The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-01-08
STALKS
In VARSITY HALL
Miss Laura Palmer Shot
and Would be Slayer
Kills Self.
SEE SCORNED LOVE
F. X. Bernard of Hibbing,
Mimi. Shoots Woman and
Then Kills Himself.

Madison, Wis. Unrequitted love
was advanced by officials here as n
possible motive for the double shoot
ing in the French House at the Uni
versity of Wisconsin here today which
cost the life Of Francis Xavier Ber-
nard, 80, formerly of Hibbing, Mimi,
and resulted in the probable fatal
linstructress in the romance languages
department of the university.
In order to clear up the mystery,
however, District Attorney Philip La
Toilette has ordered an inquest to be
held, probably late today or tomor-
row.
While other occupants of the
French House, where women students
in the romance language department
resided, were at classes, this morning,
Bernard gained admittance, according
to the police When Mrs. M. Hanson,
cook at the house heard four shots
she ran to the front room where she
found Demands body on the floor, a
pistol in his right hand.
From upstairs she heard a woman
Palmer attempting to stagger into her
room. The instructress collapsed in
the arms of the cook.
Mrs. Hanson telephoned police, who
arrived with an ambulance. On the
way to the hospital the woman gave
the name of the dead man, who she
said had shot her.
A letter which was addressed to
l"Dear X"s and which wsr found in an
inside pocket Of Demands coat which
lay on the davenport in the receiving
room, has been seized by police and
it is said will play an important part
in the investigation Of the tragedy.
cThe letter was signed: lovingly"
but police declined to make known the
name with which the letter closed.
They said, however, that 1t was writ
ten in a feminine hand and said in
effect that the writer was now back
at school after the holidays and that
I"everything is going fine. 1.-THE writ
err also informed "Dear Ky that she
was teaching 8 and 8 o'clock classes
| this coming semester. Miss Palmer
was the chaperon at the French
House,
District Attorney Philip La Toilette
began an investigation of the shoot
ing shortly after it was reported to
him. He went to the scene of the
tragedy with Lieutenant Franklin
Trostle.
Victim Tells Of Crime.
Mrs. M. Hanson, who came TO Madi-
SON from Marshfeld, Wis, recently to
cook at the French House, said she
knew nothing of a quarrel between
Bernard and Miss Palmer until sha
heard the pistol shots.
Mrs. Hanson, however, declared that
as Miss Palmer collapsed in her arms
on the stairway, the girl said:
81 helped him through school, and
now.
The body Of Bernard has not been
removed, pending the arrival Of Cor
oner Joseph Stephenson.
An inquest will be held to "bring
out all of the facts in the case"
District Attorney LaFollette annourc-
ed late this morning.
! In the pockets of Demands cloth-
ing also was found a snapshot of Miss
Palmer.
Miss Palmer told ambulance officers
that Bernard had just returned TO
Madison, but did not say from where,
according to police.
! Residents of the French House will
be questioned by the district attor-
ney's Office as to any knowledge they
may have Of the affair, it was an
nounced. They include Marjorie
Bond, Jessie Corrigan and Elsa Bohm-
rich of Milwaukee; Beth Harrington
and Mary Hurlburt, Omro, Wis; Ar
/ ene Olson, Green Bay; Estelle Per-
/ kins, jefferson; Hazel Schutbein, St.
Louis, Mo-; Genevieve Smith, Hinsdal,
/ Ill: Marjorie Covert, Albany, Mo-;
Louise Beauvais Tavernier, Disc,
France, and Marie Douchet, Orleans,
France.
/ District Attorney Gets Statement.
/ District Attorney LaFollette took
( statements at the General hospital
from Miss Palmer, who also was
chaperon at the French House.
/ Little information was available
| here as to Bernard, but it was learn
| ed that he had attempted to persuade
Mis-. Palmer to marry him. Report-
that Bernard, linquist educated ir
France. was seeking q position at the
( University of Wisconsin as instructor
in languages and that Miss Palmer
was endeavoring to aid him in OBJ
tanning q position we're not confirmed.
Bernard had been in Madison only
few hours before he went to the
French House, in the opinion Of Of
ficers. They said Miss Palmer appar
emily was writing a letter to him at
the time of his call. A letter was
found in the mans clothing, addressed
TO Dear x" and signed "Lovey." II
CONTINUED on page III