Obit: Kopp, Fred  (? - 1916)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kopp

----Source: Republican Press

Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin, February 3, 1916

SHOOTS HIS BROTHER

Sunday afternoon a shocking tragedy occurred at the Kopp farm in the town of Hewett*, resulting in the death of Fred Kopp at the hands of his brother, Frank.  The sons who are men between thirty and forty years of age lived at home with their father and mother, who are quite aged, together with other sons.  Frequent quarrels seem to have arisen among the brothers.  Last Sunday as it is reported, Frank was lying on a lounge when Fred came in and told him to get up, as he wanted to lie on the lounge.  Frank did not get up as readily as Fred thought he should and Fred struck him.  A scuffle ensued and after some bickering Frank declared he would pack up his clothes and leave home.  Fred tried to stop him at the door and Frank got a rifle and threatened to shoot him.  Here the father interfered and with Fred’s help took the rifle away from Frank.  The father took the rifle up stairs to hide it and though gone but a few minutes he heard the report of a gun below and on running down found that Frank had procured the shot gun and discharged a load of shot into Fred’s neck, killing him almost instantly.  Just what took place between the sons during the father’s absence is not known at present except that Frank claims he was defending himself when he shot.

The District Attorney and Sheriff were notified and the remains brought to Neillsville, an inquest being conducted before Justice Campman and the jury found simply that Fred Kopp came to his death by a shot from a gun in the hands of his brother Frank.  He was taken into custody immediately after the tragedy and brought before Court Commissioner Kountz and his hearing set for next Monday.   The funeral of the dead man was held Wednesday.

*I, the transcriber, being a great niece of the brothers, know this to have been in the township of Levis.