The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-21
RIGHT 70 KILL HIN
Is the Verdict of a San Fran
cisco Jury
IN MRS. KOPP'S, CASE
She Shot Her Husband Be-
cause He Loved Another.


The coroner's jury knew this, but it's
verdict was Unsuitable homicide"
By its verdict the San Francico jury
took the stand that the unfaHhfulness of
one spouse justifies murder by the other.
One Of the jurors was Malcolm A.
Fraser. He took high ground
1T was a pitiable case. No jury could
have returned any other verdict" he said,
II consider such man an enemy 20 the
community. We settled the case in no
time. In less than five minutes the jury
voted unanimously in favor Of justifiable
homicide"
Mrs. Kopp killed her husband as he sat
in rocking chair in the family sitting
room. Their fourten-year-old daughter,
Amanda, was with them in the room.
Mrs. Kopp held the pistol in a trembling
hand, but fate or chance steadied her aim.
Her husband fell heavily to the floor and
died in a few minutes.
When the deputy coroner lifted the body
to put 1t into a receiver she screamed and
would have thrown herself upon it if they
had not held her.
When they took her away to prison she
asked one question: /"May 1 see Carl
again before they bury him."
The physicians say Mrs. Kopp cannot
live three weeks. She Is in the last stages
Of consumption; but the doctors say she
will die of a broken heart before con-
sumption can finish its work.
Charles and Louise Kopp had been mar
ried nineteen years. They had lived hap
PLY until two years ago. Then sorrow
came in the form Of illness for the wife.
Later it came in the form Of Mrs. Bertha
Monti, a beautiful young widow, whom
Charles Kopp said he loved.
Kopp was a prosperous restaurant keep
er who had retired from business He liv-
ed with his wife and daughter at No. Is
Lewis street. He was fifty-seven years
old. His wife was forty-four. This is
romance Of middle-age.
Mrs. Kopp went to Indianapolis, she
visited her brother for a year. She had
hoped the dread disease might be arrested,
at least. But its ravages continued. She
wrote her husband for money. He sent
her none. His letters were few and cold.
Her woman's heart took alarm. She bor-
back to San Franclco.
She found her husband had been atten-
tive for nearly the whole year while she
was sick almost to death to a handsome
young widow in the nedghborIlood She
begged her husband to cease his atten-
lions at least until she was dead.
at viii be such title while, Carl" she
pleaded. He laughed at her.
She went to see the widow. "Let me
said. 1T will be only a little while" The
widow laughed. too.
This Is Mrs. Kopp's story after hearing
which the San Francisco jury voted that
the murder was "justifiable homicide
1--WE were married nineteen years, and
we were always happy in our home. What
one knew the other knew. What one had
belonged to the other. There was never a
question of What Is miner or What is
yours?' What we had We had made and
saved together.
II had looked after the house where we
lived and tken tenants for twelve years.
My husband looked after his business.
In our four rooms we were content. We
had all We needed and wished for moth
ing. My husband liked his home and
spent his time there when he was not at
work. All the news Of the day. what he
saw and what he did he would tell me
when he came home. Sometimes he went
on a spree. and 1 was willing to forgive
that. for his kindness made up for it.
After his spree 1 would make a cup OF
black coffee in the morning and do what
1 could FOR him. and If told him it was
not good for him to do such things he
would say, Eyes YOU are right" and go
away promising not to drink. \ woman
can overlook much when a man is true.
He loved our little girl. and when she
was smaller and used to recite at enter
tainments he was proud Of her. and We
were as happy as family could be-
About two years ago my health began
to fail He was kind then. a year ago
went east to my brother to try to regain
my health. My husband wished me to GO
and when 1 went he said: Now get
well and hurry home again
$50 true was my love for him and 50
| perfect my confidence in him that made
over my share in our property to him,
so that in case Of my death he would
have no trouble nor expense in setting
| our affairs.
But when had gone It changed His
| letters seemed cold and showed no inter-
! est in me. He didn't ask me to come
home. but urged me to stay and get ac-
! climated and try to get well. I sent to
him for money to come home and he did
not send me any. although l knew he
had plenty IN the beank
MY brother gave me the money and
four weeks ago l came home--to what a
changed home!
Il found that while had been away
he had made the acquaintance Of Mrs.
Bertha Mont and taken her into our
home, the home held sacred She went
away when came back, but he changed
| entirely.
The coroners' verdict was: We find
that Charles KOpp came to his death
from hemoFrhage following gunshst
wound in the head, and we further find
that said gunshot wound was inflicted
by Mrs. Charles Kopp. we also find the
same TO be q case Of justihable homicide. a."
J C .MEUSSDORFER, Jr..
JOHN T. SMITH.
MALCOLM FRASER
+. c. DCFFIEID.
B. L. DAVIS.
" H BROWN.
II. L GILBERT.
P. D. SKIILMAN.
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