Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-01-05
TERRIBLE TR AGEDG at
EkOCk ISLAND.
a -san Shoots his VyiEc-.The
Woman Terribly M~nxled
and mot Expected TO live.

been called upon 20 record 4 German by
the name Of Frank Burger, who kept the
New Pos, Office Saloon, on Eigle street,
nearly opposite the Pest Office building,
sho, his wife in the back, using doubles
barrel shot gun loaded with chicken shot.
She was coming down the back stairs with
the intention Of going out . side
door which opens into the alley.
As she reached the foot Of the stairs,
her husband who was stssding near the
bar, seized the gun and Immediately fired,
A part Of the charge passed into the lungs
while the remainder glanced of, carrying
flesh of the side, and besnearing the oppo-
site wall with blood and pieces OF lesh.-
She succeeded in getting out into the alley,
ana ran screaming into the stree; where she
fell A crowd Immediately rushed to the
spot and carried her into the next house.
Dr.. Cali was Immediately summoned and
the wounds were being dressed, which from
their natarc, viii render her recovery i'm
possible. She has been conscious ali the
time. and says that they have never
lived happily together, and that he
has frequently threatened her life
ami report says has attempted i. at several
different times, while under the influence Of
liquor, he being very incorporate man.
City Marshal Crcpper bad the would-bc
murder under arrest and lodged in Jail,
even before the gun barrel had cooled
Both the parties we're born in Wertemberg,
Germany, came TO this country. and were
married in Rock Island about ten years
ago, since which time his principxl business
has been saloon keeper. Some time ego
they moved into the country and tried farm-
ing, but no, liking it returned to Rock Is
land last March and opened the
saloon where the tragedy occurred
Mrs. Burger was . woman Of about 80 years
Of age, and leaves four little children to
mourn mothers loss. She wss socn to
be confined again. which renders her pres
ent condition still more precarious. Our
las: accounts report her as still conscious
and resting little easier, but recovery hope.
less. Burger does not deny that he intend.
ed to kill her, aud says he has threaie iened
and tried to do it before. II will be the
universal opinion that he should be made
to suffer the severest penalty Of the law.
The affair has created considerable excite
ment in Rock Island, and should the woman
recover it will not change public sentiment
in the least
WHEAT THIEVES. John Goepner. . farm
er residing in Blue Grass Township, about
five miles from Blue Grass village, had stor-
ell in pen about quarter Of q mile from
his house, lot of about so bushels of the
very best quality of Amber Club Wheat
worth in this market a. least So 90 per bush
e.. On New Years morning this pill. of
whe,t was missing. 10 slough about so
rods f.om the wheat pen he found a place
where two wagons had been driven, and
discovered path running from the pen to
the wagons, which had been made by the
parties who carried Oft the grain. On
Thursday Mr.. Goepnsr came to town 20
look up, if possible. the missing
property. He first showed .
sample of the grain to B. s. Glaspell, who
had previously purchased some Of the Same
lot, but none had recently been purchased
there. Mr.. b went ou. and showed the
sample to Albert Judd, u grain buyer. who
remembered that he had purchased two
loads OF that same kind early New Year
morning. lie found the wagons near the
foot Of Brady street, at nine o'clock that
morning, very early to get into town. and
got Up one of them 10 sample the grain.
The driver remarked that it was Of no use
for him to look At tho wheat, for he - the
driver--could never sell him (Judd) any
gram. This remark seemed strange TO
Judd, as he never recciiected having seen
the person before. However, lie jump
ed on, sampled, and offered
$l.s5. The offer was ccep',d and the par
ties drove their wagons TO D. a. burrows
mill where the grain was taken and paid for
forty bushels.
With this information. Mr.. Geopner went
10 the mills and found that the parties who
made the sale on New Years morning, were
Mr.. Babcock and M. Brown-both Of whom
were Mr. Goepner's neighbors. This made
tho case perfectly clear. He had suspected
Babcock Is the thief, and knew that ~hen
he came home New Years Afternoon, he
brought with him new rife and pistol,
which he had purchased in Davenport. Mr..
g., returned home, and at once had Babeock
and Brown arrested for robbing his wheat
bin. The trial takes plsc. to day. d. A.
Burrows and Mr.. Judd have gone there -
witnesses.
The case seems to be tolerably clear, and
the probability is that the defsn dsnts vii
find it difficult 70 prove honest possession
Of the grain they sold Whist becomes Of
the other fsfty bushels is not vet known to
us. II these men ere guilty, as alleged.
surely they lhowed very bad skill in man.
aging matters. To steal neighbor's prop
city, 6rihe ittoun and cell il t-giving their
true names to the purchaser sssus 70 - The
climax Of stupidity. s..,r
: LIyHLy CoNPsririoN. Is tlns livsli.
liest kind of composition among the teams
that are taking passengers across the river.
The price Of passsse has been reduced to
nothing aud thsre 10 fair prospect that the
competiting parties will oG8 to pay some.
thing BY Monday, ~ IN inducement 10 ride.
Dave Hill is running free line 10 undef>
derstand, and will continue to do SO until
further notice. The sleiGhs cannot land on
the other side, owing to break near the
shore, but you can walk plank for about
forty. feet and land IN safety. O. yva can
take skif if you prefer, at 10 cents per
head.
VINO Draws rnB OrsRA Houss - The
great Chicago Opera House Drawing takes
place on the 2lst-no mistake. There are
several tickets in this city-st Stsrr's-yet
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