Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-27
MURDERS WIFE
AND Then TURNS
Gun ON HIMSELF
Dual Tragedy Enacted Last
Night Results in Death to Mr..
and Mrs. G.. W. Griffith.
TIRED OF oUARRELING
-Four Bullets Put End to Unhappy Mar
rIed Lfe-ehastIy Sight, ereets
DISCOVERIES.

iHCebSdAt hdsBlnB ana LlreQ OF living
oaly 70 endure the perpetual pickering
and strife, which was a daily portion
Of his married life, George w. Crit
fifth, aged 40, residing at Pope Fourth
avenue, last night shortly after IL
o'clock stepped into the bedroom
where his wife lay sleeping, and press
ing the muzzle Of a 3s-calibre revolver
10 the back OF her head pulled the
trigger. Then turning the deadly wea-
pom upon himself he shot himself
three times, once through the right
ear, once through the right cheek and /
again through the center of the fore
head. When leighbors ran into the
room. through the haze of powder
smoke could be discerned the inert /
form OF the woman in the bed. and |
the body OF Griffith, lying in the center |
OF the floor in a pool of blood, the I
gun still tightly clutched in his right
hand. There we're five chambers in
the gun. four OF which were empty.
The woman was still breathing. but
died in few seconds. She was about
30 years OF age. At an inquest con-
Quoted over the remains of the MAJ
at Wleelans undertaking parIors this
morning. the jury returned a verdict
OF death due 10 a gun shot wound,
self-inficted with suicidal intent. An
inquest was held over the body of the
woman this afternoon
WOMAN HEARS SHOTS.
Griffith, accompanied by his wife.
had earlier in the evening, called at
the home of his brother. William w.
Griffith. 2l9E Twenty-first street. and
at that time both the man and his wife
seemed perfectly contented. They
left about 10 o'clock for their home.
Shortly before IL o'clock, May Wilson
colcred, who lives next door to the
Grifiiths, ~ the same house, heard req
volver shots. She stepped into the
hallway, then went around 10 the side
OF the house and peered into the
window. The place was in semi
darkness, and she heard no sound
Then coming around TO the front of
the house, she pushed open the door
and through the haze of powder
smoke. q CHASTITY sight met her gaze
CHASTITY SIGHT.
The man, his face b.aCkened with
powder stains. lay on his face in a
pool Of blood, with the gun elutched in
his right hand The woman lay with
her back to the man, in bed, her head
partial y covered. and appeared TO be
sleeping The Mortified neighbor i'm
mcdlately rah out of doors and noti-
fled the police who aHived on the
scene Of the double killing in u few
minutes. Dr. A. n. Mueller was also
called but when he arrived both were
beyond human aid. Night Captain
Kramer and officer Fraukhouser up
On examining the body. of the woman,
perceived that she had discharged at
the mouth, which led To the suppose
ton that she had taken poison. There
were no bloodstains GA the pillow.
The woman's head was partially Gov
cred with the bed clothing Upon
lifting the body up tlfe policemen
found great gaping wound in the
back Of her head. on the right side.
The bed was covered WITH SCOT from
a chimney close by. and the police
men were of the opinion that this
might have been caused by a stray
bullet
QUARREIED CHRISTMAS.
May Wilson. the next door neigh
Dor, who was the first to discover the
dead bodies, stated that she had heard
no loud talk nor any quarreling last
night. but told of a quarrel which the
couple had engaged in on Christmas
night AT that time. Griffith came
10 the Wilson home, asking to borrow
a lamp. He said he and his wife had
Quarreled. and that the woman in a
sudden 1T Of rage had hurled light.
ed amp at his head. 81 cannot
stand this ife." he said. Il am going
10 leave that woman" The Wilson
woman had had frequent converse
lions with Mrs. Griffith. in which the
latter had praised her husband and
spoke OF his kindness TO her.
MARRIAGE UNHAPPY ONE.
That the married life of the couple
was unhappy was CLEANED at the in
quest this morning. when William W.
Griffith, a brother of the deceased man,
told Of the frequent Quarrels which
ha6 taken place between the two.
Griffith had told his brother he was
tired OF it all and had said: When
Eer tired have a gun to end IL all
e appears that Mrs. Griffith suffered
fiom nervous trouble. She was sick
~ woman and had been under the care
OF a physician for the past year. This
nervous malady was due to break
down when she was but a young girl
and was brought about by over study
Mrs. Griffith was decidedly tightly and
irritable, according TO the testimony
OF william Griffith. and was very jeal
Gus Whether OF not she had reasons
for her jealousy will never be deter
mined in all probability. 1t was learn
ed that Mrs. Griffith had almost daih
attacked her husband and had heapec
a torrent of abuse upon his head. The