New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-23
SHOT WIFE AND MOTHER-LN-LAW W
A SUNDAY TRAGEDY IN A PENNSYLVANIA
TOWN.
IN A JEALOUS FRENZY, sEELY HOPKINS, OF
PHILLIPSBURG, SHOOTS DOWN HIS VICTIMS
THEN TRIES TO KILL HIMsELY.

Belefonte, Penn, Sept. 22.-Seely Hopkins, resi-
dent of Phpsburg, this county age twenty today
at 10 o'clock shot and killed his wife Maggie and
his mother-n-law, Mrs. Wghaman, and then tried 10
shoot himself but failed. Hopkins was engaged in
numerous quarres with his wife during the past two
or three months. Two weeks ago he left home, re-
turning yesterday. They had another quarrel this
morn ng in the course of which Hopkins pulled
revolver from his pocket and shot his wife dead
This occurred on the first floor Of their home, and
the fenzied man, after killing his wife, rushed to the
third story where his mother in-law was, and shot
her too killing her instantly Hopkins then loft the
house and went to neighborns livery stable, where
he attempted 10 kill himself, firing two shots at his
head with his revolver, neither of them doing much
damage, however, beyond pOughing couple OF
grooves in the top of his skull lie confessed to
killing his wife and her mother to DR.. Pierce, who
pronounced him out of danger
Hopkins was arrested by acting Chief of Police John
NJ Click who at the scene of the tragedy lew
moments after IL had occurred. on Hopkins was
found the following letter, which, It is believed, con-
tains the reason for the commission Of the deed;
IIoutzdale. Penn, Sept ell have written n many t
statements on what l am going 10 do: Most OF the
people I'm Phpsburg say have been hounGeu 10 , S9
me out of the way Edward Hughes and dear lear EGu,e @
Godrcks the cracker agent. can have thelf own WN,
love her to dOairy. and these men can never nave
her again. viii die first want this directly m Hl ~
stood want my body sent TO Bert liOphlns; ~. n1b
Stone-st Rochester. n. Y. 1 hope we VIII OoIn
reach heaven. Goodbye ALL am In Osceoia now now
on INV way Whoever comes In my way "ueh "00'
MAGGIE and inrcrfercs will down with her. =, ,,
SATURDAY. Sept 21,-To-nght is my time II IL es}i ho}i,,
thing Is all right. Mind my words, want my Do t,
sent home Just as l fall. hate to do crime I'm @
this but they have bounded me around uii "''
stirred TO It. -,
This letter addressed to newspaper WIN
the request that be published after the deah OF 'c
writer.
Hopkins. who had been away from town for few
days. was arrested SATURDAY for assault ana oa'ers
on his wife committed a week ago. lie was uiea
and committed to jail in default of ban i0r sIniV
reason the constable failed to take him 10 Jan pu1
permitted him to bo at liberty. Hopknss own aC-
count of tie killing Is that he broke open ce.so ts
window of the house last evening and slept III ue
cellar This morning he heard his wife astlr over,
head and went upstairs and attempted ID embrace
her She rapused him. and he tnereupon ureW
revolver and fired shots az her, both taking enect
ard killing her Instantly. When she fell ne Wcht
unstairs entered the room of his m0t1erinlaW anu
fired two bullets into her, also killing her lnStahtI!
livery stable attempted to Nil himself vita the same
revolver but only succeeded In inhictng couple OF
sea wounds,