The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-20
-FOUR TRAGEDIES.
Chicago Keeps UP Her Reputation
for Wickedness---M Murder and
Suicide Rampant.
Ehrke's Crimc-.-Attempt to Kill His
Wife and Himself - The Latter
Sueeessfnl---Two Suicides and
Another Murder.

CHICAGO, June 19-Adolph EhrGe, brick
layer of 66 Vedder street, put two balls from
a revolver into his wife Margaret's head,
fatally wounding her, and then shot himself
in the temple, dying instantly. The tragedy
occurred in the room occupied by Margaret's
mother, Juliana Fredericks, in the third story
of 564 North Halsted street. Ehrke saw by
the daily papers that his wife had applied for
a divorce. The ground of action was i'm
potency. Procuring a revolver, he went to
about the divorce.
do you love me, Margaret" said he
NO" was the short reply,
"Shall shoot you and myselfF'
Before the laugh which followed the ques
ton had left her lips, two sharp reports were
heard, and Margaret Ehrke lay at her hus-
bands feet bathed in blood Instantly plac-
ing the revolver at his own head he fired,
and fell dead beside his wife His body was
taken to his home, and she lies at the point
of death at her mothers One ball entered
the back of her head and the other her cheek
near the ear. The former was extracted.
Margaret is German, 81 years old, plump,
pretty and brunette. Her husband was s.
years old, sober, industrious and of good ap-
pearance. She came to Chicago from the old
country in July last. She loved another
young man, but the opportunities of Ehrke,
backed by the wishes of her mother, pre-
vailed, and she married Ehrlze November IL
1882. She lived with him until six weeks
since when she left him for the reasons men
toned in her bill for divorce. Her lawyer
had warned her that Ehrke might do her in
jury, but she had said she was not afraid of
him, and it is evident from his reception that
the attack was entirely unexpected.
FRIGHTENED INTO THE RIVER.
As Michael Mahoney and John Mcmahon.
two men who belong to the Salt-Laborers'
union, were waiting on the north pier for a
steamboat to arrive they were attacked. so
McMahon says, by a gang of roughs, who
fired fifteen or sixteen shots at the pair The
scoundrels kept some distance away, but kept
on shooting, until Mahoney, frightened
ne rly out of his wits, jumped into the water
and struck out for passing vessel He sank,
however, before reaching it, and his body has
not vet been recovered. McMahon claims
that the shooting was done by an organized
band of thugs and thieves, who spend the
night regularly on the pier watching for cap
tanls who are going on board their vessels
late, whom they waylay and rob whenever a
chance offers
SUICIDE NUMBER ONE.
A half-witted waiter named Joe, EMPLOYED
in Michel Koenig's saloon. corner of Ran
dolph street and Fifth avenue, at o'clock to-
day babe good-by to several customers who
were in the place. and then took a revolver
from behind the bar and shot himself in the
right temple. He fell to the floor and died
instantly. The central patrol wagon was
called and removed the body to the morgue.
| Nobody about the saloon knows the dead
mans name, although he had been employed
there for several months. 1t is thought that
he has a wife and children in Germany. He
| was about As years old. 1t is supposed that
| he committed suicide in a freak of insanity.
NUMBER TWo-A FAILURE
Charles Beckman, of Lawndale, was found
| lying unconscious on Ogden avenue, south of
Douglas park, with a bullet wound in his
breast, and confessed to Lieutenant barrow.
| of the Human street police station, that the
wound had been made by his own hand in an
attempt TO commit suicide. He gave no def
mite reason for the dependency which made
him wish to die. Beckman is at the county
hospital, and will probably recover. He tried
| to convince the police that somebody
whom he did not see had attempted to muir
1 n L