Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-30
Murder and Attempted Suicide.
Special Dis patch to the Sentinel.

Murder and Attempted Suicide.
Special Dispatch to the Sentinel.
LA CROSSE. Wis, Sept 27.-.An at
tempted murder and suicide occurred a,
the German Lutheran church, corner
of Fifth and Case streets, at the begin
ing OF religious services this morning,
when Herman Rossow shot his wife
and himself in the presence of hundreds
OF Witnesses. This evening. it appears
certain that Mrs. Rossow. will die,
while Rossow, though dangerously
| wounded. may recover.
Rossow, who had been separated
from his wife for some time, lay in wait
for her this morning at livery barn
opposite the church where the tragedy
occurred. Finally he saw his wife
with her mother, Mrs. Weiss, ap-
proach and enter the church. He
rushed across the street, and at the
door Of the edifce drew revolver
from his pocket and continued the
pursuit OF his wife and his mother in
law. who were then we'll up the center
aisle, toward the front of the church
Several other people in the way were
roughly brushed aside. and, over
taking the object of his pursuit, Ros-
sow placed the revolver at his wife .
back and fired.
At the time the church was filled
with worshippe ers, the communion SER
vices having been started. He shot
his wife three times, every bullet en-
tering the back and passing complete
ly through the wOman's body. AS she
staggered and fell to the floor. Rossow
turned upon others in church and de-
Tying them to touch him, he rushed
out. At the door he paused and plac-
ing the revolver to his left side, fired
at his own heart. The bullet DETECTED
slightly and entered his side just be-
low the heart. Rossow snapped the
pistol again on the remaining shell in
the cylinder, but it failed to discharge,
and he then rushed out and into the
alley in the rear of the church, where
he hastily attempted to place new
cartridges in the revolver. Before he
had succeeded he was seized by Eugene
II. Derr, q we'll known local horseman,
and after q desperate struggle. was
disarmed.
Rossow was placed in a patrol wagon
and was taken to the police station,
but was soon removed TO the La Crosse
hospital. In the meantime Mrs. Ros-
SOW had been carried into the residence
OF the pastor of the church, and after
a brief examination was taken to the
Lutheran hospital.
Rossow is 80 years of age and his
wife is % years old. Tney had been
married three years. but had not lived
together happily. and some time ago
Mrs. Rossow left her husband. After
persuasion by the Rev. Julius Gamm,
pastor OF the church where the double
crime occurred today, she resolved to
give RossOw another chance. but her
experience being the same as before.
she left him again recently, and had
stated that she would never return.
At the time OF his arrest this morn.
ing he, after being disarmed, pleaded
with Derr to return the gun, as he
wanted to kill himself and make a
good job" of it.
Rossow is painter by trade and a
resident of this city all his life. He
was insanely jealous of his wife, who
was beautiful young woman. Quarrels
between the couple were not due,
however, to jealousy, but to the wife's
charge that her husband did not pro-
vide enough mo1eJ for her support.
Rev. Julius Gamm was q former
resident of this city. having been con-
ne cted with the Northwestern univer-
sity.
"Qulncy Adams Sawyer"