The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-03
. Divorced Husband wrcaks VEN

Ia Divorced Husband wrcaks Ven
geance Upon his Former Wife.
Prom the st. Louis Republican. December %.
On the evening of Thursday the 26th,
the most bloody tragedy ever enacted in
Bellcville, ILL.,, was perpetrated in the
upper story of the Reutchler House by a
man named Jacob Schopp, who, after cut
ting fearful cash with knife in the
abdomen of his wife, attempted his own
life with the same weapon by stabbing
himself repeatedly in the left breast. The
occurrence took place little before 6
o'clock. go
1t seems that Schopp had been absent
from home several months, part of which
time he had been spending in St. Louis
and part in New Orleans, and that for a
long time prior to his departure his disso-
Lutte habits and perverse disposition had
| been the cause of much infelcity at home.
1t is said that besides cruelty ill-treating
his wife, who is small and delicate
| woman, he has been in the habit of threat
ening her life so often that she concluded
finally to seek a legal separation from him.
Therefore, at the last term of the Circuit
| Court she applied for and obtained divorce
from her marriage bond on the grounds of
severe and repeated cruelty. Personal
service was had upon her husband, but
he interposcd no defence, and, upon trial,
an overwhelming case was made out against
him.
Since the granting Of the divorce it is
said that he has been seen lurking about
Belleville, moody and sullen. Sometimes
he would venture into the building in
which his divorced wife and children oc-
cupied tenement room. Frequently he
would partially ascend the stairs as if
going to her room, but upon being OBJ
served by any other of the inmates, he
would Immediately retrace his steps and
leave the building. 1t is not positively
known that he has ever visited his wife since
her divorce, until the evening Of Thursday
last, when he suddenly broke in upon her
while she was preparing the evening meal
for herself and little ones. She was alone
in her room at the time, two Of her chill
dren being in neighbours room on the
same floor. Immediately an alteration
was begun by his making violent demand
upon his wife for 5000, which he alleged
she had.
Becoming frightened, she attempted to
leave the room, but was prevented by her
Infatuated husband, who at that moment
probably inflicted upon her the wound of
which the medical gentlemen think she
will surely die. The screams of the
wounded woman brought out her neXt-door
neigbbor, who, terrified, fled down stairs
iuto the street, calling for help. One of
the city officials ran up stairs, and found
the wounded woman standing on the land
hn,, Until hnr OF
child, about one year old, in her arms.
Being in an excited and fainting condi-
ton, she was taken into the next apart
ment, and medical attendance at once
procured, when it was found that instead
of being merely bruised, as she supposed,
by being struck with a pistol, her bowels
were actually protruding from murder
ous-looking cash in the abdomen, and
that the nature Of the wound was such as
to preclude almost all hope of her re-
covery. Her fendish assailant-we will
not dignity him by the name of husband
was found stretched out upon two chairs
in the room where, but few minutes be-
fore, he had attempted the life Of his terri
| fed wife. He seemed Supplied, and made
no response when questioned about the
deed he had done. His coat was off, and
upon trying to lift him it became at once
apparent that he, too, vas wounded. Two
small pools Of blood were found upon the
| floor near where he was reclining, and his
shirt and other clothing were soaked in
blood. A pallet was then prepared, upon
which he was laid, and he was observed to
be sinking very fast from the effect of five
or six ugly stabs around and upon his left
breast. But very little sympathy was
manifested for him, and he received no at
tcntion from the doctors until he was re-
moved from the room in which he lay to
the engine-housc, yesterday forenoon, on
stretcher, by order of the authorities.
He may now, it is thought, recover, al
though his wife may and probably will die.
The relatives Of the would-be murderer
and suicide, and also those of his unfortu-
nate wife, are deeply distressed at the oc-
currence, and none seem to desire his re-
coyery, or Indeed to care whether he lives
or dies. Mrs. Schopp has experienced
much suffering, and may die from iDfam-
nation and modification soon, in view OF
which fact her dying declarations were to
have been taken yesterday, and her boy, a
bright lad twelve years old, has been sent
for from this city, where for some time
past he has been at school.