Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-08-04
SHOT TO KILL.
ALBERT SCHULTZ ATTEMPTS
HIS WIFE'S LIFE.
Shoots Her Three Times and Then
Commits Suicide-TerribIe Tragedy
in the Seventh Ward Thursday
Evening-The Result of Domestic
Troubles-Mrs. Schultz Not Fatally
Wounded.

Thursday evening last, wherein a
young married man, seemingly driven
to despair by paltry family quarrel,
first attempted the life of his youthful
spouse and then deliberately ended his
own existence by well-directed bullet
through the brain. The news of the
crime spread rapidly and in a short
time that portion of the city, which
rarely witnesses a sensation, was
swarmed with curious people anxious
to be informed of the desperate deed.
The dual would-be assassin and
suicide was Albert Schultz, aged 26
years, son of Henry Schultz, of 1911
Utah street. 1t was about o'clock
when young Schultz called at the
home of his father-in-law, Ferdinand
Groth, 1903 Utah street, and asked to
see his wife, Bertha, young woman
of about 20 years. The couple had
not been living together since July 4,
last. Schultz found his wife upstairs
tending her 4-months old babe, and
thereupOn consultation over their
domestic differences was held. This
ended, Mrs. Schultz was about to
descend to the lower floor, when her
husband detained her, at the same
time taking a revolver from his pocket
and firing at her four times. Three
shots took effect, and dripping with
blood, but still clinging to her child,
Mrs. Schultz fed across the street to
the home of Fred Mink, where she
was cared for. Drs. Hoermann and
Moulding were summoned to attend
the woman and the police notified of
the crime. When the latter arrived
they found the lifeless body of Schultz
Groth house. 4 bullet had pierced
the center of his forehead and lodged
behind the left eye. Death was
instantaneous. a 32-calibre, self-act-
ing bulldog revolver was by his side,
with the five chambers discharged.
A coroner's jury impaneled by Justice
Henze returned a verdict, Friday
morning, of suicide.
Mrs. Schultz's wounds were found to
be quite serious, but not fatal. She
was shot just below the left temple,
through the mouth and in the right
arm. The temple wound was the
most serious, the ball lodging in the
cheek bone and it being impossible to
probe for it, owing to the high infam-
nation. The bullet through the mouth
pierced the tongue, broke off two
teeth and passed out through the neck.
The bullet which struck the arm caused
only a flesh wound. Mrs. Schultz,
considering what she had experienced,
was very well composed and showed
but little concern. She was able to
talk fiuently Friday morning and was
put on the witness stand at the coro-
ner's inquest, the jury going to Mr..
Menk's home to hear her testimony.
From all the facts Obtainable regard
ing the unfortunate affair, it may be
said it was the direct result of family
troubles. After their marriage, which
occurred about a year ago, Schultz
and his wife took up their residence
with the latter's parents. The young
husband had 800 saved up and in
vested with friend, which money the
Groths finally succeeded in borrowing,
giving Schultz and his wife a note for
it. Trouble then arose over who
should have the keeping of. the note,
| and in a quarrel one day it is said the
note was torn, Schultz retaining one
piece and his wife the other. Finally
it was agreed to patch up the note
and their differences at the same time,
the note, it is claimed, going into the
hands of a local attorney for safe
keeping. A little later quarreling was
resumed, and Mr.. and Mrs. Schultz
separated the early part of July, he
going to his fathers home and she
remaining with her parents. After
the separation both parties talked of
| obtaining a divorce, and attorneys
were consulted, but nothing came of
it. Schultz made several demands for
either the note or his money, and not
securing either made threats before
his friends that he would force a
settlement and then ''get even" A
few days previous to the shooting he
made an effort to consult with his
wife, but was denied admission to her
| home, WhereupOn he advised her to
beware of the consequences. Another
attempt at a consultation, made
Thursday evening, was successful, he
finding her upstairs in her fathers
house. According to Mrs. Schultz S
testimony, he inquired as to what
disposition was to be made of the note,
to which she replied she would take
the money and care for the child.
He proposed that he take the money,
pay her 81 per week for the care of
the child, and when the latter became
a year old he would take it. Both
propositions were rejected and the
matter of divorce again discussed,
but with no result. Upon the request
of her mother Mrs. Schultz then
started down stairs, but was
grabbed by the arm by her husband