The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-11
KILLED HIMSELF.
leopold Fiiski Shoots his Wife, and
then Ends his Own Existence.
An Argus Reporter visits the Scene
of the Tragedy and Secures Full
Particulars.

IhV uohdllS Qulet Httlt low II VI N"di
Valley was the scene of tragedy on
Friday afternoon between two and three
o'clock. 1t threw the town into the
widest OF excitement when it was known
that Leopold Filski shot his wife and
then lodged bullet in his own brain.
The green eyed monster jealousy, was
the cause. There has been trouble be
tween the two for some time, and efforts
have been made by relatives and friends
of the couple to have them resume their
former relationship but to no effect The
shooting occurred in the garden of their
house About two weeks ago when
Filski was at work his wife repaired to
the house and took all the furniture, in
fact everything movable, and moved
| them to her fathers house Friday when
he was digging potatoes in his lot his
wife made her appearance and told him
that those potatoes were not his prop
erty, and he, cXasperated by his wife's
former conduct, was led 10 com
init the horrible deed Very few
words passed between them when he
pulled revolver and
FIRED TWO SHOTS
at her, one entering her breast He then
put the revolver TO his own head and
pulled the trigger. The ball passed
through the temple and lodged in the
forehead, death resulting in about two
hours.
The revolver used was a 33-calibre
The woman was shot about an inch to
the right of the left slernum and The
chances for her recovery are very good
Both Filski and his wife are natives
of Poland, and from what the people who
live in Coal Valley say, jealousy was the
cause of the trouble. Nj FilSki has
lived in Coal Valley a number of years
and has borne the reputation of being a
sober and industrious citizen, and man
of more than ordinary intelligence
He was well liked and respected by all
who knew him, and the universal verdict
is that his wife's conduct is the cause of
the crime.
Coroner Halves and Deputy Eckhart
took the morning train for the scene of
the tragedy They empanelled jury,
when the following testimony was received:
Jacob Wifzel was sworn. Residence.
Coal Valley, occupation laborer. Have
known Charles Leopold Filski; saw him
at his own house yesterday; he was dig
cling potatoes; he was alone, | went away
and came back in fifteen minutes His
wife was there; he went on digging, and
she was picking onion seed, and they APP
peared to be sRaTling, but could not hear
or understand her one hundred feet away.
She made use of offensive language he
then drew pistol and held it close To her
head, and shot her when she ram He
fred again; he then went to the north west
corner of the house, put the pistol to his
head, fired and tell Think it was fifteen
feet from where he shot first, to where he
shot himself The pistol III possession of
the coroner is the one with which the
shooting was done.
Gustaf Knapp being sworn. testified:
Resides in Coal Valley, occupation, saloon
keeper. Have known Charles L. Filski:
last seen him between ? and 3 p. m, Aug
ust 10Th, digging potatoes in his own gar
den. His wife came into the yard, and
was picking onion seed. They were talk
ing together, when he drew his pistol and
shot her; she ran; he followed and fired
again; in moment they had passed out
of sight behind the house: heard another
shot, but could not see them.
Albert Garland, sworn, testified, lives
in Coal Valley, occupation, miner, aged
eighteen years, saw Charles L. Fisk
about p. m. August 10, 1888, heard
pistol shots, saw Felski running from the
house, this was half past ? O'Clock, saw
saw c. L. Filski at the northwest cOrnel
of his own house; Filski put the pistol tc
his right temple and fell back
called my father to come over; Filski was
lying on his back, the pistol under hi:
right leg. picked up the pistol and gave j
| to DR. Martin. The following is the YER
dict:
I That Charles L. Filski came to his
death between two and three p. m. Oh
Friday, August 10th, by a shot fred by
himself from 80 cabibre revolver
THos MARTIN. foreman
L. L BARTON.