Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-13
BURKE SHOOTING
EVIDENTLY DONE
IN JEALOUS FIT
Domestic Difficulties Related,
But Given Different Versions
by.Man and Wife.
BOTH IN BAD CONDITION


| The shooting Of Mrs. Myrtle Burke
by her husband, James Il. Burke, who
then fired a bullet into his own breast
yesterday afternoon. In the store of
/ 4 Peoples Credit Company. on the
sec0ad floor of 611-613 Market street
was the result OF jealousy, according
TO the police, who are making an In
vestigation OF the case. Both the
wounded people are in the Delaware
Hospital, where they were hurried by
the police patrol a few minutes after
the tragedy and both are reported TO
be i'm such critical condition that
their recovery is doubtful.
The Burkes have been married about
two years. the police learned, and for
a time lived at 701 West street. Burke
Lad formerly been in the army, but
after leaving the service things are
said not to have progressed very well
between thems the detectives say, and
the couple separated. Mrs. Burke
obtained a room at $40 washingtot,
street, where She was living at the
time of the shootlngg and Burke went
to i've with his brother. Michael
Burke, at zoos Arch street. Philadel-
phia. Mrs. Burke originally came
from Lewes, where her mother. Mrs.
Catherine Joseph. still lives
Last winter Burke Joined No. 3
Company, Anti-Air Craft Regiment.
and he told the police yesterday NJ
the hospital that last summer whne
the regiment was I'm camp on the
Rife Range his wife visited him end
created a scene there. He also claims
that NJ one time she threatened TO
shoot him, but the revolver was taken
away from her Efforts TO reconcile
the couple were made by friends but
without effect
Mrs burke had secured a position
with the Peoples Credit Company and
had instituted proceedings for divorce
and the case was TO have been heard
at the January term Of court. Burke
told the police he lad gone 10 the
store yesterday afternoon 10 talk with
his wife ABOUT this divorce suit. and
he claims she only laughed at him.
He resented this and told her she
should not treat him that way in The
presence Of other people. JIe told
Policeman Devenney. the latter
claims. that she continued 10 iaugh !
at him and then, he said. he shot her
and shot himself.
Version of the Wife.
Mrs. Burke tells a different story. |
In a feeble voice she told the officers |
who questioned her at the hospital |
last night that her husband had /
ito do this He has lean |
threatening me for about two months" /
the police say she told thom. THE !
last time ] talked TO him. which was a |
few days ago. he struck ple and told |
me he was going to kin me. You can
see on my arms here where he struck
me. We have been married only two
years. In the early part Of the sum
mer he left me. He came back In
while / was staying nth my
sister. Mrs. Kate Reed OF Newark.
While we We're there he assaulted a
Negro woman and when the officers
came to get him he told them that l
was not his wife. that I was lust
living with him. l would not live with
aim after that. He has been trying
III the time to make me take him
pack and has been threatening me be.
;ause l refused and told him that /
vas going TO sue him for support.
lad been supporting him for the past
rear.
His brothers wife. Mrs. Michael
3urke Of 2006 Arch street, Philadei-
'hia. sent for me a fex weeks ago
md asked me why would not live
With him. She and her brother did
lot blame me when l told them. He
threatened 10 kill me that night. He
anne TO the store 10 ask me if / would
rop the suit. ! told him no. Then he
hot me-"
Continued on page 70.