The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-03-12
SHOT WIFE AND SELF.
Terrible Double Tragedy at Waukesha-
Charles Begg's Awful Deed

WAuKEsHA, Wis, March "A terri
BILE double tragedy was enacted here
this morning at the Busjnger home
stead on Martin Street, Charles +.
Beggs shooting, and seriously, if not
fatally, wounding his wife and then
sending bullet through his own brain.
The crime was inspired by insane ieal-
ousy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Beggs have been mar
ried some fifteen years. Before her
marriage she was Tillie Busi;eger,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Carl Busisc-
ger, old residents of Waukesha. Mr..
and Mrs. Beggs occupied the apartments
on the second floor of the house in
which the father and mother lived. Their
married life was not happy one, and so
serious became the differences of the
husband and wife that some time ago
Mrs. Beggs took steps to secure dl
vorce. The matter was adjusted, how
ever, and the suit withdrawn. About Il
week ago serious discord arose over
Mrs. Beggs' desire to attend a leap year
party. The husband objected, and
finally ordered his wife to remain at
home. She dlsobeyed the order and
went to the party. On her return there
was a quarrel, and the result was that
Beggs left the house, and has since been
living at a restaurant.
Beggs seems 10 have loved his wife,
despite their frequent quarrels, and
early this morning he went to the house
and besought her to live with him again.
She refused to listen TO his proposals
and protestations of future good behav
Tor, refusing TO consent to il
renewal Of the old relations. Beggs
turned and left the house. as he did SO
saving he would con pei her to live with
him. He evidently at that time deter
mined to kill the woman and himself if
she continued to refuse to live with
him. as he set out to procure a revolver.
He first went to Ira Pool and endeav-
ored to borrow a pistol, and failing
continued his search.
At precisely $50 this morning Beggs
returned to the house. Going up stairs,
he found his wife in her sleeping
apartment. He stepped in front
of Mrs. Beggs and repeated
his demand that she consent to live with
him. The wife refused again, where
upon the man whipped out pistol and
leveled it straight at his wite's head.
They were close together, SO close
that the weapon was within a
Seeing that her husband meant murder,
Mrs. Beggs grabbed the revolver by the
the muzzle. There was momentary
struggle and the weapon was dis
charged. The woman fell back, blood
streaming from wound n the hand
and a gaping hole in the neck. Beggs
then turned the pistol toward himself
and sent a bullet into bis brain.
Mrs. Busi@ger's screams soon drew a
crowd to the scene Of the tragedy.
Beegs was lying dead on the floor. His
wife had staggered back and fallen ON
the bed, Her wounds and the direction
taken by the bullet showed that she had
made a struggle for her life. The bullet
had passed through the palm of one
hand, then striking her III the
neck. She had evidently topped
at the moment the trigger was pressed,
as the ball had passed the collar bone
and on into the lungs. Drs. Philler and
Malone. who were summoned, declared
the wound to be a very serions one.
The severe coughing fits which attacked
the woman resulted in her bringing the
bullet off her lungs, which leaves her in
less serious condition.
Charles Beggs WAS about 40 years old,
and has lived in Waukesha since his
youth. HIS wife was - years old,
ana mas also iNed mere ali hSf NE
Beggs was a timer, employed by Gas-
bar x lie Clear. They have two chill
dren.
A coroner's jury was summoned by
Justice Evans, and steps taken to inves-
tigate the affair. The jury consists of
William Hardy, Jr, Michael Cahill
Robert Deyereaux, Robert Lowerre,
James Carberrv AMI John Connors.
After viewing the body of Beges and
looking over the scene of the killing, a
recess was taken until 2r. VI. tomorrow.
The terrible crime causes profound
sensation here, both the victims being
weil-known to nearly all Waukesha
people, either pc rsonallv or by sight.