The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-11

Domestic infelicity led Joseph E.
Beran, a mechanic conducting a repair
shop at Is South Wabasha street, to at
tempt to murder his wife early yesterday
morning, and after woun6ing the woman
slightly he sent bullet crashing into his
CWn brain, causing instant death. The
tragedy was enacted at the home of Mrs
Beran, 81 East Louisa street, where the
woman has lived with an eighteen-year-
old son for nearly two years, having
separated from her husband The shoot
ing attracted number of persons and
thinking he had killed his wife, Beran
deliberately placed the revolver to his
right temple and slew out his brains In
sight Of a number Of spectators Mrs.
Beran received wound on the left side
of the head that cut a cash an inch
long in the scalp. The bullet grazed the
skull but produced no fracture and the
physicians say the woman is not dan
gerously hurt
For nearly two years Beran and his
wife have not gotten along we'll together,
The husbands propensity for liquor Is
said to have been the cause of the trou-
bic. He spent his small earnings for drink,
failing to support his family and fire.
Quently threatened Mrs Beran with vio-
lence. When the woman could no longer
stand his conduct she took her son and
removed to the house on Louisa street.
Beran lived in a room in the rear Of
his repair shop, on Wabssha street. BY
taking in washing and with assistance
from her son, Joseph Beran Jr., who
worked for Brown & Gilbert, the printers
Mrs. Beran managed to get along COM
fCrtably. But she was not freed from
annoyance at the hands of her husband,
who frequently visited his wife and re-
newed his threats of killing her. Last
December he was arrested at the instance
of Mrs. Beran for threatening her life
and a revolver was taken away from him
at that time More recently the son
took another revolver away from his
father
Shortly before o'clock yesterday morn
ing, while young Beran and his mother
were sitting at breakfast, on the second
floor of their home, the boy heard some
one coming up the back stairs He rec
ognized his fathers footsteps and advised
his mother to hide. Mrs. Beran hurried
to the door to pull down a curtain, but
before she got the shade down there was
a loud report and a bullet crashed
through the glass. The bullet struck Mrs
Reran on the side Of the head, ploughed
through the scalp and buried itself in the
wall With a scream Mrs. Beran fell to
the floor, bleeding profusely. Her son
started out the front way for help just
as another bullet shattered a second pane
Of glass in the door.
aroused by the shooting and flocked TO
the scene. Standing on the back porch
they saw Beran. He appeared greatly
excited, alternately throwing his arms
about wildly and then putting his hands
to his head. No one dared approach the
man, as it was feared he would turn
the revolver upon anyone who attempted
to interfere, but 1t developed that the
fear was groundless, and that Beran
might have been prevented from ending
his own life, as 1t was discovered within
few minutes that he had thrown the
revolver away after shooting his wife
While the neighbors regarded the fren-
zied man Beran suddenly ran down the
stairs and picked up the revolver Re-
mounting the stairs. he fired a shot wild
1y into the air. and then seated himself
on chair near the doorway. Examining
the weapon for moment, Beran calmly
placed the muZzle against his temple and
pulled the trigger for the fourth time.
Without a struggle and with scarcely a
tremor he fell back dead. His body
remained limp in the chair, the head
dropped forward on the breast, while
clutched in the grip of death he still re-
tanned the revolver in his right hand
The body remained in this position until
Coroner Nelson visited the scene of the
suicide and attempted murder, when the
remains were taken to the county
morgue.
When Beran fired the bullet into his
own brain Mrs. Beran was being carried
out of the house by the front way An
occasional scream from the woman
doubtless convinced Beran that he had
fatally wounded his wife, and moved him
to end his own life. 1t was at first fear
ed that Mrs, Beran was badly hurt, but
when DR.. Johnson had made an ex-
animation of the wound in her head he |
announced that it was of a superficial |
nature, and not dangerous. Mrs Beran |
was at once removed to the city hos |
pital, where she was resting comfortably |
last evening.
Beran was forty seven years of age. an |
American by birth, and had lived in this
city for number of years. Aside from his
drinking he is said to have borne a good
though he was abusive and !
Quarrelsome when under the influence Of |