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Story
September 3, 1926
The Elkins Inter Mountain
Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
In Lexington, Ky., K. Kirtley shot and killed Mildred Gregory during a quarrel over a diamond ring, then attempted suicide, dying from two gunshot wounds. Survivor Alma Gregory witnessed the events. Notes indicated planned murder-suicide.
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Full Text
KENTUCKY INN
HAS 2 DEATHS
Man And Girl Dead As Result of Quarrel Over Size of Stone In Diamond Ring. Man Registers As From Charleston, W. Va.
Lexington, Ky., Sept. 3. (AP)—A man registered at a hotel here as K. Kirtley, Charleston, W. Va. and a woman believed to be either Miss Alma or Mildred Gregory, address not known, were found dead in the hotel this morning. Both had been shot.
The girl, a pretty, red haired telephone operator who had accompanied Kirtley on a motor trip to Lexington, was shot while she was asleep in the same bed with Miss Alma Gregory, of Brooklyn.
The young woman had registered at the hotel Wednesday as Alma and Mildred Gregory, both of New York City. According to Alma, they posed as cousins and Kirtley as their uncle.
The two had quarreled Thursday night over the size of a stone in a diamond ring which Kirtley had given Mildred, Alma declared.
Shortly before 7 o'clock Alma declared, she was awakened by the sound of a pistol shot. She sprang up to see Kirtley standing beside the bed with a pistol in his hand, while Mildred lay still beside her, a stream of blood trickling on the pillow from a hole in her head.
"Mr. Kirtley went back into the bath room and I saw him through the door as he raised the pistol to his head. I started for the hall door and as I did I heard another pistol report," the girl said.
"I called for help when I got into the hall and several people came out of their rooms. I started back in our room and as I did so I could see Mr. Kirtley, prostrate on the bath room floor, fumbling around for the pistol. He put his hand on the gun and I turned and started back out. Then I heard another shot."
An examination of Kirtley's body showed that he had two bullet wounds, one in the right side of his head and one over the heart.
Two written messages which indicated Kirtley planned the killing and suicide were found in his room. One was termed a will and was addressed to Thos. B. Adams, Brighton, whom he named executor. The other was addressed to a Lexington undertaker, and contained funeral directions.
HAS 2 DEATHS
Man And Girl Dead As Result of Quarrel Over Size of Stone In Diamond Ring. Man Registers As From Charleston, W. Va.
Lexington, Ky., Sept. 3. (AP)—A man registered at a hotel here as K. Kirtley, Charleston, W. Va. and a woman believed to be either Miss Alma or Mildred Gregory, address not known, were found dead in the hotel this morning. Both had been shot.
The girl, a pretty, red haired telephone operator who had accompanied Kirtley on a motor trip to Lexington, was shot while she was asleep in the same bed with Miss Alma Gregory, of Brooklyn.
The young woman had registered at the hotel Wednesday as Alma and Mildred Gregory, both of New York City. According to Alma, they posed as cousins and Kirtley as their uncle.
The two had quarreled Thursday night over the size of a stone in a diamond ring which Kirtley had given Mildred, Alma declared.
Shortly before 7 o'clock Alma declared, she was awakened by the sound of a pistol shot. She sprang up to see Kirtley standing beside the bed with a pistol in his hand, while Mildred lay still beside her, a stream of blood trickling on the pillow from a hole in her head.
"Mr. Kirtley went back into the bath room and I saw him through the door as he raised the pistol to his head. I started for the hall door and as I did I heard another pistol report," the girl said.
"I called for help when I got into the hall and several people came out of their rooms. I started back in our room and as I did so I could see Mr. Kirtley, prostrate on the bath room floor, fumbling around for the pistol. He put his hand on the gun and I turned and started back out. Then I heard another shot."
An examination of Kirtley's body showed that he had two bullet wounds, one in the right side of his head and one over the heart.
Two written messages which indicated Kirtley planned the killing and suicide were found in his room. One was termed a will and was addressed to Thos. B. Adams, Brighton, whom he named executor. The other was addressed to a Lexington undertaker, and contained funeral directions.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Tragedy
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Murder Suicide
Diamond Ring Quarrel
Hotel Shooting
Planned Killing
What entities or persons were involved?
K. Kirtley
Mildred Gregory
Alma Gregory
Where did it happen?
Lexington, Ky., Kentucky Inn Hotel
Story Details
Key Persons
K. Kirtley
Mildred Gregory
Alma Gregory
Location
Lexington, Ky., Kentucky Inn Hotel
Event Date
Sept. 3
Story Details
K. Kirtley quarreled with Mildred Gregory over a diamond ring, shot her while she slept, then shot himself twice, dying in the hotel bathroom. Alma Gregory witnessed the murder-suicide and alerted help. Notes showed premeditation.