Daily camera., 1897-09-29
G1uyIy I|0gedy
ATTEMPTED UXORiCIDE AND
SUICIDE.
j. W. Irwin, Owner of the Belcher Mine
Shoots His Wife and Then Suicides.

| j. w. IL Will well huO"A tAliiiihS
man of this county, shot his wife through
the breast and then killed himself at
about 8:I5 last night. He fired tour shots
in ALL two at his wife and tW at himself
Irwin, who is the owner Of the Belcher
mine at Caribou, was out of town most of
the time. His wife usually resides at
their home on Walnut street in this city
during his absence. An only daughter,
who is blind, is now attending the. blind
institute at Colorado Springs. AS soon
as Mrs. Irwin sent her daughter to school
this fall she rented her house and secur
ed employment as a domestic with Mr..
and Mrs. A. NJ. Sawyer, at the home of
Col. Ivers Philips, where the tragedy oc-
cured last night. 1t is not known that
there was any estrangement existing be-
tween the two, as on account of his bus-
ness they were compelled to live apart.
1t IS said that he has been seen about
town for several days, and always under
the influence of liquor. The story of the
shoot was as follows:
! Mrs. Irwin bade the household good
night and descended to the basement,
where her bedroom was located. Toget
to her bedroom she had to pass through
the kitchen. 1t is believed that the door
leading to the yard was closed when she
entered the kitchen, and that she was
attracted by knock and went over and
opened the door. Her husband was
standing on the step just outside the
door. 1t is not known whether any words
passed between them. He shot twice at
her, one bullet striking her in the breast,
penetrating the body and coming out of
the back below the scapula. The lung
was pierced but no large arteries were
touched. The second bullet struck the
floor. The woman then closed the door
and staggered to her bed room, where
she was found few moments later. AS
soon as the door was closed Irwin shot
twice again, one bullet entering his ear.
| His death was instantaneous. Both
shots were fred at his wife through
the screen door. Her wound is danger
Gus but not necessarily fatal. The wea-
pom used is 38-calibre revolver.
| The Irwins are old residents here,
having come to Boulder about IS years
ago. He and his brother soon after
secured the ownership of the Belcher
mine, one of the richest silver mines in
the district. They sold it for quite a
fortune and then Immediately squander-
ed the money. The mine was sold again
at sheriff's sale and Billy Irwin secured
it under bond and lease from the new
owner. He has been working on it tor
some time and had it nearly paid for.
The shooting attracted great crowds of
people Immediately. DR.. Rice was the
first physician on the ground, and at once
entered the house and administered to
the wounded woman. DR.. Battey arrived
few moments later. 1t was some mo-
ments after the shooting when number
of men went around to the side door,
where the shooting occurred. The body
of Irwin was found lying on the steps
leading down to the kitchen, with his
head in pool of blood. A glance
| revealed the fact that he was dead. Cor
oner Trezise was on the ground and took
charge of the remains. After making an
examination of the remains and the pa
pers on the body Mr.. Trezise removed
them TO his undertaking rooms.
The result of the examination OF Mrs.
IRWIN showed that the bullet had entered
the breast, and taking downward course
came out of the back below the scapular.
Though the lung was penetrated the
physicians believe that Mrs. Irwin will
recover. They stated that the wound
was dangerous but not necessarily fatal.
The direct cause of the deed is not
known. Irwin came down to Boulder
several days ago with shipment of ore
from the Belcher. With the proceeds of
the shipment, it is stated, he at once wen,
to drinking. His wife is an economical
and saving woman, and it is suppose d
that he visited her last night for the pur.
pose of securing more money. 1t is
thought her refusal to comply was the
cause of the shooting.
Mrs. Irwin owns residence on Wal.
nut street and also some property in
Lafayette. She is lady of some re.
finement, having passed her early lite in
Philadelphia. 1t was there that she frs,
met Irwin, on his FIST arrival from Eng
land He was first cousin Of hers and
her family, it is said, objected to the
union, but his arguments finally pre-
vailed.
irwin WAS thrifty hard working man
. but as soon a, he st urea any money
would Immediately squander 1t in mos
lavish manner. He was member of tint
5 knights of Pythias, uniform rank.
The date OF the funeral of Irwin ha.