The New York herald., 1869-05-24
FEARFUL DOMESTIC ARRAY.
A Man Commits Deadly Assault on His
Wife and Daughter and Then
Shoots Himself.
ANTE. .MORTEM STATEMENTS, &C.

About four O'Clock yesterday morning, as officel
Frederick Bohe, OF the Tenth precinct police wal
uatrolng his post In the vicinity of Suffolk and Riv
ington streets, he little boy, half Clad running
down Suffolk street. The offcer, not knowing what
could have brought the little fellow out into the
streets at such an early hour, towards him. and
o. the boy caught sight OF him he seized him
by the coat and begged him to go home with him as
HIS father was numbering his mother. Where the
boys home was the ol1cer was unable to learn for
some time for the child was so excited. and was cry
ing all the time piteousy that he could not make
himself understood. The oficer finally recognized him
as the son OF q German named Philip Keabell, who
resides al No. I49 street. and once set oui
on run towards the place bidding the boy follow
him. The child needed no bidding, however, and
anti the house was reached kept the side OF the
policeman, as though anxious to reach the place in
advance OF him.
BLOODY scENE.
As soon as the house was reached the boy con-
Quoted the onlcer into the basement, and the two
cropping their way as best they could through a mar.
row and dark passage which led to the rear, entered
. small room There was a small lamp with
broken chimney on rickety table In one corner OF
the apartment, which threw sickly glare over the
surrounding objects in the place; TWO chair 5,
stove and o bedstead. Taking the lamp In his
hand in order the clearly discern the objects
around him. the ofcer, Of the instance OF the child
who still continued to cry though his little heart
would break, approached the bed, and there beheld
sight which seemed to confirm the boys
the mattress with her feet dangling over
the bedside and her thrown back
protect herself from some danger lay Mrs. Keaball
o woman about forty five years OF age, her form
scantiy covered by a loose and ragged gown. Just
over the woman's LEFT eye was a ghastly wound,
frOm which the blood slowly oOZing, and from
which 1t had no doubt been flowing for some time,
Judging from the cotted that stained the bed
clothes and the upper part OF the dress. To her
right closely nestled at her sde though the little
one had croucned under the mothers arms for
safety, lay farhaired little girl about SIX years OF
age, also with an ugly wound in the forehead from
which the blood had spurted over the clothes
where the blood OF mother and child mingled in one
common pool nasty glance about the room
struggle for life. There WERE 1t is true, but few
articles OF furniture in the room but they
on a IN sn places S .
20 have any particular place in an apartment not
much larger than an ordinary sized hall bedroom
Bone at once OWNED the whole state OF affairs, and,
on inquiry, learned that Keabell had Just left the
house. The officer at once went out In pursuit OF
him. and met him in Norfolk street looking for
police officer, to whom he said he wanted to give
himself up. He was at once arrested.
THE ORIGIN OF THE TRAGEDY.
Eeabel, who Is about dfty years OF age, his wife
Catharlne and several children have occupied the
rear basement in the house l49 stanton street II Is
sad that owing TO Keabells idle lntemperate
and dissolute habits much trouble has existed
between lm and MS wife, he charging her with inf
deity and various other crimes, while she alleged he
was In the habit OF beating her. drinking to excess
and doing little or nothing towards the support
Of their family. In this state OF infellcty KeapeI
and his wife continued TO live up to nearly two
months ago. when she caused hls arrest ON charge
OF assault and battery, and the Court him TO the
Island Tor SIX months After serving trine over
two weeks OF his sentence Keabell prevailed upon
his wife 10 ask for his discharge and although suf-
fering from injuries received at his hands the wo-
man reented, and requested the committing magis-
trate 10 release her husband. and her request was
compiled with. IL would seem that the lmprison-
ment Keabe mad suffered, instead OF rendering him
better disposed to his wife, but served to increase
the hate which he entertained for her. Thus mat.
ters continued between them till four O'Clock yes
terday morning According to the statement OF
KeabelPs little son, who brought officer Bohle 10
from his sleep by his father moving about
attack his wife-the wretched man. who is un-
doubtedly OF unsound mind arose from his couch,
TO the bed where lay his wife and little daughter for
. lew moments quietly gazed upon without awaken
ing them. He then deliberately seized q heavy ham,
mer and dealt the innocent child a powerful blow
on the forehead Immediately over the LETT eye thus
reducing her to insensibllity. The mother was not
awakened by this murderous act OF her villanous
husband. Immediately after striking the little girl
be brought down the hammer with tremendous
force upon his wfes forehead directly the left
eye. The. boy says she uttered piercing shrek,
and Keabell believing he had killed both his
wife and daughter, determined to sacrifice him.
pie barrelIed pistol with which he had
Ee hd ac n the Soo eTea se
weapon TO the left breast above the nipple he dis.
charged botn chambers, the bullets passing upwards
and outwards. The discharge OF trearns aroused
the people In the house and soon afterwards oficer
Bohe arrived at the house, has already been men.
had been arrested-wiih his wife and daughter re-
moved TO ihe care OF Warden Brennan, Of Bellevue
Hospital, with all possible haste.
Dr. Mclean, one OF the hospital surgeons, took
charge OF Mrs. keabel, under the impression that
she had been shot, but on examination found the
wound she had received had been inflicted with a
blunt instrument, aud In his opinion 1t might have
been done With hammer. IL was also apparent "
the doctor that his patient had received compound
fracture OF the skull, which makes her case an ex.
remely critical one. She subsequently, rallied and
became quite rational. - st.
The little girl, according 10 the opinion OF Dr. Bos
worth, also received compound fracture Of the
skull and her recovery is regarded very doubtful
Although Keabell has two bullets In MS body he
bear7 up wonderfully, and is able up and walk
win ease. lie remains In charge OF DIR. Graham,
smother Of the hospital surgeons and, according 70
present Indications is likely TO recover.
~ ACTION OF THE CORONER.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Flynn, having been
Informed OF the tragic occurrence to the hos.
pita for the purpose Of taking the ante. .mortem
statement Of Mrs Keabell, who recovered her con-
eciousness soon after Having been admitted to the
hospital, and also hearing any such explanation as
her husband might think proper TO make.
:. Below viii be found the statement OF Mrs.
keaDell:-
STATEMENT OF ELIZABETH KEABELL
nay husband, Phllp keabell, has been for some
snie past ulihhihg great ueal ana appeared 70 ma
70 DC little crazy; had him sent on the Island
about six months since for beating me: he was com
mitted from Jefferson Market for six months: when
ne was on the Island for sixteen days he wrote TO
me aud told me that he had got cold IN the quarry.
and begged me 10 go TO the Judge and get him out:
j went 10 the Judge and got him out; since he came
home he has not worked; 10 out working every
day to support the house, he drinks whenever he can
get any money; last night he returned home about
Ten O'Clock, and asked me for two snlngs gave II
10 him; he came home again alter twelve, and was
very noisy; went 10 bed with the children ana
went TO sleep; 1t must have been after two O'CLOCK
while was asleep. he shot me IN the forehead with
pistol; some person hearing the shot the had sBot
the little gill before shooting mel came into the
room; saw him running out into the passage; he
SAID he had shot me.
KeaDell was then called to give his verson OF the
occurrence aud made rambling, disconnected
statement IN which he related his private and do
mestic grievances and troubles for the last twenty
I'VE or thirty years, and, OF course, having nothing
whatever t. do with the tragedy. Az length he was
brought more directly to the question at issue aud
lnale Lhp following Attainment.