Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-14
Terrible Tragedy.
MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
BURKE FAIRCHILD KILLS HIS WIFE,
AND SHOOTS HIMSELF.


Saturday-the City Band and Drum
Corps inspiring the crowd of prom
enadors that thronged the streets in
accordance with the custom of our
people-a commotion was created
by report passed from mouth to
mouth that Burke Fairchild had
SHOT HIS WIFE,
and probably killed her. Deputy
Sheriff Sims and Copstable Jones
and Doctors Vivian and Eastman at
once started for the Fairchild resi-
dence, about one mile southwest
from the city. But few moments,
and the officers returned with infor-
nation that Fairchild had
ALSO SHOT HIMSELF.
n general rush for the tragic scene
began, and the worst report was
found but true. Upon the floor lay
Mrs. Fairchild, breathing her last,
with ghastly wound in the side of
her head. On a bed in an adioin-
ing room lay her husband with two
bullet holes in his head. In a short
time the woman expired. Examina-
ton of Mr.. Fairchild's wounds de-
veloped that they were probably
not fatal, the pistol used on himself
being a very small one, the bullets
did not reach the brain. Owing to
his wounds he could not of course
be removed. With officers in charge
the place was kept undisturbed until
Sunday morning, when an inquest
was held. Following is the evidence
given, and the verdict of the coro.
ner's jury:
STATE OF WISCONSIN. ----
: INQUEST on DEAD BODY OF MRS.
JANE FAIRCHILD.
JAMES O'NEIL sworn.-Name
James O'Neil. Live next neighbor
to Burke Fairchild. | passed along
by his house last evening. 1t was
: about six O'clock. | heard loud talk
in Fairchild's house. first thought
it was violent laughter. Then |
found it was her and him-I mean
Mr.. and Mrs. Fairchild. | heard
) her say, "Let me alonew "Let me
alone!' They appeared to be in
anger. | heard his voice but
couldn't tell what he said. / went
on home. 1t is about one-fourth of
mile to my house. | went and
MIXED, or helped the boys finish
> milking, and then went in the house
and was just sitting down to the
table when Mr.. John Chapel came.
He told me Burke Fairchild had
shot his wife. Mr. Chapel and |
came right up to Fairchild's. Found
Mrs. Fairchild lying on the floor
with head on chair in southeast cor
ner of west room. | thought she
: was dead. There was wound on
left side Of her head and there was
blood all over the floor. There is a
place in south side Of room where a
charge of shot, or part of a charge
of shot, went. No one there but
Mrs. Chapel and Mrs. Fairchild. |
don't know where Mr. f., was. |
went to town for the DR.. When |
! returned from town saw Mr.. f.
He said he was about to die. He
would soon die. This morning he
; talked to me about his affairs on the
place. | thought he talked ration
} ally enough. He kept gun in north
east corner of the hall.
JAMES O'NEIL.
JoHN CHAPEL sworn;-My name
= is John Chapel. | live next neigh
, Dor to Burke FaircLild, and about
200 yards from his house.
He then read statement he had
prepared, hereto attached
+ Your Honor Gentlensen:-I beg
to say that last evening, being the
=. 9th Of October, l left my house
about o'clock in the evening to go
down to the well to draw water for
n the cattle, when | heard a dreadful
2 report of gun. The sound came
from Mr.. Fairchild's house. ! was
quickly at the well and drew two
buckets of water, when Mrs. Fair
childs daughter screamed fearfully
e and said, "Oh, my motherl My
e mother." | felt very curious SEN
, sation, and ran over to the fence
! situated about six or eight yards
from Mr.. Fairchild's house, when
the said daughter came out from the
/ house repeating, "Oh, my mother
Ny mother!" | said, any love what
is the matter?" She said, "Oh!
p come herer' several times. said
j mo; you must come up to ON
house" In little while she came
nm and said. "Oh. won't Won come