Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-14
UNEXPLAINED TRAGEDY.
Suicide and Attempted Murder
 at a Family Gathering.
IE FIRST SHOT HIS BROTHER.

Shot John, and Then, In the Presence of
 His Aged Mother. Turned the Weapon to His Own Head and Fell Dead.
 AVoNDALE N. J., Jan. l4.-Mrs. Alex ander Phillip is as white as the snow that fell in front of her homo yesterday, Sun day, the day of family gathering. when her children who had left the parental roof came to visit her. She saw another vis- itor arrive yesterday and her puny strength was helpless against his might. Sho saw one of her sons fall dead at her feet dead by his own hand. Mrs. Phillips hair can- not become winter, but the blight has reached her old heart
 Probably no one will ever know what impulse prompted Alexander Phillip to attempt the life of his brother John and then kill himself when his mothers grasp was still fresh upon his hands. He utter ed no word of explanation. but stood in a silence so terrible as to mako her shrink from him Then his end came swift and sudden.
 . The Phillip home is an old fashioned house in the Boulevard. short distance from tho bridge that crosses the Passaic river at Avondale. There the Phillip fam lily has lived for years-ever since in fact, the children who are now grown to mid dle age were boys Their father was Alex ander Phillip, owner of the famous Phil lip brownstone quarries of Avondale well to do and once Q member of the New ter sey legislature.
 He died several years ago. His widow and the eldest son. Richard, have lived in the home since then. Every Sunday the other children, who are married and To- cated in other parts of the state, visited the homestead. John. the youngest. keeps a glassware establishment at IF Halsey street, Newark. Saturday night he took his wife and young son and went to his mothers to spend the day.
 A Sudden Murderous Impulse.
 After dinner he and his brother Rich ard wero in the sitting room. The latter was reading a book. and John took a com fortable position, with his feet resting on the rail of the stove. and became absorbed in a newspaper. About o'clock in the afternoon Alexander entered the room He lived at Littio Falls, whero he was su- perintendent of the steam stone works of his ncle Stanley.
 Ho entered through q rear door, just as he had done ever since boyhOod, crossed the wide veranda which runs around the house, went through tho kitchen and into the sitting prom. He walked to within a few inches of his brother Johns chair and stood for an instant.
 Tho brothers werc about to look up and greet him when he suddenly pressed the muZZlo Ot a revolver to Johns head near the left temple and fired. Tho bullet glanced of and plowcd its way through the flesh under his eyo and down the right side of the nose, lodging somewhere in that membe:
 John sprang from his chair and ran up stairs to his wife and mother. Richard ran outside and shouted and ran for help
 John wife was badly scared. and after getting him safely in room locked all tho doors. Not 50, however, with the mother of the boys, Sho is about 70 years old--one of those sweet. old fashioned mothers.
 My My she exclaimed as she went down stairs to sec what on earth was the matter with Alex"
 She found him standing erect near wharo John h;td been sitting and half a dozen feet from the foot of tho Stairs down which she came Without tremUr she went up to him and asked: Alex. what is the matter: What have you donc:" There was no answer but hc moved his right hand, which still held the revolver. She caught him by the wrist and held it for few seconds. But she was as an in- fant opposed to him. His hand slowly
 
 eyes, too, and as her strength failed her she relaxed her grasp My God, don t !'' she exclaimed as she retreated backward toward tho stairs. Her foot had just touched the bottom step when there was an explosion. Her face was turned away. First she heard the revolver fall ts the floor Then heavier body followed it. She turned and saw him lying there with a bullet hole in his right temple. The missile had gone almost through his head.
 The firing attracted several peigt1bors, and hotel keeper named Kehoe tupk DOS session of the revolver It is an old fash toned bono handled affair and rusted ff5m lack. of use.
 Dr. George B. Philhower of Nutley was summoned. He was unable to eStnaet the bullet from Johns face, but said that the wound was not dangerous.
 No Known Cause For the Deed. i We had little dithrence nearly two l years ago ovef fafnny matter said | John. but that was all fixed up, and We 1 had met many times since on the most | friendly terms There has been no bad 1 feeling between us, and l cant account for Alex s desire to kill mc. | Alexander was an excellent workman and had figured on soIle of the biggest brownstOne contracts in tho country. 1 Mir. Stanley, his employer. said, however, | that of late Alexander had acted and i spoken queerly. and that it was probable that domestic trouble had unsettled hi, mind. Alexander and his wife have tw, ohildrOn. aged and years. They did not 1.-Two happily together. The oauso oi this the family would not tell, but they did say that Alexander and his wife have not lived together for ssme time. Though not divorced, they were legally separated and the wife. who is now living some | where near Norristown. \. j., had posses sion of the children. Alexander was pas sionately fond of his children and fire quently visited them. hut brooded a grcat deal over his trouble
 He left his uncls's house in Littlo Fall, Saturday afternoon after dressing himsel carefully. saying that he would go to Nor rIstown to sea his children and also go |, the family homestead at Avondale to spono | Sunday. Whether he went to MorristowI or not no one in the family knew las night. but it Is believed that he did. an, that the visit so troubled him that hi mind gave way entirely under the strain Crew of Fifteen Lost. SEATTLE. Wash. Jan l4.-The sohoon er Justine foundered in Deception pas during terrific gale. She struck on l Sunken rOck ana went 10 pieces aC once Her crew of 15 men are supposed to hav' been lost
 Closed the Bank.
 ST. CHARLES Minn.. Jan. l4.-Th Bank of St. Charles has been closed b, the state bank examiner.
 Actor Burke Insane.
 NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-John Burke tn song and dance actor who has played il almost every city in the United States was committed to Bellevue hospital H believes that he possesses enormous wealt