Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
Pleads for Favorable
Law on Export Of Power
CALIFORNIA MAN
MAD over DIVORCE
KILLS SIX AND SELF

Piacerville. Cal, March 1e-(AP)
John F. Coins, Stockton real es-
tate man. killed six persons yester-
day and then ended his own life as
posses were chasing him over dan
gerous mountain highways.
Hard pressed by posses, Coins sent
a bullet into his brain as his automo.
bile plunged over mountain cliff
near Eldorado. few miles from
here. ending day Of tragedy in the
upper San Joaquin valley.
The dead:
Mrs. Florence Podesta Coins, his
wife.
Mrs. Minnie Podesta Clark, his
'wife's sister.
Mrs. George McNoble, wife of the
former president of the state bar as
| ISOLATION.
Alex Marengo. Mrs. Marengo and
| their married daughter, Mrs. Henry
Dutra.
Coins began his maniacal round Of
killing when he heard that his wife
was seeking a divorce. Coins went
first to the Podestra ranch, near
Stockton, where he shot and killed
his wife. and her sister, Mrs. Clark.
Escaping from the ranch he return
ed to Stockton and sought. the law
office of George F. McNoble, husband
OF Mrs. McNoble, who he had heard
was advising Mrs. Coins concerning a
legal separation.
Learning that McNoble was in San
Francisco, the crazed man went to
the McNoble home where he found
the attorneys wife, whom he inter-
rogated regarding Mrs. Coins di-
vorce plans. Mrs. McNoble denied
any knowledge of them, whereupon
Coins shot her three times, killing
her almost instantly, as one of her
! children looked on.
Leaving Mrs. McNoble dead, Coins
drove madly to Gait, "a miles north
of Stockton and shot and killed Mar
engo, his wife and their daughter,
Mrs. Dutra.
The motive for the Marengo kill
ings, aside from Coins possible in
sanity, was that some years ago
Marengo figured as prosecuting
witness in a charge of horse stealing
against Coins.
Radios broadcast warnings to be on
the lookout for the killer. The whole
countryside from Stockton to Sacra-
mento was in state of alarm.
The tragedy, however, was ended
as quickly as it started. AS O. ptain
Carl E. Slatterback, state traffic Of
ficer, and w. S. .Biggs, supervisor
of Eldorado county, two of his pur-
suers, bore down on him near Ell
,et ,I,,
from the road. The officers found
own gun in his brain. 1t all happened
in the space of a few hours.
Something of what had been going
on in the mans mind was revealed
in two wills found in Coins ROOM
One, written on the back of a pilot J.
graph of Coins and two dogs, taken
on the lawn of his home, said: "On
my right is my faithful dog Rover;
on my left Is faithful trained sheep
dog, Beauty. 1 trained her from a
puppy and she has dev~'~0ed into a
most valuable sheep dog and COM
panion and has been my most faith
full friend in the. most trying condf-
tions and hardships. May she be
treated we'll.
"This is my house, bought for my
future home and happiness. How
ever, my wife. Florence Podesta
Coins, refused to live in this fine
home, therefore breaking my plans
and happiness. l have therefore
given this house to my son (by a for
mer marriage), Lawrence John Coins,
for his future home"
In several envelopes police found
another will written on ruled paper.
1t read as follows:
Lawrence:
"The abstract company has just
told me that this is our deed and
give you the Flora street property.
1t is no good to me now account of
it being joint tender and was sign
ed by both myself and my wife,"
In conclusion this will read:
Hold my funeral strictly private
and do as you please with my re-
MAINS Buy no new clothes. l want
no flowers. Just the American flag.
(Signed) al NJ COINS"