The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-09
THE EXPIATION OF A CRIME.
The Last Chapter in a Story of Demoniac
Jealousy Ended on the Scaffold.
Robert Phillips Executed Yesterday for the
Murder of His Wife-His Calm Demeanor
During His Last Hours of Life.
THE STORY OF A CRIME.
An Outline Of the Murder for Which Phillips
Suffered the Death Penalty.


An Outline Of the Murder for Which Phillips
Suffered the Death Penalty.
At the intersection of two alleys, running be-
tween Meridian, Pennsylvania, Fourth and
Fifth streets, on the Oath of June last, TWO
bodies, man and woman, were discovered. The
head of the man lay on the breast of the woman,
and in his throat was horrible cash, while a
similar cut marking her almost from ear to ear
told of fearful double tragedy. James Condit,
going rapidly through the alley at o'clock in the
morning, to catch downtown street-car, first
saw them. The man was alive, but death had
come to the woman some time before. Condit's
alarm soon brought crowd to the scene, and in
it were many celored people. who identified the
man and woman, of their own race, as Robert j.
Phillips and wife.
The police soon ascertained the fact. from evil
dences Of a struggle and the nature of the
wounds, that murder and an attempt at suicide
had occurred. Phillips could not talk, and many
thought he would survive his victim but few
days Therefore, conjecture, with what could
be obtained from the relatives Of the husband
and wife, had to supply the details of the story.
1t was only three months before Phillips,
then twenty-five years Of age, and Louisa
Weber, year younger, began their married
life. The courtship had been brief and at
tended by petty quarrels. growing out of the
general admiration the girl received. Nor did
marriage lessen their troubles in this respect.
The husband tried to earn living for himself
and wife by working at Cope & Gladens lumber
yard. He had charge of a team, and tho care
of it took him away from home early in the
morning, after which he would return for
breakfast. Phillips and wife lived with her
mother in Booker alley, in the rear of No TAI
North Pennsylvania street. Often he would
find his morning meal unprepared, and this led
to seedlings, chickering's and serious quarrels.
Then, too. the husbands jealousy intensified the
was reached in the two-one dead, the other
barely alive-lying together in the alley on that
bright morning in June.
The night before husband and wife attended
the colored Odd-fsllows' picnic at the Exposition
grounds. AS they left the house, Mrs.
Smith, the wife's mother, overheard
Phillips say, Lou, you had better bid
your mother goodbye, for this is
the last night you will ever see her." This ex-
preston alarmed the old woman. who, taking
revolver from drawer, followed the two to the
picnic grounds She had money, and was
stopped at the gate. About midnight Phillips
and his wife returned home. He was sulien, and
the wife began to up-braid him about his alb
sence of ten days from the city. He did not re-
main there long, and Mrs. Phillips told her
mother that she could do nothing to satisfy Bob
at the picnic. HE is so hard to get along WITH"
she said. She did not see Phillips again until
half past o'clock the next morning. when he re-
turned to the Booker-aley home to find both
mother and daughter asleep. This did not i'm
prove his temper, and he awoke them roughly
saving: Lou, you have got some ironing to do
to-day on Ohio street 1t is time you were
there" Mrs. Phillips hurriedly dressed herself,
and the surIy husband followed. few yards
away he overlook her, and the quarrel was re-
newed He said that he wanted her to go away
with him and leave her mother. This was
his pleading but she refused. and then,
in fit of rage and jealousy,
he drew common case knife, sharpened to the
keenest edge, across her throat. The blood
flowed In drenching streams, covering both him
and her. She died without word. and the
next instant Phillips had inflicted like wound
on his own throat. From the bloody prints of
fingers on fence not many steps from the place
of the murder, it was shown that Phillips pulled
himself to the top and threw the knife into the
yard beyond. 1t was found there
A few days before the tragedy Phillips re
turned from nearly fortniehts visit to Russell
VILE He was troubled on account of his wife,
though her friends said he had no cause to be.
In letter to his mother he said: Il have tried
to outlive my troubles, but it is not worth while,
for they grow worse every day
Phillips remained at the hospital several
months The doctors inserted tube in his
throat and ever afterwards he breathed through
it. It's removal for but a few minutes would
have cost him his life. Once they thought him
to be of sufficient strength to undergo Jail life
and he was sent to that institution. Within a
day or two. though. he was returned to the hos
pitaI, for his condition became worse and re-
CURED ready medical attendance In time the
tube became part of him, without causing dis
comfort or close attention. His health improved
and the hospital managers sent him back to Jail
to await his trial