Daily Republican., 1889-09-23
TERRIBLE MURDER.
A YOUNG MAN KILLS HIS WIFE
AND MoTHER-IN-LAW,
He Then Attempts Suicide by Shooting
Himself IN the Head-J eaIousy tho
Cause of all the Troubie-The
Murderer Arrested,

| BELLEFoNTE, Pa, Sept. 22.-Seely
Hopkins, citizen Of PhillIpsburg, this
county, aged about rs years, to-day, a,
10 o'clock. shot and killei both his wife
| and mother-in-law, and then tried to
XII himself, but failed. Hopkins has
| engaged In numerous quarrels with his
| wife duriug the past two or three
mon his. Two weeks ago he left home,
returning yesterday. They had another
| quarrel this morning, in the course OF
which Hopkins pulled a revolver from
his pocket and SHOT his wife dead.
This occurred on the first floor of their
home, and the frenzied man after killing
his wife rushed TO the third story, where
his mother-iu law was, and shot her. too,
killing her instantly. Hopkins then lef,
the house and fed TO a neiQ Qhboring liver,
stable, where he attempted to kill him
self, fring two shots at his head with hIs
revolver, neither of them doing much
damage, however, beyond ploughing q
couple Of grooves In the top OF his skull.
He confessed to killing his wife and her
mother to DIR. Pierce, who pronounced
him out of danger. The District Attor.
ney, accompanied by the Sheriff, will
leave here early to-morrow morning 10
bring the murderer to the Jail at this
place. The Coroner's inquest will be
held at 10 o'clock Tomorrow,
Jealousy and belief In the faithless.
ness OF bis wife are thought to be the
cause that caused him to commit the
crime.
The county has not had q clearly
1919.
w. s. Hopkins, who shot and instantly
Killed his wife Maggie, and his mother.
in-law, Mrs. Wigaman, this morning,
was arrested by Acting Chief of Police
John M. Click, who was at the scene OF
the tragedy few moments after 1t had
occurred. Upon Hopkins persen was
found the following letter, which 1t is be-
lieved contains the reason for the COM
mission of the deed:
"HoUTzDALE, Pa, Sept. 21.--I have
written many statements on what am
going to do. Most Of the people in
Phillipsburg say have been bounded to
get me out OF the way 50 Edward Hughes
and dear Eddie Goldricks, the cracker
agent, can have their own way. They
have ueed my wife Maggie as theirs. I
love her to idolatry and these men can
never have her again. Twill die first.
want this distinctly understood. L want
my body sent 10 Bert Hopkins, q Stone
street, Rochester, N. Y. 1 hope we will
both reach Heaven. Good bye all. am
In Osceola now, on my way. Whoever
comes in my way when l meet Maggie
and interferes will go down with her.
SATURDAY. Sept. 2l.-To- uiR ht is nv
time. If everything is all right. Mind
my words, want my body sent home
just as l fall. hate to do crime like
this, but they have bounded me around
till am stirred TO It,"
This letter was addressed to a ne VS.
paper, with the request that 1t be pub.
lished alter the death OF the writer.
Hopkins. who had been away from town
Tor few day9, was arrested on Saturday
for assault and battery on his wife, COM
mitted week ago. He was tried and
committed to jail IN default of bail. For
some reason the constable failed TO take
him to jail, but permitted him to run at
liberty.
Hopkins own account of the killing IA
that he broke open o cellar window last
evening and slept In the cellar. This
morning he heard his wife astir overhead
and went up stairs and attempted to en-
brace her. She repulsed him, and he
thereupon pulled a revolver and fired
two shots at her, both taking effect and
killing her instantly. When she fell, he
went upstairs, entered the room OF his
mother-in. law and fired two bullets into
her, also killing her instantly. He ran
from the house and, Just In front of All.
ports livery stable, he attempted to kill
with the same revolver, but only
succeeded in infllcting a couple of SCALP
The affair has created intense
excitement