Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-15
SHOOTS BROTHER;
KILLS HIMSELF
DEED FOLLOWS PERIOD OF
MELANCH0LlA
Demented Youth Commits Murder,
Then Turns Revolver and Ends
His Own Llfe-Father
Hears Fatal Shots

Fritz Kafitz. aged 20 years, a real es-
tate agent, shot and instantly killed
his brother Ludwig Kafitz, aged 22
years, last night, then turned the gun
on himself and ended his own life. The
shooting occurred at the home of the
boys, 11O3 Fedora street, shortly after
$3.50 O'Clock last night.
William Kafltz, father of the boys
stated that the only known cause for
the double tragedy was dementia,
brought on by years brooding over
the death Of the boys mother. The
rather and his youngest son Ludwig
mad just returned from supper at a
nearby restaurant When they en-
tered the house Fritz had come home
and was upstairs preparing to retire.
The father bade his two sons good
night and was in the act of retiring
when he heard two quick shots. Mr.
Kafitz arose and looked out of the
window. AS he di so he heard a third
shot. A sudden suspicion flashed into
his mind that all was not right up
stairs and he rushed to the rooms and
found Ludwig lying dead in the en-.
trance to his room with two bullet
wounds in his brain and one through
his heart Fritz, his other son, dressed
only in his night shirt, was lying dead
in the doorway to his room with bul.
let wound in his right temple.
Fritz had contemplated the dua
deed. Beside his body was found let.
ter addressed to the father. In it the
murderer and suicide said that he was
tired of life, and because he believed
the two boys were a burden to the old
man, had killed his brother as we'll as
himself.
Deed Was Preme ditated
Ludwig was preparing to leave fol
Phoenix, Ariz today. When his
brother shot him he was in the act OF
packing his suit case. This was still
lying on the bed half packed when the
detectives arrived. 1t is believed that
the brothers contemplated trip ha6
something to do with the shooting.
The two boys, the father and w. ]
GetZ conducted a realty and loan com.
pany at 1923 West Pico street. 1t was
a corporation, of which the elder Ka.
f1tz was president. The boys had sew
eral quarrels, said to be due to lacl
of business instinct displayed by Fritz
From this it is possible that Jealousy
figured in the shooting.
Yesterday afternoon Fritz purchased
shooting. Previously he had called al
the office of DIR. Y. r. Carrillo, 26St
West Pico, and wanted to borrow Z
gun. He was asked If he intended tc
commit suicide, to which he said
why. would 1t be joker" and added
that he wanted to go hunting.
Previous to the tragedy the father
and sons had been auto riding. After
that they suggested going to supper
together and 1t was agreed that they
should do So However. Fritz did moi
appear. When the father and Ludwig
came home they asked for an explana-
tion. Fritz said he did not feel like
coming.
When Detectives Talamantes and
Ritch arrived at the scene of the shoot.
ing they found the revolver with five
recently exploded cartridges in it. One
bullet had entered the heart of Ludwig
one in the temple and the third through
the bridge of his nose. Only one bullet
wound-that in the temple-was found
in Fritz The fifth bullet was missing
Besides William Kafitz, the boys
leave an aunt, Mrs. w. C. Schwenk
living at 1927 Catalina street.