Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-24
YOUNG WOMEN KILL
EACH OTHER IN CAFE
Sensational elimination Of q
Suicide Pact Startles Late
Diners at Portsmouth.
EACH is. SHOT IN HEAD

Portsmouth, N. H., March 23.-The
two young women who killed each
other simultaneously in the Ports
mouth cafe last night were definitely
identified today as Margaret
CPeggy") Spalding, daughter of
George F. Spalding, OF Newton,
Mass, and Ethel Stanton. daughter OF
J. L. Stanton, city passenger agent OF
the Rock Island railroad, with head
quarters at Los Angeles. A note
signed Peggy and Ethel" found in
room of the Rockingham hotel,
which they had occupied Wednesday
night and Thursday, indicated that
they had agreed to commit suicide to-
gether.
Miss Spalding was IS years of age
and Miss Stanton %. The girls came
here Wednesday. After a night and
day spent at the hotel, where Miss
Stanton had registered in her own
name and Miss Spalding as Rose
King" they went to the cafe for din
ner. They spent more than two hours
over the meal, prolonging it by re-
peated calls for black coffee.
Just before II o'clock the walters
and the few remaining diners heard
two shots. They rushed to the booth
where the girls had been seated and
found Miss Stanton dead, lying half
across the table. Miss Spalding lay
on the floor unconscious and died
shortly afterward. Each girl had a
bullet wound in the temple. Miss
Stanton's fingers were closed about a
thirty-two-caliber revolver. and be-
side Miss Spalding's body lay pearl
handled twenty-five caliber revolver.
Each Girl Shot in Head.
The police expressed the opinion
that each girl held a revolver at the
others head and fired. 1t was
planned to hold an inquest today
The note found in the girls room
was addressed to Miss Spalding's
mother. Through inquiries made a,
her home in Newton it was learned
that Margaret Spalding was gradu'
ate OF the Newton high school, where
she had been a prominent basket bal
and hockey player, Since last fall
she has been teacher-pupil in the
gymnasium department of the Gar
land school in Boston. Miss Stanton
was a pupil at this school until two
weeks ago, when she began studio:
at the Dana Hall school in Welles
ley, Mass, The women had beer
close friends for some time.
No definite reason was given in thu
note for the girls acts. 1t said they
had decided that it was better tina
they should die and asked their par
ents not to be grief-stricken becaus,
they would all be happy and peace
| full when reunited in a better world.
A note left by Miss Stanton asket
that c. F. Malsbury, Johnson build
ing, Cincinnati, be notified. The po
lice learned today that Mr.. Malsbur,
had served as executor of the estate
of Miss Stanton's mother, who wa:
killed in an automobile accident.
Miss Stanton Wealthy.
| Los Angeles, Cal, March 23.-J. L
Stanton, city passenger agent here
for the Rock Island railroad ant
father of Miss Ethel Stanton, one O
two young women who were sho
and killed simultaneously last nigh
in Portsmouth, N. H.. cafe, said to
day he could offer no explanation o
his daughters act.
| He said she was cheerful as rul,
and he knew of no reason for her t.
worry. She had an independent for
tune and could crafty her tastes.
Miss Stanton, who was % years old
lived here with her parents until fv,
years ago. She went to an eastern
school and soon afterward he
mother was killed in an automobile
accident. Miss Stanton attended
university at Godfrey, ILL.,, for time
She spent Christmas holidays in 1911
with her father here, then returne,
to school, Six months ago, he said
she decided to travel and had beel
moving from place 10 place sine
then