The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-11-14
Hester Laughlin Pfister
Formerly of Kenosha
Shoots Herself
SVAS WIDELY KNOWN HERE
Story of Tragic Death of Mrs. Pfster
Causes Profound Sensation in So
cial Circles in Several oities-Had
Planned trip to America Soon.

Mrs. Hester Laughlin Pfister, wife
of Lieutenant Carlos Pfster Of the
italian navy. and formerly resident
of Kenosha. committed suicide in
Rome on Tuesday evening of this week
shooting herself while respondent over
an iueurable disease. Facts in regard
to the suicide of the former Kenosha,
woman became known to friends in
Kenosha this morning. Hester Laugh
lin came to Kenosha many years ago
with her father, formerly judge in
st. Louis and the family lived for some
time at the old j. J. Petit house on
Park avenue. During the three years
that Mrs. Pfster made her home in
Kenosha she was very much in society
and the report of her tragic death
came ais a great shock to the people
Of the city who had been well ac-
quainted with her, At the time of her
death Mrs. Pfster had been planning
to come to America with her mother
for long visit.
Mrs. Pfster before her marriage, was
Miss Hester Laughlin, daughter of ex-
Judge Henry D. Laughlin, now presi-
dem Of the Great Northern Hotel Com
pany of Chicago. She was d prominent
society bell in St Louis, where her
father served on the bench for twenty
five years, until some years ago when
he became estranged from lis wife
and moved to Chicago. Mrs. Pfster,
who was about 80 years old, was queen
of the first yelled prophet ball in St.
Louis some years ago.
Lieutenant Commander Pfster, was
the italian naval attache at Washing
ton at the time Of che world s fair in
st. Louis and it was at that time he
became acquainted with Miss Laugh
lin and they were married shortly af-
terward.
Lieutenant Commander Pfster was
transferred from Washington last
March and was placed in command of
a vessel during the Italian Turkish
war and was sent to Tripoli, where he
took part in the landing of Italian
troops in that city. The dangers Of
her husband s profession preyed on
Mrs Pfster and her condition became
SO serious that he was compelled to re-
sign his commission on the first OPP
portunity and he became the Italian
representative of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Coal and Coke Company.
After the estrangement of Mr..
lLaughlin and his wife, the daughter
clung to her mother, who was with her
in Rome at the time of her death. On
account of the state of her health it
was planned that she should come to
America for visit with her mother.
She was making arrangements for the
trip and told her husband that she
wished to go on shopping tour to
procure the necessary things for the
voyage. She went to her room and
shot herself with revolver taken
from her mothers trunk.
The first news of her death reached
her brother, Randolph Laughlin, an at
torney in st. Louis in a cablegram. At
the Great Northern Hotel Chicago.
last evening it was said that Mr..
Laughlin had learned of his daughter 5
death, but did not know that she had
committed suicide and said there sure
ly was some mistake in the report. He
knew that his daughter had been i'll
for long time, but said there was no
reason why she should wish to take
her life.