The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-02-27
A Bill IND MANS AWFUL DEED
J.P. BJERKIN MORTALLY WOUNDS
MRS. SMITH-KILLS HIMSELF.
Terrible Tragedy at Wallace, Idaho, in
Which Two Lives Are Taken-Beth
Well Known-She Was Shot Twice
He Was InsaneIy JeaIous-His
Blindness Caused by Mine Accident.

Wallace, Idaho, Feb. 22.-Almost in
sane with jealousy 'and rage, John p.
Bjerkin, totally blind, MORALLY wound
ed Mrs. Hugh Smith of Black Bear by
firing two shots into her breast and
then took his own life by blowing his
brains out with the third bullet.
The horrible tragedy occurred at
Bjerkins' room at the Portland lodg-
ing house of this city about l o'clock
in the afternoon.
The woman, with her husband at her
bedside. lies at the point of death at
Magee's hospital, and the last report
from the physicians was that she was
not expected to live until morning. The
woman. who says she had been in the
habit of going to the maps room at
least once a week, went to call on him
today as usual She went to his room
about IL o'clock and at the time of the
desperate deed was enacted she was
about to leave to catch the up canyon
train to return to her family of four
children.
When Mrs. Smith arose to go Bjerk-
in walked to the door, locked it and,
turning around said: Had you known
what was in my mind you would not
nave COME 10 see me JOudy.
At that the blind man, who appar
emily was crazed over the woman,
grappled with her, forcing her back
to the bed, where he held her so firm
ly that she could not release his grasp.
During the struggle Bjerkin CROPPED
blindly under the bed covering and at
last brought the weapon from its hid
ing place.
When Mrs. Smith saw the revolver
she cried: Jack, don't do it! Don't do
it,"
But it was too late. The next in
slant the fatal shot was fired. He
pressed the gun close to her breast.
The bullet entered the left breast neSr
the heart, passing completely through
tn body and piercing the lung. He
moved the point of the revolver slight
ly and the second ball entered the
right breast. glancing and coming out
behind the arm, making only a skin
wound. Bierkin then released his
bleeding victim, threw his hand to his
head and muffled report was follow
ed by a heavy fall on the floor. Bjerk-
in was dead at the feet OF his MORALLY
wounded victim. He shot himself In
the right temple, the bullet passing
through his head.
Mrs. Smith had been acquainted with
the man for over year. Mrs. Smith
had taken this revolver, through coax
ing, from Bjerkin some time last year.
He begged so hard for it that Mrs.
Smith took it to Spokane, where he
was stopping, and gave it TO him last
Christmas day. He has been back here
about three weeks
Bjerl1in received his blindness by be-
ing injured by a faulty blast in the
Standard mine in January of last year.
Later.
Mrs Hugh Smith of Black Bear, who
was shot twice in the breast by blind
John BJeriin at his room in the Port
land logging house, may recover.
How Bjerkin made a living is not
known. When his remains were taken
to the morgue and his pockets search
ed the sum of $1,000 was found. No
arrangements have been made for the
funeral.
Mr.. Smith, the husband of the
wounded woman, still remains by the
bedside of his wife. He still refuses
to say anything. but he appears to be