Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-26
Murder in His Heart.
A Bad Man To Be Allowed
His Liberty.
AN ATTEMPT TO MURDER A WIFE.

Failing in That the Brute Tries His Re-
volver on a Policeman-Devilish Means
to Get His Intended Victim Out Of
Doors-Some Healthy Sense Uttered by
the Magistrate-The Miscreant Leaves
Court with Threat ON His Tongue.
CHICAGO, March pa young man, pale
| and trembling, and very anxious to tell his
| story, stood before Justice r H. White at
| the Armory police court yesterday morn
ing
Behind him stood score of women, men,
and boys. He did not look the desperate fell
low he was said to be- His name is Joseph
Alcover and by occupation lie is tinsmith,
in the timing department of Armour's pack
ing house. Sunday night he called upon his
wife, sickly young woman at the residence
of the Heaps, 29l Thirty first street, and
threatened to kill her For months they
have lived apart owing to his cruelty and the
frequent beatings he administered to her.
Both are about the same age-22 years. The
door was shut in his face and
locked by Mrs. Heap, who ordered
the infuriated young man to leave. This
was refused and an attempt made to
break down the door. While trying to force
his way into the house, revolver in hand, one
of the young Heaps-Sam--darted out of the
rear door, climbed the front fence, and Crap
pied with Alcover, who cut matters short by
placing his revolver between the eyes of Sam
and ordering him in emphatic terms to dis
perse Immediately or take the consequences.
Sam, who Is a wise boy of Is years or so, dis
persed in the direction of the Twenty
street police station, where he made a state
ment OF affairs as they existed when he left
home Sergt Corcoran and Detective Smiddy
FASTENED to the scene just in time to see the
desperate young husband breaking through
the doorway of the Heap mansion. The yells
and screams of the women folks accelerated
their pace, and they were almost upon the fell
low before he saw them. Quick as a flash he
jumped into the street and drew his revolver
Leveling it at Smiddy he commanded him to
turn back and put up his weapon. This was
refused and shots exchanged. Alcover was
poor marksman, however, aod his bull
lets flew wide of their mark, Not so those
of the detective. One of them passed
through the crown of the young mans hat,
carrying it to the other side of the street
The second shot tipped his ear and made a
coward out of Joseph, for he turned and fed,
hatless, down neighboring alley with the
officers at his heels Two more shots plowed
up the dirt at the feet of the fugitive who
did not slacken his pace until the sergeant
had taken couple of cracks at him. Then
he threw up his hands, gave up his weapon,
and surrendered
The women, especially the young wife,
were frightened badly and it was only on
the assurance of the officers that the desper-
ate man was under arrest that the door was
opened
He told me our baby was dead. your
honor, in the hope that l would step outside
the door that he might murder me-" said
Mrs Alcover between her tears, as she
looked in frightened way at her husband
And he said he was there for revenge
said Sammy Heap, who had felt the cold
muzzle of the prisoners revolver against his
forehead
He put the revolver to the window-pane,
within a half-inch of my breast" said q
lady.
And he threatened TO blow my brains out
If l did not let him come in and murder his
sick wife," said Mrs. Heap between her
teeth
MY wife's brother and all her friends are
after me TO murder me, and l protected my
self with this revolver" said the prisoner:
land this officer tried his best to kill me-"
Il did said Officer Smiddy, when you
showed undoubtedly that your intention was
to fill me full of holes
If l were your wife's brother would be
after you myself" interrupted his honor. Il
think | would catch you, too Mad dogs
should always be shot down. You are very
fortunate that you are not now charged with
murder, for such was your evident desire in
visiting your wife You are fined SIS and
costs for carrying concealed weapons and $40
and costs for disorderly conduct"
You are not through with me yet" Kissed
the prisoner to his wife, as he left the dock
for a cell down stairs.