Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-30

FataIly-A Tragic Scene.
PHILADELPHIA. March 30-John A.
Brown. aged 81 years, salesman for
James TalCott, wooden merchant, of
Franklin street. New York. eliminated
four years of abuse and persecution of his
young wife by shooting her through tho
throat at the residence of her father, 500
South Forty second street, and then send
ing three bullets through his own head,
killing himself almost Instantly
Mrs. Browns wound is serious, but it
is not thought that it will be fatal.
Four years ago, when she was Miss
Bertha Liebert and only 20 years of age,
she married the man who at last attempt
cd to kill her, despite the opposition of
her family. Mrs Browns father is re-
tired iron manufacturer and wealthy, and
Brown was never in n position to support
the girl he made his wife in the manner
in which she was accustomed to live.
On tho very day of their marriage
Brown beat and abused his newly welded
wife. In the past four years Brown went
from bad to worse, abused his wife fire.
quently, took to drinking and made little
effort to support her.
His Drinking Led to a Separation.
Mrs. Brown left her husband several
times, but as a child was born to the cou-
pie about two years ago that formed q
bond of union between them. Some
months ago Mrs. Brown left her husband
with the avowed intention of never re-
turning to him unless he made a decided
reformation Taking her child she went
to live with her father at the house where
she shot.
Brown : abuse did not end with his wife
but Mr.. l-ichcrt asserts that two years
ago his on-in-law attempted to shoot him,
and he only saved his life by wrestling IL
revolver from him.
Brown camo here Friday from Asbury
Park, where his two sisters live He call
ed ut Mr. Liohrrt's about noon and asked
to SEE his fathcrin law. Mr.. Lirbrrt re-
fused to sec Brown. and tho latter then
asked for his wife, and when told that she
was out he asked permission to see his
child. This was granted him, and while
he WAS talking and playing with his Iva
by his wife came home She went into
the reception room, where Brown Was,
and necessarily greeted him
When luncheon was served, Mrs Brown
went to lunch, but Brown was not asked.
Mrs. Browns father warned her against
again returning to the room where her
husband was, but nevertheless she went
back to the reception room.
About , clock. as Miss Licbcrt. a sister
of Mrs. Brown and Miss Stockton were
descending the stairs, they heard Brown
ask his wife to return to live with him.
Mrs. Brown was seated upon the arm of
"a sofa at the time, and Brown was stand
ing before her.
She answered that she would never re-
turn to him unless he ceased drinking
and could make "a living for her and her
child.
Upon this Brown drew q revolver. and
his wife instinctivcly threw down her
head, the movement probably saving her
life for the shot instead of striking her in
the head, struck her in the back of the neck
and passed through and out Of her throat.
a Struggle For the Revolver.
Brown fired again, but missed, and then
his wife, in frenzy of terror and dcspcra-
ton, throw herself upon him and bore
him to the floor. She wrrStCd the rcvulv-
er from his hand and springing up ran
from the room. Brown followed her and
caught her in the hallway. lie graspcd
her by the hair, and pulling her backward
took the revolver from her.
During this scene the two girls on the
stairs had been paralyzcd with fright
Miss Liebort fled through the front door,
but as Miss Stockton saw Brown turn his
pistol toward his toddling child, who was
standing in the hallway, with woman's
instinct she snatchcd the child and rushed
into the dining room.
Tho moments delay had given Mrs
Brown an opportunity to fly, and she ran
through the hall and out of the side door
AS she ran Brown fired once more at her.
but missed. As she dashed down the steps
leading to the pavement u coachmap at
tempted to stop the terrified woman, but
she threw him to the ground As easily as
strong man would have done and ran
across the street to the house of Pay Direct
or Of the Navy Russell.
When his wife disappeared through the
door, Brown turned the revolver upon
himself and sent three bullets through his
head dying almost instantly.
In the confusion and excitement raised
in the noighborhood by the tragedy Mrs
Brown WAS hurried by the police into an
ambulance and taken to the University
hospital. She is resting easily.
Browns New York Record.
NEW YORK. March 3O.-John a. Brown
was travelling salesman for James Tai