Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-15
Wuitkus
Continued From First PaRe.)

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sat down and asked her what she
wanted. She made small talk
about him being up 30 late, and
told him, II have q surprise for
you"
1AlI Took Rife From Closet.
She reached into q closet.
grabbed the rife and pointed it
at him.
For heavens sake. what's going
on here?" Watkins asked. leaping
from the chair.
For two years you've bothered
me. Now you're going to die"
Miss Steinhagen replied.
Watkins moved suddenly. then
stopped as she threatened him
with the weapon. Then she Or
dered him to move over TO the
window. She shot him at close
range as he moved to comply.
Lying on the floor, Waitxus
seemed to be smiling. She added
she held his hand and he said.
you like that. don't you?"
She then went back to the
closet to reload the rifle and kill
herself, she continued, but then
she "blacked out"
Called House Detective.
Police said she telephoned the
hotel switchboard operator and
then told Edward Purdy. the
house detective. that Il just shot
a man. There's long story be-
hind this, but I'm not going to
talk about it."
Mr.. Purdy found her an q
bench near the elevators. Watkins
was lying on his back on the
floor of the room. The rifle was
on the floor.
Taken to the hospital, Miss
Steinhangen did not answer when
Watkins asked her. why did you
do it." -
Capt. Warren said the brown
eyed girl told him she gave bell
boy a note to deliver to Watkins
yesterday. |
The note was found in Watkins
room. 1t was signed Ruth Ann
Burns. Room 1897" That was
the fictitious name she gave police.
The note read:
mfr. Watkins. 1t is extremely
that I see you as soon
as possible. We're not acquainted,
but I have something of import
ance to speak to you about. I
think it would be to your advsn-
tage to let me explain it to you,
as I am leaving the hotel the day
after tomorrow. I would appre-
ciate it greatly If you would see
me as soon as possible. I realize
this Is out of the ordinary. but as
I say. 1t is extremely important.
Says Tension" Built Up.
Capt. Warren quoted her as
telling him she was "a At case for
q psychiatrist."
Miss Steinhagen told newsmen
she shot Watkins because "the
tension has been building up with
In me and I thought killing some
one would relieve It,"
She said she didn't remember
exactly when she thought of killing
Watkins. She bought the rife in
a pawn shop.
She said she developed an ad-
miration for Watkins when she
first. saw him playing in her first
baseball game July Z, 1916. Watkins
then was playing with the Cubs.
who traded him to Philadelphia
last winter.
HE reminds me of everybody.
especially my father" she added.
Became Avid Fan.
She became an avid fan. Police
found in her room an envelope
stuffed with clippings. rain checks.
and pictures of Watkins. There
were little notes on the back of the |
rain checks concerning the games. |
Watkins had spent the evening |
with his roommate, Bill Nicholson,
who was traded to Philadelphia |
from the Cubs last winter. Nichol-
son said he and Watkins had din
ner together at the Sheridan Plaza |
Hotel, Sheridan road and Wilson
avenue. He said they stayed there |
until about IL pm. when Watkins |
left. saying he was going to his
room and to bed. The Edgewater |
Beach Hotel is less than 10 blocks |
north Of the Sheridan Plaza.
Watkins father. Stephen 81
Watkins. and his brother In law,
Paul Kasperwicz. left Boston this