The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-26
KILLS HIS son
AND HIMSELF
Double Crime of Charles
KembIe HiIlyard at
Brooklyn.
Leaves Communications to
Show the Father Was Dis
appointed in Life.
Was the Granddaughter of Charles
Kemble and a Second Cousin
of AIgernon Sartoris.

NEW YORK, n. Y, May 25.-Charles
Kemble Hillyard, a granddaughter of
Charles KEN le the great actor, and sec
ond cousin OF Fannie Kemble and AL
gernon Sartoris, who married Grant s
daughter Nellie, was found dead to-day,
living by the side of his 13-year-old son,
William Kemble Hillyard, at their home.
2I2 Greene avenue, Brooklyn. Both died
by the fathers hand. No person knows
exactly when The act was com mitted, for
although there were two pistol shots-one
of which probably followed the other with
only few seconds between-no person in
the house among the neighbors heard
them.
The boy was a student at the Adelphi
Academy. The father was ostensibIy q
lawyer. Last evening the father went to
his room and called to his son to hurry up
to him. They slept in the same room in
different beds. The servant at O'Clock
brought some apples to the room. The
boy was then in bed, but not asleep. and
the elder Hiliyard was apparently all
right. They failed to appear at breakfast,
but the servant did not go to arouse them
till the afternoon, as they sometimes pre-.
ferred to lie in bed late.
The boy was dead with a smile on his
face and bullet-hole through his head.
He was evidently shot while asleep. The
fathers body, clad in a dressing-gown
over a nightshirt, lay across the loot
board, with revolver near by.
On the center BILE were a large num-
Der of papers. The top paper told the
tale of disappointed man whose ami BIZ
tons in life were all dead. 1t evidently
had been the work OF many nights, for it
was not all written at one time. Some
parts were in ink and others in pencil.
Following are extracts:
Suppose l should kill my boy and N.Y.
self, would it make any great difference to
any body? His mother Is dead, and Uncle
John will be relieved of the necessity OF
taking care OF him in case of my death.
As 10 the odium of this killing and sui
cde, what does it amount to? There
would be no flowers or friends or rever-
ence. Willie would be at peace forever;
no future, no tears, no agonies, no tempta-
lions, no sins. He would be in Para
disc, and that would be all 1 ask.
For myself, what matter ceremony
or regret? l couldn't be in greater he'll
than l am now in. Ihave no occupation
| am simply a shamming, wretcned iGler.
l am tired of shamming. | want to go
somewhere; l am useless here. | cannot
earn a living My life is a dreadful fail
ure. l have STUDIED for many years, bu;
can make nothing out of il. Scientists do
not know the reason why do this. They
know nothing of my life. Farewell, world !;
we part forever. This horrible idleness is
the cause-this hopeless longing, this
shamming employment, this unholy
waste of time
Another letter referred to his property
interests. he left considerable property.
Hlllyard belonged TO the stock company
Of Wallack's Theater quarter of CEN
fury ago, and played eccentric parts.
AfterTard he left the stage for the law.
About this time he met Anna Maria
Mein, whom he married. They were a
loving couple, and HIIlyard has been a
changed man since her death some years
ago.
Hillyard was Christian scientist. Be-
side his table stood large Bible on a
stand, held open at the fifth chapter of
ST. Mathew-Christs sermon on the
mount. Near the Bible, on the table, was
scrap of paper, on which was written IN
pencil: What does he know OF trouble
an idle little child?'' Then in ink: 81
sometimes doubt whether am quite sane,
for fell astray, and, like one in dream,
came to no good.