Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-09
SACRAMENTO DAILY nn,,n.,-siug MONDAY, O. 1880
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION.
WALTER W. PHILLIPS FIRES A BULLET
INTO HIS OWN BREAST.
He Says His wife's Father Has En-
stranged Her Affections, and
Ruined His Life.

About half-past 10 o'clock last night
Walter w. Phillips, a manufacturing jewel.
er, who was recently in business here on
Sixth street, between and K, shot him
self with suicidal intent, but will probably
recover. The act was committed in front
OF the house of his father-in-law, James
Murphy. on Q street, near Seventh.
He then ran up Seventh street to L,
where he met a handkerchief, who as
sisted him into the saloon on the corner of
Seventh and L streets. A carriage was
sent for and he was taken to the Receiving
Hospital, where he was shortly afterward
attended by City Physician C. B. Nichols.
DRIVEN TO IT BY PERSECUTION.
A RECORD UNION reporter saw the un-
fortunate young man while his wound was
being dressed, and he told his story briefly,
in sentences broken by sobs, and while the
story of one whose life had been ruined, as
claimed, by those from whom he had
right to expect better treatment.
Fourteen months ago." he said, ~ mar
rled the daughter of James Murphy, who
keeps barbershop on K street, between
Fifth and Sixth, and ever since the family
have been making trouble between my
wife and me. l became broken up in bust
ness, and they tried to get her away from
me. She went home, while went away
10 try and once more build myself up. /
got work in San Francisco, and she came
there, as good wife should, and stayed
with me.
"A few days ago she came home on a
visit and tho rel fhinn T -
thing being wrong was the receipt of a
bundle of papers showing that she had
commenced
SUIT FOR DIVORCE.
81 hastened up here as soon as 1 could
and went to her fathers house tonight to
see her and ask what it meant. 1 went
upon the porch and saw them all inside
making merry. There was my wife at the
piano, playing, and others were singing,
and all seemed happy but me.
THEN BECAME DESPERATE,
And pulled my pistol from my pocket and
shot myself, intending to end my life then
and there, as had nothing more to live
for. AS soon as / shot threw the pistol
into the yard. Then / saw Murphy rush
for the door, and l ran out of the yard.
He pursued me with pistol, and / sought
the assistance of the first person l met.
Oh, nobody knows how the Murphys have
bounded mel"
NATURE OF THE WOUND.
By this time the doctor had examined
and dressed the wound. The bullet en-.
tered the right breast at the nipple and
passed out just under the armpit. Appa-
rently it was not dangerous wound, but
if the ball passed through the lung serious
results may follow.
THE FATHER.IN-LAw TALKS.
Just as the reporter was about to 90 to
the Murphy residence for further informa-
ton in regard to the causes which led
Phillips to make the attempt upon his life,
Murphy himself appeared at the police
station. He at first affected to know moth
ing about his son-in law having been shot
and said he had come for warrant to have
him arrested
Arrested for what2" asked the reporter.
why, for-for-well, for shooting in
my front yard"
Did you chase him away from your
house tonight"
Yes, the son replied
Murphy. What business had he around
my house,"
Then he launched forth in torrent of
coarse abuse of the young man who lay
grooming with pain on cot in an adjoining
room. He declared that Philips was a
worthless fellow and that his wife had sued
him for divorce because he was of no
account.
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
Those who claim to know Phillips init
mately state that he is an industrious, worthy
young man, and would have prospered in
his business here if he had not been ham,
pered by his wife's family. He had we'll
stocked jewelry store, is a good workman,
and year ago seemed to be doing we'll
He is young man of good address,
and, it is said, stands well in the COM
munity.