The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-01-08
HUSBAND HELD AFTER SHAVING
 THIS MORNING
Revenge Over Divorce Ac- ton Claimed Responsible
 for F amily Tragedy
LEPETICH ADMITS
 FIRING AT WIFE
Alleged Attempt Made to Take Own Life Murder
 Charges Will Be Fired

Mrs. Saveta Lepetich, 31, estrang- ed wife of Samuel Lepetich, so, both widely known Juneau residents, was shot and killed around 2 a. m. to- day in the living room of her home lat Third and Gold Streets. Lepetich is being held in the Federal jail, iaccused of firing the shots, and the District Attorneys office announced that murder charges will be filed against him before the end of the day.
 Mrs. Lepetich was shot two times in the chest, once in the back, and cording to Assistant District At |torney George w. Folta, with a 38 Icaliber revolver and was dead when officers arrived. Lepetich was found stretched out on the floor with a knife wound across his chest. At the hospital, where he was rushed, lit was defined as nothing serious and he was taken to the Federal jail.
 Suicide Attempt
 According to information obtained by officers, Folta said it was be- lieved that Lepetich intended to kill both his wife and himself, for af- ter firing the bullets into his wife, he told officers, he turned the gun on himself but that it failed to go off when he pulled the trigger. He then is alleged to have taken his knife and gashed himself across the chest. Marshal William T. Mahoney said there was evidence that Lepe- tich had fired one shot at himself but the bullet had only pierced his outer coat and gone through his snuff box.
 to be revenge, officers said. Last July Is Mrs. Lepetich filed a suit for divorce. In it she alleged cruel treatment and that Lepetich threat ened to kill her In countering the charge, Lepetich denied the accu- sations but on last December II Mrs. Lepetich was granted restraining order by Federal Judge George F. Alexander and the husband was or i. dered to pay his wife $75 month for the support of herself and chil- dren. as we'll as to keep away from them. Since their separation, Mrs. Lepetich had been working at the Alaska Laundry and Lepetich had been working at the bar in Bailey's Cafe. Formerly, the couple oper- ated the Central Beer Parlor here.
 Confession Made
 In signed statement to Marshal Mahoney, Lepetich, the Marshal said this afternoon, admitted that he had shot and killed his wife . He declared in his statement that Mrs Lepetich had invited him to her home and that in the course of an argument she allegedly struck him. Mrs. Nick Petieyich, sister of the dead woman, said that Lepetich has been breeding since the divorce ac- tion had been instituted and had been drinking heavily
 At St. Ann's Hospital it was re- ported that Lepetich was admitted there on Wednesday for a rest af- ter oyer-work." He remained in the 1 hospital until yesterday morning when he suddenly told the nurses that he was going home. He was not officially dismissed from the hospital, it was stated, but no effort was made to restrain him, because, it was explained. that it was he- lieved his condition was considered due to nervousness and fatigue w. L. Torrell, nurse on the mems floor at the hospital. said Lepetich was