Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-29
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY

Conrad Folscrnft, of Burlington,
shoots His wife and Then Morlally
Wounds Himself.
Burlington, Aug. 29.-Yesterday morn
ing at about 1880 o'clock at the home of
Mrs. Jaeger, No. lila DEMAND street,
Conrad Folscraft shot.hs wife and then
turned the gun on himself and attempt
ed suicide by shooting himself in the
right breast.
AS a result of the double tragedy both
Folscraft and his wife are lying at Bur-
lington hospital in serious condition
and the probabilities are that the man
VII die.
The tragedy was the result of Sc
ries of family quarrels which date back
TO the marriage of the couple last De-
cember Since that time. according to
the story told by Mrs. Folscraft's
mother. Mrs. Anna Jaeger. the Wife has
been compelled to support her husband
by taking in washing ana in return he
has abused her shamefully and on sew
eral occasions threatened to kill her.
Last March he kept her out in a cold
shed for about four hours and threat
ened her with Il knife. AS a result of
the exposure She was very i'll. She had
him arrested. but before the case came
TO trial in the police court the wife con
cluded not TO prosecute. For time he
seemed to do better, but of late has
again abused her as before.
The immediate quarrel that led UP to
the tragedy of yesterday morning dates
back TO last Friday. when Mrs Fols-
craft promised her husband to go fish
ing with him on Sunday. That even
ing they quarreled and as a result she
told him she would not go with him on
Sunday. He told her then that he would
compel her to go with him. on Satur-
day evening the quarrel was renewed
and Folscraft came into town. On sun
day morning about 5 O'Clock he awoke
and called his Wife. telling her to get up
and prepare to go fishing with him.
This she refused TO do and he got his
revolver, tore the bed clothing off her
and. pressing the gun to her breast,
told her that unless she would go with
him he would kin her. She told him
she would not go and he put UP his re-
SelNer made ready himself and went
fishing With his wife's brother telling
his wife. however. that if she went out
during he day he would shoot her
y hen he returned. Mrs. Jaeger advised
her daughter to take steps to leave him
but she said she was not afraid.
Yesterday morning the quarrel was
again renewed
He then threatened TO shoot them al,
and they fled. AZ his wife ran he sho,
her in the back and She fell few feet
away in fence corner. Then he turned
the gun on himself, the bullet passing
through the right lung. and fell a
few feet away. When his wife fell she
screamed and tried to get up again.
At this he raised himself partially from
the ground and fired at her a second
time. but missed her. He fired another
shot at himself, the bullet striking the
breast cartilage and lodging in the mus
cuiar tissue. The bullet fired at Mrs.
Foiscraft lodged in the lower part OF
the spine, from which it was removed
by the surgeons.
The weapon used was 32-calIper re-
volver. The occurrence caused a SEN
sation in the neighborhood. but all tho
sympathy seems TO be with the abused
and ill-treated wife and all who know
her hope she may speedily recover from
her injuries
Almost on the stroke of the hour of
midnight Folscraft breathed his last.
HIS father and mother had been with
MIN constantly during the passing OF
the silent hours. Up to half an hour
before his death the dying man wrung
the hearts of his devoted parents with
MS calls for papa" and mamma