A FOOL THERE WAS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 8

A FOOL THERE WAS.

MURDERER’S EXPLANATION . “A fool there was, and his goods he spent, Even as you and I.” The foregoing paraph ase on a verse of Kipling’s “Vampire” was the explanation of a murder and suicide in Brooklyn, written by the murderer in the short time which elapsed between firing four -shots into his victim’s body and putting a bullet from his revolver into his'own heart The tragedy caused the deaths of a mar. who signed himself “E Scheer” and Miss Greta Kaspa, 24 years old. Tire tragedy occurred at the home of Mrs Edna- Falkenburg during her absence. According to the story Mrs Fal--kenburg told the police. Miss Kaspa went to her home early in the evening for a call. Scheer, she said, arrived later, and she left the two together to go out and do some shopping. A few minutes after ten o’clock four revolver shots rang- out in the Falkenberg apartments. Tenants ran out to get a policeman, and as a policeman ascended the stairs a fifth shot was heard. He found Miss Kaspa lying on tho living room floor, with, four bullet wounds, three in her chest and one through her mouth. Scheer was lying beside her, with a bullet hole through his heart and a revolver beside him. Both were dead when the policeman reached them. In Scheer’s pocket was found a sheet of note paper. Written in pencil, it may have been indited by Scheer after he had killed Miss Kaspa. It was as follows;

“I am in bad luck, tpid I am sorry for my brave little wife and boy. “ ‘A fool there was, and his goods he spent, “ ‘Even as you and I.’ KIPLING’S WOEDS APPEOPEIATE. “How Kipling’s words fit my own life. A mentally normal man would not do as I did. “ ‘The fool was stripped through his foolish pride, “ ‘Even as you and I “ /Which he might have seen when she threw him aside.’ “I saw it coming from the beginning. I did not want to see, so I closed my eyes. I see nothing now but shame and disaster. I don’t feel sorrow for myself, for I thought at one time that no price was too high for this girl. Even how, at the brink of death, I love her as much as any man can love a woman. Since I have known her I have been a dirty liar and a mean sneak. I cannot but go to i ie ll.—Your unhappy E. Scheer.”