Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-25
JOSEPH ILINICH DIES
-ssx'aEAeEKD
A VICTIM OF HIS
OWN HAND
GIRL SEES TRAGEDY
THREE BULLETS PUMPED INTO
BODY, EITHER OF WHICH
SHOULD HAVE PROVEN FATAL
-CoRoNER'S JURY BEAMES
DEATH TO SUICIDE.

pEh'H " ~ oOlt'cG.
While indications point to the sui
eide OF Joseph j llinich, lancecorpor-
al of Company c., county and city au'
thorities are not content with permit
ting the strange features woven about
the death OF the young man To pass
without making thOro investigations 10
convince themselves as well as mem
bers OF the Ilinich family. that the
tragedy really was caused by llinch's
own hands,
The shooting occurred about 10 o.
clock on the street in front of al9 Ca
nal street in the presence OF
Miss Viola Wilson. cousin of the
dead youths sweetheart, and was wit
messed by Frank Corrigan OF Mar
seilles, conrad in arms OF the dead
youth who was crossing the l.aiay
ette street bridge at the time. Miss
Wilson was guest at the Pleskovitch
home at the time of the shooting
The girls and Corrigan's stories
coincide and both Indicate that sui
eide was responsible for the fatality,
Bullet holes, however together with
a third abrasion of the breast under
Jagged cuts in the outer shirt. under
wear and vest. give rise to the myS-
terry that has occasioned oificialdom
to conduct thoro invYtisation litd
the strange case
When llinich's body was taken pos
session OF by members of the police
department, who were called on the
scene by Corrigan, there plainly show
ed two bullet holes near the heart
either one OF which should have prov
en- fatal, and third hole in the young
mans right temple. out OF which oozed
his brains.
Young Ilinich, who Is son OF John
uinich, a Chestnut street saloon Keep
or. had been keeping company win
Miss Pleskovitch for more than year
The two became sweethearts prior TO
Ilinichs departure for the Mexican
border, with Company C.. That there
was any quarrel was denied by MISS
Pleskovtch when she was examined
by Chief Zurich Members OF the
llinich family claim that because o'
Joe's anxiety to get into action with
the United States forces relations De
tween the youth and his atllanced be
came strained and his recent tour o
duty at Joliet only served to maN'
this condition more pronounced,
Miss Pleskovitch was prostrated by
the tragedy she played such} an IN
portant part in and when quizzed bS
the police, could not give a cohereh
account of just what did happen Ool
rigan, who was crossing the priuge
gives better account OF the Shoo'
ing.
His attention was attracted by th'
sound of a girls voice in pleading
tones addressing a man VINO stood II
the street. She said don't DO una
Joe" and he replied get away IRON
me now, mean business. The sir
Corrigan says was standing only
few feet from the man when sho
rang out and she screamed. Anothe
shot followed and the girl fell bac
several feet from the man. A revol
er clicked twice and then came tn
third shot. With that the man coul
be seen to topple and fall to the paw
ment.
Corrigan ran to the scene. a di
tance of hundred feet from wheI
he had been. and felt llinich's pulls
and then dashed wildly for the p
lice station to notify the authoritle
The shots were heard by neig
hora and the same conversation +
ported by Corrigan, is said by the
10 have passed between the your
woman and her sweetheart.
The mother of the girl, and who
believed TO have much influence ov
the young soldier boy, stated
about 4:3O o'clock Josie came
our house. Lizzie, my daughter, W
away but came hcme shortly after
arrived. Joe seemed to be very 40"
hearted about sometimes he wou
not talk much and when ! asked n
what was the matter he told me
was his own business lie n
threatened to kill himself before !
did not pay much attention TO
threa, until yesterday. lie sem
children for some Ice cream, but
fused to eat any himself ana wo'
not eat any supper win us All
supper Lizzie's cousin, Violet wis
came over and they wanted to go
to some park, but Joe wouldn't go
Seeing that he was so downc