousness for an instant.
Only a Dog on Guard.
Crowds collected in immense
throngs. Officers were obliged to
hold them at bay. Sunday afternoon.
however, the house was desolate and
dreary. The reporter climbed the
dirty, blood stained steps. and found
himself in a foul-smelling hall: the
doors were boIted, and the only watch
er was a lank greyhound, crouching
by the door of the suicide, and gaz-
ing at each new conner with eyes oE
pathetic inquiry.
The dog is now in the charge OF
'Scotty'' Shanefelt, Shorty Brenner's
chum. Shorty always said he'd kill
he was runnin' a pool hall, he said
when life got too hot for him, he'd
end it,"
One of the Sunday visitors was Bren-
ner's brother, check clerk in the Union