Bio: Kopp, Fred (Murdered By His Brother - 1916)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: ann@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Kopp

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/3/1916

Kopp, Fred (Murdered By His Brother – 30 JAN 1916)

Sunday afternoon Frank Kopp shot his brother, Fred, and killed him almost instantly. The two men, who lived with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Kopp, about seven miles southwest of this city, became involved in a quarrel about 1:30 o’clock. Frank had been lying on the couch in the dining room of the Kopp home and Fred had requested him to get up so that he might occupy the couch. Frank arose and reached for his cap and gun hanging just above him and it would seem that Fred thought that his brother was reaching for the gun with intent to shoot him. The two men then engaged in a struggle for the possession of the gun and fought back and forth in the dining room and parlor. Fred finally secured possession of the rifle and gave it to his father who carried it upstairs. Frank then attempted to leave the house, but the way was barred by Fred standing in the doorway with a short stick of stove wood in his hand. During the struggle for the possession of the rifle, Fred had picked up the club and had used it on his brother. Frank went to the kitchen where a single barrel shot gun was standing and, securing it, he returned to the dining room and again requested his brother to stand aside and allow him to leave the house. From the evidence given at the inquest it would seem that the two men again became involved in a struggle for the possession of the second gun and in the ensuing mix-up, Fred was shot through the throat and almost instantly killed. The shot entered the side of his neck, severed both jugular veins and passed out on the other side.

Both the mother and father of the two men, who are about 40 years of age and unmarried, were at home at the time, but they are not altogether clear as to the details of the fight. At times Fred seemed to have been the aggressor while at other times Frank took the initiative. There was no evidence of bad blood or quarreling between the brothers for neither had been at home for some time, both coming to stay in November. Mrs. Kopp seems to think that the club which Fred used on his brother had been prepared for just such an occasion and yet did not know of the two boys quarreling at any previous time. It would seem that the killing was the result of two quarrelsome dispositions coming in contact when tempers became aroused to insane heat and the death of the younger brother was the result.

Frank will undoubtedly plead self-defense as the cause of his terrible deed.