CRIME HISTORY - Cubs shortstop shot by chorus girl
By: Scott McCabe
Examiner Staff Writer
July 6, 2009
On this day, July 6, in 1932, Chicago Cubs shortstop Bill Jurges was shot twice by a spurned girlfriend, Violet Popovich Valli.
The 24-year-old Jurges had tried to break up with the attractive young brunette showgirl, when she showed up at his Chicago hotel. She asked for a drink of water and pulled out a gun. Three shots were fired. One bullet hit the shortstop's little finger while another shot struck a rib and ricocheted out of his right shoulder. Valli was hit once in her arm.
Police found a suicide note left by Valli in which she blamed teammates for the breakup.
"But why should I leave this earth alone," she wrote. "I'm going to take Billy with me."
Charges were dismissed when Jurges appeared in court and announced that he would not testify and did not wish to see Valli prosecuted.
Jurges recovered from the gunshot wounds to become a regular all-star and help lead the Cubs to three National League championships.
He died in 1997 at age 88 in Clearwater, Fla.
- Scott McCabe
