Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-24
tt. RU(,KSH()()TS
UIFEANE)KILLS
HIMSELF
Wife Suing for Divorce Enrages Hus-
band to Kill Himself and Wife.

Thomas Chester Buck, stranger
in this city came to Wisconsin Rapids
Wednesday Of this week and proceed
ed to the home Of J. A. Gotchia on
Vine street at 7 o'clock in the evening,
intending to kill his wife who was
making her home with her step-fath-
er temporarily Without notice as he
entered the house he began shooting
his wife, and did shoot her four times.
The terrible tragedy was enacted
in the home of Mrs. Bucks mother,
Mrs. j. A. Gotchia shortly after the
dishes of the evening meal had been
cleared away and while the victim and
Mrs. Ella Frohok, Of La Crosse, a
guest at the Gotchia home, were plan
ming to go to local motion picture
theater. Mrs. Buck, Mrs. Frohok and
little Mildred Frohok, the daughter of
the La Crosse woman, We're in the kit
chen when Buck entered the kitchen
from: rear door, revolver in hand
and fired two shots at his wife. The
little girl ran screaming to the front
door ahead Of her mother, opening
the front door allowing Mrs Frohok
to make an exit. Mrs. Buck terrified
followed them and during her flight
the Jealous husband fired two more
shots, both taking effect. She was able
&c run to the O. Omholt residence next
door, where medical aid was called
Both victims are newcomers to this
city and are not very we'll known here.
The best evidence Of the mans con-
dition was a letter found upon the
mans body which is here reproduced:
''To the public in general and to those
who happen to read:
"Men have done brave deeds and
bards have sung them well, and in do
ing and going there will be others
sayed from hell is my right and idea,
for if on this earth there is or has been
another worse than my mother-in-la
Mrs. May Gocha, God help their souls,
for she has wrecked a whole lot of
others, also herself, and has beer or
seen no pleasure in life on account of
her dispisable acts.
Il and my wife could IF got amng
ard of made up only for her and her
loWness and acts of degeneracy.
For a degenerate Of this type is The
WorsS thing on earth, and by Riding
earth Of such, my chances will balance
and in my own mind will do me good,
quite lot.
at is hard on earth for anyone that
knows not their own mind or under
stands it, and worse by far to have
what little pleasure you have on earth
taken away.
In my travels have met and been
with people Of every cline, but be-
came attached to only one that ever
meant anything to me and that one is
my wife, Mrs Olive Buck, who is loved
far better than she or others will ever
know, fer perhaps in some acts of
mine and in the disposition of mine,
could never be and bring it out to show
as others, but love from the very bot
tom Of my soul for her is mine and be-
fore God I will prove these words.
SO in being robbed on earth of ali
love, [ am going to rid it of a pest
if possible and take chances between
this earth and blue sky. VIII take a
rest and a smoke now, as I am getting
nervous, and am tired to death. This
part is written sitting in the depot at
New Lisbon. Well 11:OO a. m.-the
day is sure gloomy, so are my thots.
[ can't eat, sleep nor rest and so ner-
vous that | shake when [ write, but
time is getting short. have it planned
IF they fail, well, too bad, is all can
say. But one of them will at least be
carried out, and my wish is that | can
be with her to the last and lay beside
her in death, for poor girl, [ forgive
her from the bottom Of my heart for
the little things she has did, but has
been led astray by one who calls her
self mother.
II will leave here about p. m. Was
going to get off at Nekoosa but have
changed my mind VIII go to Port
Edwards as there is no chance Of be-
ing picked up there viii take the car
to the N. w bridge, walk over to the
house. By that time it will be dark,
go in the back door and in short time
my score will be settled. Then good
bye to all and everything as I will try
to take what on earth l love with me.
but if I fail, all well and good, as it IS
too long a road to travel alone.
~ have revolver, 10 shells, one
bottle of laudnun1, one bottle of iodine,
one razor and one knife, so there is
sure some Of them going to work. |
want to thank the chief, and his men
for what they have done for me, as |
know it has been their best; also Dr..
Lain, wife and children for | know
while I am writing these lines they
hold no grudge or hard feelings. [ am
sure lonesome and blue, but viii be
with my loved one soon and all trou-
BILE, wrong and work will be over and
maybe some rest will follow. God a
lone knows, I hope so for | am sick,
tired and worn out.