The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-06-04
John Mutter, Of Bristol, Shoots His
Wife After Quarrel Over
Property Troubles.
VICTIM WILL PROBABLY RECOVER
Crime Causes Intense Excitement In Bris-
tol. -Mutter Is Arrested and Brought
to Kenosha This Afternoon.
fFrom Fridays Daily }

The little village of Bristol was
thrown into 4 paroxysm of excitement
this morning when John Mutter one of
the best known and most highly re-
spected citizens of the village attempt
ed to kill his wife.
Que shot was fred which took effect
in the neck of Mrs. Mutter just below
the right ear. The wound is consider
ed serious one but the woman is still
alive and DR.. Stevens who is attending
her seems to think that there is little
doubt but that she will recover.
Mutter was arrested by Under Sher-
if Charles Whitcher short time after
the shooting. He was brought to Ke-
nosha this afternoon and is now in the
county jail awaiting a preliminary
hearing.
The details of the crime are pretty
we'll hidden and as there were no wit
nesses to the shooting and Mutter re-
fuses to talk it will probably never be
known just what led up to the shoot
ing.
About seven O'Clock this morning
Mr.. and Mrs. Mutter engaged IN a
violent, quarrel over some property
affair and it is supposed that this led
up to the shooting. Joseph Dixon who
resides just across the street from the
Mutter home heard the shot fired and
started to run over to the house. When
he had gone half way across the road
the door was opened and Mrs. Mutter,
shouting at the top of her voice, came
out of the house and attempted to run
down the steps of the porch. Twice
she fell and Dixon discovered that the
entire right side of her head was cover
ed with blood. He ran to her assist
ance and caught her as she fell IN the
road in front of the house. Mutter
who was worked up to fit of frenzy
had pursued the wounded woman from
the house and it is claimed that he
made an effort to fire another shot at
her after she fell in the road. Mrs.
Mutter was taken up and carried back
into the house while the crowd that
gathered took charge of the husband.
DR.. Stevens was hurriedly called to
the house to care for the wife and the
husband was turned over to the keep
ing of the Under Sheriff.
The excitement caused by the at
tempted murder was intense and in a
few minutes the entire population of
the village was gathered round the
Mutter home but no violence was
threatened to the prisoner. He was
taken to the home of Mr.. Whitcher
and closely guarded until brought to
Kenosha on the noon freight.
He made no statement in regard to
the shooting which could be consider
ed in any way official.
The Mutters were among the best
known people of the town of Bristol.
The husband had resided in Bristol al
most all his life and was we'll known
and respected. The wounded woman
was second wife to whom he was
married seven or eight years ago. She
was formerly from Washington City
and was daughter of the late Still
man Moore who became known
throughout the country on account of
the fact that he was often taken for
President Lincoln. During the war of
the rebellion Moore ran a fruit store
on the steps of the capitol at Washing
ton and in this way he became known
to almost every Union soldier.
Mrs. Mutter was considerably young
er than her husband and the neigh
bors claim that they have had repeat
ed quarrels over the distribution of
property. Mutter is supposed to have
been worked into passion and shot
his wife while in that condition.
It is probable that the preliminary
hearing in the case will be continued
until the outcome of the wound of Mrs.
Mute is discovered.