The daily gazette., 1883-07-09
A HUSBANDS MAD ACT.
HE MURDERS HIS WIFE WITH
A DULL RAZOR.
NO REASON FOR THE FOUL CRIME.
Charles Briggs, in q State of Insanity,
Cuts His Wlfe's ThroaU for no Apparent
Cause WhAtever--A Bloody Deed.

PHILADELPHIA, July Swell, I've done
it." exc aimed Charles Briggs late last night
as he rust ed from the cellar Of fis house at
No. 425 Taylor street and fell into the hands
of two policemen. Briggs's face, clothes and
hands were besmeared with his wife's blood.
He bad just cut her throat from ear to ear
with razor. The murdered woman lay
dead on the cellar door, and around her was
a crimson pool.
On Tuesday last Briggs and his wife spent
the day with some friends at Schuylkill
Falls. While walking in the woods Briggs,
who was under the influence of liquor, be-
came exasperated at some remark, and
endei the dispute by seizing her by the
throat, saying: "I'll choke you to death If
you make any more noise" The nearly
strangled woman finally escaped from his
grip, and immediately returned home. Her
husband, however, remained away Till yes
terday. Before he returned his wife called
several times at a police station to learn IL
any one had seen him.
He did not neglect his work, however, but
his strange actions in the shop gave rise to
suspicious that he was insane. Early last
evening his employer, William Marshall, and
his wife called at the house to make some
inquiries. They had some cider, and left
about o'clock. Neither In speech nor man.
ner did Briggs show any signs of insanity or
do or say anything to arouse suspicion.
Shortly after o'clock Mrs. Briggs went
out marketing, and returned after a short
absence with Mrs. Bryan Holmes, q near
neighbor, whom she had invited to Inspect
the house, which had Oeen newly cleaned
from top to bottom. Briggs was cordial In
manner and apparently in good humor.
Some cider was brought out for the visitor,
and when 1t was exhausted Briggs sent his
twelve-year old daughter Mary for more.
During the child's absence Briggs said to
his wife: "Mary, guess I'll go down cellar
and clean the stair-rd ds." Both women
| tried to dissuade him, but he persisted aud
but moment When he cried out:
"Mrs. Holmes, come down here aud see
ii you can reach thi BOTTLE" meaning The
| slair-rod polish.
"What DOES your hushalI mean BY call,
ing NEE" asked Mrs 'l"'nr> of Mrs. Brigg-.
| 81 don't understand II
"Nor either" rep h' Mr.. Briggs "I'll
go down myself
| A tier an ahrtnce uI t,.H seconds Yrs.
Holmes heard the "is. 81 i struggle in The
cellar, followed by Il rt.lr like the breaking
of bottles aud p;crau4 hr,cks. She in =
lnediatply rushed Lu hr window, shoutius
"Hclp! help help" and thrm ran down
staiis into the cellar, where, In the dim
light, she saw Mrs. Briggs wri hing on the
ground in death ~ onies.
Briggs rushed up stairs AS soon as Mrs
Holmes appeared, with Jagged, rusty aud
bloody razor in his hand, and was caught
by the policeman who responded to Mrs
Holiness screams for help He made nc
resistance, and was taken to police sta
ton.
Little Mary, on returning with the cider
and learning that her mother was dead IL
the cellar, rushed down stairs, and, with 4
shrek, flung herself across the ghastly
| form of her butchered mother.
Briggs when seen in his cell suddenly re-
| fus to tell what prompted him to kill his
wife. He is a tall, muscular Englishman,
with large round face, prominent nose,
jet black hair and heavy black muftache.
Mr.. and Mrs. Holmes say they never knew
that Briggs quarreled with his wife. Mr..
| Holmes, who works in the shop whert
Briggs was employed, however, said
briggs has remarked to me in speaking ol
his wife, There's something wrong with
her.; but he did not say what"
The little daughter, Mary, says she once
saw her father beat her mother, but this IL
the only statement showing that the couple
had ever QUAR-, led. Apparently they lived
peaceably and happily.