The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-02
SHOOTS HIS WIFE
Charles Jonagan Then Kills
Himself at 500 Van Buren,.
Suicide Formerly Was a School
Superintendent.

Charles Jonagan, farm hand and
former school superintendent, shot and
killed himself about 10 o'clock Mon
day night after seriously wounding his
divorced wife, Margaret Jonagan, at
their home, 500 Van Buren, street. 1t
was stated at ST. Francis hospital this
morning that the woman will recover.
Jonagan was drunk at the time the
shooting occurred, according to Of
fieers. He called at the house shortly
before 10 O'Clock. it was said, and
asked to see his wife. Mrs. Mine Grei.
owner of the house. said she noticed he
had been drinking and when he re
fused to Ieaved asked r. s. Ross. sign
painter who rooms there, to put him
out. = Ross complied. Two minutes
later Jonagan came back. Ross, up
stairs, came down again. At this
moment Mrs. 5oragan came from
another room. passed her former 11us-
band and started. up the stairs.
margaret" Jonagan called. She
made no reply. The man then pulled
a revolver from his pocket and fired,
| it was said. Mrs. iona gan. Who had
mounted a few steps, fell against Ross
and both went to the floor. Jonagan
then put the pistol to his temple and
pulled the trigger. his body falling
across those of his wife and Ross Pete
KerI1 edy, police lieutenant, Officer
fShandfeldt and Deputy Sheriff r. o.
GaFrod were eaIted.s DR.. o. F. Mar
cote, county coroner. and r. J. Miller
city physician, took charged the body
and attended Mrs Jonagan.
Jonagan, it was said, had appeared
at the house earlier in the day. Mrs.
Jonagan had appealed to Garred to
keep him away from the house and
Garrod had made a search, but could
not find him. Jonagan was paroled
from the county Jail october 1 5, wherN
he was sent September Is to serve a
sixty day Jail sentence for having in
| toxicatings liquors in his possession.
| He had also been in Jail for violating a
restraining order served on him dur
ling the tendency of his wifes divorce
suit. He had been in the city Jail
several times also, according to Off
GERS. A two-ounce Jamaica ginger
bottle was found on his body.
| Mrs Jonagan was granted a di-
vorce in the district court about two
weeks ago. She was to have left to-
day for her fathers home near Den
/ yer, where their two children were
sent some time ago. Jonagan had
| asked the court for the children on the
alleged grounds that his wife was not
I
| He withdrew the petition after Mrs.
Jonagan agreed, to send them to her
| fathers farm.
! Jonagan was a strange character
In his younger days he was a school
| teacher and later a school superin-
tendent. After his wife filed~suit for
divorce and the restraining order to
keep him from molesting ner was
served, he was brought before Judge
James Mcclure several times for
violating the order. On these oeea-
sions the gist of his explanation was:
/ Il know L was doing wrong, but l
wanted to see my wife and was will
| ing to take the consequences"
| The first few times Judge Mcclure
| released him with the admonitfon not
| to repeat the offense, but at last he
was sent to Jail for contempt of court,
| but later released.
| Jonagan was very intelligent
| ta1keF and possessed a kind of quaint
philosophy that he preached at eSery
| opportunity. He frankly admitted to
| the court that Booze had caused
| his downfall, making a police char
| acter out of him when he could other
wise have been a successful educator.