Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-30
COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE CEDAR
RAPIDS SCENE OF DOUBLE
TRAGEDY.
DIVORCE CASE TRIED
BY REVOLVER METHOD
Husband Of Stewardess, Ansered Be.
cause Of Suit For Separation, Fatal
ly Wounds Wife and Kills Himself
Leaves Note Saying He Would Be
the Judge in Divorce Case.

Cedar Rapids, Sept 30.-Because his
treatment. refused to yield to his re-
peated pleddings for reconciliation,
Joseph D. Lesenger walked into the
kitchen of the Country club where she
was employed as stewardess and shot
her twice in the back, at $50 Wednes-
day evening When she fell to the
floor he ran from the room. and the
police found him half an hour later in
an automobile shed near the entrance
to the club grounds. He had fired a
bullet into his forehead and died at
Mercy hospital at S:f5 without having
regained consciousness Mrs. Lesenger
was taken to st. Luke's hospital. Her
condition is critical.
Shot From Behind.
Mrs Lesenger vas talking at the
telephone when her husband entered
the kitchen OF the clubhouse. Mrs.
David Smith and her daughter Hilda
were also in the kitchen. With the
words. Hello Jennie Lesenger fred
twice at his wife, the bullets whizzing
between Mrs Smith and her daughter.
David Smith ran into the room When
he learned what had taken place he
started to follow Lesenger but was
detained by his daughter who begged
him not To needlessly expose himself
TO the frenzied mans bullets The po-
lice were called and Detectives Slar,
nicka and Mkota instituted hunt for
Leserger, finding him unconscious in
the shed.
Many at Club.
Many PLAYERS We're on the grounds
and about the building Attracted by
the shots and the screams they hast
cred 10 the kitchen. Among them was
Dr. r r. Johnston. who at once cared
for Mrs Lesenger. She had lost so
much blood and her heart was so
feeble that it was judged unsafe to
take her To the hospital then. At $50
she seemed TO rally. The ambulance
was called and she was taken to st
Luke's leaving the Country club at
SIS Consciousness had partly re-
turned as she was tenderly lifted on a
stretcher and carried down the steps
to the ambulance She recognized
some Of those about her and seemed
to he comforted by the ministrations
of one of the nurses. Spasms of pain
seized her, and she moaned. "Oh, I'll
die. l know l am going to die"
Was Brutal Husband.
Until recently the Iesengers lived
at 1922 a avenue with their son and
a daughter. Mrs Lesenger had often
told her friends that her husband was
cruel. n was a teamsrer. sometimes
driving an OF wagon. sometimes doing
odd jobs o. teaming. He was a poor
provider ard Mrs Lesenger earned
most Of the money that supported the
family. Some weeks ago 1t was neces-
sary for the son to defend her against
abuse by his father Then she left the
home and fled a petition for divorce.
Ever since then Lesenger has been
pleading with his wife to make up and
go back home He has waylaid her as
she got on and off the car and at num-
erous other places and begged her to
dismiss the divorce petition and re-
turn 20 him. But she has steadily re-
fused to do so. Tuesday morning he
was at the country club, again begging
her to return. to the old life. Since then
she had rot been at the club until
Wednesday night. She had been help
ing with the cooking and other pre-
n11ptial preparations at the Hamilton
home.
Left penciied Notes.
Wednesday afftoracc: I-esc3se-
called up the club house and asked
if Mrs Lesenger was there. Receiving
an affirmative answer he took the next
car for the grounds, and the shooting
followed.
When the detectives found him his
right hand was still gripping the re-
volver. frcm which three shots mao
been fired IT his pockets they FOUND
'SSIA GUARDED