New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SHOT BY HER YOUNGLOVER
A STRANGE INFATUATION LEADS TO A
TRAGEDY m ATLANTIC CITY.
MRS. PHOEBE H. PHILLIPS THE VICTIM. -
FoRTY-r THREE YEARS OLD AND ROBERT
HILBERT HER AssAiLANT.
rs TWENTY-FIVE.
fDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


rpY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBUNE1
Atlantic City. n. j. May 31.--Nrs. Phoebe H.
Phillips a handsome woman. fo-ty-three years
old. mother Of three grown-up children, was
fatally shot this morning by Robert Hilbert, .
beardless youth twenty-five years old, who was
engaged TO be lrried to her tomorrow. AFTER
shooting her he attempted 10 take his own life
Mrs Phillips lies In cot In the City Hospital
where her life is rapidly ebbing away HILBERT
Is In the city jail.
The couple met three years ago at the Kennel
Square Academy. where Hilbert was pupil
and Mrs Phillips the matron Mrs. Phillips had
separated from her husband four years before
and she has obtained divorce from him. Not
withstanding the great disparity In their ages.
HILBERT became infatuated with Mrs. Phillips.
and a strong attachment sprang up between
them When Hilbert was graduated Mrs. Phil
lips resigned her place and came here to open q
fashionable boar ding-housc, known as the Ken
net House, on Ocean-ave There the shooting
occurred to-day. HILBERT came with the Phil
lips family, and has boarded with them ever
since He was employed as q ruachinist by ex-
Postmaster Richard Soyre.
For year HILBERT has been inportuning Mrs.
Phillips to marry him, but She realizing that the
difference in their ages was so great that the
future might not be pleasant for her. kept put
ting him off Recently however. she yielded to
his wooing and set June the wedding day.
The rest of the story is derived from her ante
mortem statement his confession to Chief Of Po-
lice Eldridge and the stories OF witnesses.
AS the day approached for the wedding Mrs.
Phillipss mind changed. HILBERT suspected
this and on Saturday he went to Philadelphia.
He roamed around that city all day, and finally.
purchasing a cheap revolver, returned here In
the evening.
This morning about 1890 o'clock he entered
the kitchen of the house. where Mrs. Phillips
was engaged, and said; Come here, / want
you" He led the way 10 her bedroom, whcn
adjoins the kitchen, locking the kitchen and
hall doors after she had followed him. In the
bedroom Mrs. Phillips asked the reason or HiD-
bert's conduct, and he replied that 1t was time
for them to part. Then Mrs. Phillips inquired
If he was going away, and he responded: NO;
YOU are going away" AS he spoke the last word
he drew a revolver and fired point blank at her.
The bullet struck her behind the right ear.
She turned to fly from him. and he shot her IN
the rgh, side OF the neck. She staggered ana
fell. but he kept shooting, one ball penetrating
her right forearm.
The shots brought Mrs. Phillipss daughter
70 the room. She burst open the door only 20
find her mother lying in pool OF blood, with
HILBERT standing over her AS the daughter
looked she saw him shoot again. Fearing that
he might turn on her, the daughter fled to seek
aid Mrs Phillips managed TO regain her feet
shot her in the mead. The bloody trail In the
house shows her wavering steps through tire
hallway to a small room and into pantry
where she fell
After his bloody work was Accomplished HID
| bert pointed the revolver at his own head for
| the purpose Of making the last cartridge convert
| the tragedy into a double one, but the shell
proved to be defective. and his attempt et sui
| eide was frustrated He walked to Poli.e Head
| quarters where ne said: Il have shot a woman;
| you had better take care Of me-" He was
| locked up. and he made a full confession. He
expressed great sorrow and has been praying
feryently that Mrs Phillips would live.
Mrs. Phillips taken to the City Hospital
where her wounds were probed and all but one
Of the bullets extracted For several hours fhe
retained consciousness. She made an ante-lnor-
tenn statement containing most Of the facts
above set forth. After her statement had been
obtained she called the Coroner. the Chief OF
Police and several other officials around her
bed and, after considerable pleading exacted
promise from them that they would not hang
Hilbert if she should die. They gave the prom
ise to ease her mind.
HILBERT was arraigned before Recorder In
gersoll this evening. He pleaded guilty and was
committed without bail for a further hearing
next Monday.