The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-28
THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
A Member of Congress Kills the Destroyer
of His DOMESTIC Happiness.

Member of Congress Kills the Destroyer
of His Domestic Happiness.
HARRoDsBURG, KY, April 27.-Capt. Phil B.
Thompson, ex-member of the Legislature. shot
Walter Davis as he was stepping from a smok-
ing-car of the Cincinnati Southern road, this
morning. Thompson was inside the car. The
bali went through Daviss head, producing in
slant death. The cause alleged was undue init
macy of Davis with Thompson's wife.
Phil B. Thompson, jr., is a member of Congress
for the Eight Kentucky district. He and Davis
had taken the train for Cincinnati. but did not
meet Till they came to Harrodsburg junction.
where both got into the smokingcar Thomp-
son Immediately began an assault on Davis, who
tried to escape. AS he got on the PLATFORM
Thompson drew a revolver. and saying: "Yeu'll
not take my wife TO Cincinnati again." fired, and
Davis fell dead. Davis was o grocer, but had
sold his stock and was about to go to Chicago.
Thompson got off the train and walked away.
From hotel registers and other sources it is
ascertained that Hon. Phil B. Thompson ana
wife TOOK supper at the Barnet House, Nov. 81
1882. with Miss Buckner, cousin of Mr.
THOMPSON. and Mr.. Thompson went on
Mrs. Thompson went to the ST. Clair Hotel
where Miss Buckner was boarding, and was as
signed the same room. Next day "W. Davis
HarrOdshurg," appeared on the register. This
Is known to be the deceased. During the after
noon he and Mrs. Thompson went OUT together,
and when they returned, between 8 and 10 at
night, Mrs. T. was perceptibly under the nfiuence
of inIoxicants. He and Mrs Thompson left the
hotel next day. The hotel proprietor refuses to
say anything about the circumstances OF their
leaving There are reasons to believe that Miss
Buckner notified Mr.. THOMPSON OF Dayis's at
tentons tn Mrs. Thompson.
The deceased was prominent business man
of Harrodsburg. and an intimate friend
of the Thompson family. This friendship
was made stronger by his marriage to a close
friend of Phil B. Thompson, jr. Mrs. Thompson ac-
Quired the habit of using strong intoxicants from
using liquor some years ago when recovering
from illness. When Thompson started for Wash
ington, last November, Mrs. Thompson ar
companieti him to Cincinnati, but was to go
homo the same night. She met Davis in the
street. He supplied her with lqnor
and took her to the st. Clair
Hotel to his room. Later in the
dor. The proprietor would have put her in the
street but for her recognition by his wife, She
was put in Miss Bnckner's room next morning,
and was overwhelmed with shame discover
ing her disgrace, and left the hotel. Miss Buck
ner wrote TO Thompson, telling him of his wife's
disgrace, but said nothing OF her conduct
whereupon Thompson refused al first to recog-
niZe her as MS wife. Last Tuesday, on his re-
turn from Washington, Thompson first heard in
Cincinnati of DaviS's part in his wife's disgrace.
To-day he met Davis, the first time since
his return The latter had opened the
ahouu to take seat, and salutel him
Thompson, with an oath, said: "How dare Won
speak to mes" and immediately drew his pistol
Davis attempted to draw, but chan ged his mind
and pulled the door shut. AS Davis was going
down the steps Thompson fired and Davis fell
dead, rolling down the embankment. The train
60 back 10 Hnrrodshurs To give himself up. he
returned on the train that carried the dead body
of Davis. Going to the courthouse he addressed
the judge, saying it not customary in his
situation To make remarks, bnt felt IL due to
himself and to the community to state the
facts leading to this result. He then detailed the
facts of his wife's disgrace and rum at tho hands
of the deceased, who knew her unfortunate
weakness for liquor adding: "My domestic re-
lations are bankrupt, my daughter exiled from
home, and not all his blood is worth her
tears throw myself upon the justice of my
c0untrvmen." When he flushed, Judge Harding
sal Il it was not proper for him as judge to
ex press the sympathy he felt as a man. but
won HI hold Mr.. Thompson in So 900 TO answer TO
the grand jury. Bond was given, and Mr.
Thompson released,
The Mysterious New York Murderer Hanged
ELIzABETHTowN, N. Y, April 27-Heury De
Bosney was hanged hero today for the murder
of his wife. He slept well last night, and ate IL
hearty breakfast this morning, after which he
smoked cigar and then inspected the gallows
Taking hold of the rope, he said TO the sheriff:
81 am aT.aid m break that rope; you ought to
have soap ON IT," He seemed entirely indifferent
to his Fate.
While standing upon the scaffold he was in
view or q thousand people gathered outside the
jail yard. He protested his innocence. DeBosnys
yesterday sold his body TO physician for $l5,
and IL was duly delivered to-day.
Killed His Wife, His Son and Himself