New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-17
THOMPSON REFUSES TO TALK
LITTLE LIGHT on THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE.


THE INJURED MAN IN A CRITICAL CONDIrION-rwo
BULLETS IN MRS. THoMPsoN's HEAD.
Winfield b. Thompson, who shot and killed
his wife and then seriously wounced himself on Tuesday
the sturtsvant House, remained conscious the greater
part of yesterday and stooay refused to give any rea
for his conduct After Coroner Levy had spent An
hour ard half endeavorng to extract q confession
from him Tuesday night. the attendants aud phys-
cisns at the NewYork Hospital piled him with ques-
tions. but to purpose. He would converse Willingly
upon other subject as far as his weakened condition
would permit but when the the shooting was
toned he mpresscd his lips and stared Hs condition
In the morning nspred his attendants with hopes for bis
recovery. but at m. peronitis set In. and his case
was put down critical. Shortly after noon telegram
received By the superintendent OF the hospital from
Vance Thompson the patients brother IL was dated at
Chicago. and
Telegraph chances In W. B. ThOmpsons condition 10
32i Vernon ave, Chicago.
In obedience to this request wor o, change for the
worse sent at 5:l5 o'clock.
The only effects found upon Thompson when taken to
the hospital matchbox containing Two gold plated
shirt studs and watchkey pair OF limitation sleeve but
tons with the initial 1T" in German silver raised upon
them bunch OF keys fttycent silver coin and five
cont piece. In his coat pocket were two receipted
board bills for $40 75 at the Aquidnock House.
Newport and tho other for $3s 30 at the fremont
House. Boston. The latter included s. for vino aud 50
cents for lager beer The bills bore dates written five
DAYS following the wedding on June
Regarding the wedding ceremony the Rev. Dr. Joseph
T. Elder OF No. 337 East sixtyeighth-st..
by whom and at whose house 1t was
performed. said that it extremely
quiet the only witnesses being Dr. and Mrs d. b. Pratt,
Of No. Sol sixty nnthst. whose house the bride
had lived for the last two years. Dr. Elder said that
Thompson described in the marriage certificate as
farmer" In his postmortem statement Thompson sud
he medical student at the College OF Physicians ard
Surgeons but inquiry at that institution showed thatno
hnn1ra
1t said that he might have attended one or two
lectures visitor unknown to tine authorities. 5ut
that he had never been regularly qualified student
Mrs j. B. Pratt, whose intimacy with Mra
Thompson placed them almost In the relf-
tionship of sisters. had somewhat recovered
from the shock attendant upon the breaking Of the news
of the tragedy to her aud was able to give much moro
lucid account of what under her knowledge ehs
said called upon the ThOmpsons at the sturte-
want House at 10 IN. Tuesday ami little later no
three started tour OF the shops When they went
stern's store. behind the counter OF which Mrs.
Thompson had been employed for seven years prior 70
her marriage Thompson excused himself saying that Lo
would them at the sturtevant House for lunch at
$780, 1t was during this absence that the pistol VAS
purchased 1t was twenty minutes later than the ap-
pointed time when he rushed into the rooms at tas
! hotel breathing heavily from the exertions OF tsit
walking with beads OF perspraton standing upol
his fornead lie appeared as calm was his vos,.
and the three went to the dining room.
"When | started to go away after the lunch" sail
Mrs Pratt, in continuing her narrative he begged no
to stay until o'clock. saying that he nad particular
motive In wishing IT, Ii was twenty minutes before 3
when lett"
The body Of the unfortunate Genevove Thompson
removed the home Of her parents the tnrd oor of
the tenement house at Nnthaye and Forty NTH t.,
late Tuesday night. At y. H. yesterday Dr. jenkins
made autopsy and discovered that the woman sAd
been struck by two bullets instead OF one, as had been
Ona NJ fhpm ATT
bone near tile base OF the skull ami the other entered e
skull inches behind the left ear, leneiatei tna
brain and lodged In the bone back OF the rat ear Te
hair both wounds singed. No other marks of
violence visible upon the body The funeral III
be held 10 o'clock to morning. The Rev. Dr.
Elder, Oiciated at the wedding fifteen days agJ
will conduct the services.
The most plausible theory advanced to explain Tia
mystery surrounding tho tragedy Is that Thompson xas
Strengthened circumstances that he endeayOredt 70
money during his absence from his wife aud Mrs.
Pratt Tuesday, and, being unsuccessful ana dsts-
ing TO tell his wife OF their pcht after promising Afr
22-caiibre rcyover with which to do i. he sl-
doubtedly Infatuated with his Miie ana BEING nauray
the '.liacult''N for both 10 die. Thl, sunposIton
the probable when it is remembered rhdt 40
had planned q trip 20 Mauch Chunk and Philadelphia,
that his weeks hotel bill was due and that he mad h5s
50 cents his pockets. Mrs Pratt says that she knew
he short of money. From tie circumstances = 5
presumed that his wife stood at the mirror adjusting her
hat when he al Iproached her from behind wt ne rc-
vover il his hai. The first shot evidently struck ser
in back Of the head, an as she orncd the see97t
behind her left A third shot WAS doubtless
fired after she fell, aud entered the wall at tue side II
the mirror. Thompson then turned the weapon ur,u
himself and inflicted tho four wounds In this way 81
the balls fired are accounted for.
Robert :. Yard, the clerk with W. II. Grace ca.
scouts the supposition that lack of money was 'te
motive crime lie insists that Thompson had al
income OF 81 200 from his father and could easily
have borrowed $1,000 by simply making his wA2.s
known. Yard has assured Lewis LELAND OF the >ulzs-
want House that the bill incurred by Thompson VIII e
paid The trunk aud satche remain in the bedroom "a
Thompsons Iaror packed aud just they were 10 n
at the time of tho tragedy
AT an early hour this morning tie patients condition
WAS It'll critical officer OF the Twenty ninth lyr-
cnct keeps watch at the bedside and one VII
remain there until Thompson RECEIVERS death puts
end 10 his suferiugs. His father. tre hcv. G. l.
Thompson, of Kansas City, is expected TO arrive -
morning.
special dispatch from Pttsburg says that rhonpss1
was well there. His fa her preceded the Kew L
Cowen the Third Presbyterian Church Five ye,Rs
ago winfield eldest OF the three sons, eutere tao
Western University He did not complete the course
there. but Princeton. where he remained ursl
three years ago.