The Cornell Tragedy-1890

CORNELL, GRINNELL, BANGHART

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/2/2020 at 17:38:54

The Cascade Pioneer, Cascade, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 25, 1890

The Cornell Tragedy

George Cornell of Dubuque, an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad between Dubuque and McGregor, and son of Road master Cornell, of the same road, was shot at North McGregor Wednesday night, April 16th, by Jay J. Grinnell, official stenographer in Judge Granger’s court. Grinnell has been for years a member of Dubuque’s fashionable society. Several years ago he was married to Miss Glenn, of Clayton County. They resided in McGregor and had a boy about seven years old. Grinnell after his marriage apparently abandoned many of his former habits and was not only greatly devoted to his wife, but insanely jealous of her. About two months ago he first became aware that his wife was receiving much notice from another man. His attention was particularly attracted to the relations between his wife and George Cornell. He called on Cornell’s father several times and received from him positive assurances that his son would cease his attention to Mrs. Grinnell. At last, hoping to break up the apparent liaison between his wife and Cornell he removed to Dubuque and engaged rooms at a boarding house on Main Street. Cornell’s run on the road kept him in McGregor overnight, and by bringing his wife to Dubuque Grinnell believed he could separate his wife from Cornell. He sent word to Cornell that unless he discontinued his attentions to Mrs. Grinnell he would shoot him on sight, but Cornell laughed at the threats and intimated that Mrs. Grinnell was receiving the attention of other men besides him. Cornell left Dubuque Wednesday night on his engine and arrived at McGregor shortly after 11 o’clock. He went to the hotel of his uncle, and while washing he looked into the mirror and saw Grinnell approaching him. He turned, and as he did so Grinnell fired, the ball passing through Cornell’s head. Cornell fell to the floor, and Grinnell was walking coolly away, when he was seized by the spectators. He made no resistance and was kept in the hotel until morning, when he was handed over to the authorities. At this writing Cornell is still alive, but his death is hourly expected. Cornell was twenty-nine years of age. He was married in Bellevue about six years ago Miss Fannie Banghart, daughter of the late George G. Banghart of this city, and a sister of the Banghart brothers of Chicago. It was a runaway match. A few months ago they separated. Mrs. Cornell returning to her mother’s house in Cascade, where her two children reside. For the last two weeks she has been visiting her brothers in Chicago. Mrs. Grinnell was interviewed. She shed a few tear and endeavored to stimulate grief over the affair, but it was evidently that her sorrow was merely a pretense. She is incapable of deep emotion. She unblushingly avowed her love for Cornell, and declared it was reciprocated. She is a woman of extraordinary beauty; and stories are currently connecting her in an unsavory manner with several other men. There is no sympathy to be found for her anymore. Grinnell led a grey and reckless life before marriage. In 1879 he managed, in connection with a noted procuress, to ruin a young woman in Dubuque. The girl, who was only 15 years old, became a mother, and Grinnell is said to have employed procuresses to smuggle the child away when only four days old in order to hide the evidence of his guilt. No trace of the child has since been found.
The victim of this last is now married and resides with her husband, a railroad man, in Savanna, Illinois. For this reason her name is not given. Grinnell is also mixed up in other scandals. However, since his marriage he is said to have been an exemplary husband. Owing to the family’s connections of parries concerned, the affair is deeply regretted.