Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-24
CORBETTs FATHER.
During q Fit OF Insanity He Kills
HA His Wife aud HIMSELF.

San Francisco, August fitzpatrick
j. Corbett, father of James j. Cor
bett, the pugilist. shot and killed his
wife at an early hour Tuesday morn
ing. He then turned the revolver
upon himself and committed suicide,
The hypothesis accepted by the
family and by the intimate acquaint-
ances and friends of the household is
that Mr.. Corbett was laIboring under
the effects of temporary insanity.
The terrible tragedy occurred at
the Corbett home. $40 Hayes street,
over the livery stable owned by the
older Corbett. AS near as the time
can be fixed. the shots rang out at
$50 o'clock a. m.. Mrs. Corbett being
killed as she was lying asleep in her
bed.
SO far as can be ascertained. there
was not the slightest reason why the
husband should have sought to wreak
such awful vengeance upon his wife,
Us for nearly ha.f a century the
couple had lived happily and in per-
'ect contcntment together. Indeed,
'uring Monday evening. they had
hated pleasantly together about
RS. and at an cary hour had retired
v'thout the slightest indication hav-
~ been given ., wnat was to follow
within the next few hours.
With Mr.. and Mrs. Corbett resided
heir two unmarried daughters. Cath
'rine and Esther. and a married
laughter. Mrs. t..arles \. King, with
her hus1a nd.
When Mr.. Corbett purchased the
pistol no one seems TO know. Appar-
emily, as he was never known to keep
weapon in the house before. he had
purchased this one with an object.
Whether during his temporary spells
of insanity he had contemplated the
deed no one can tell.
there is little doubt that Mr.. Cor
bett was temporarily insane when he
committed his horrible deed, and he
inherited the mania from his ances-
tors. His sister, Margaret Griffin, is
now an inmate of the Napa insane
asylum, having been confined there
six years AS in the case of her
brother. her insanity was periodic.
Both the old people were natives of
Ireland, Mr.. Uorbett being 66 years
old and his wife four years younger
The funeral ceremonies will not be
delayed until Jim arrives from the
east, but the bodies will be placed in
vaults.
New York, August H.-James J..
Corbett was much shocked when he
learned of the death of his parents.
At first he refused to believe it, but
when the news was confirmed, he
broke down and wept like a child
His trainers, McVey and White, tried
to console him, but to no purpose.
Corbett said that his father must
have become insane or he would not
have committed such a terrible deed.
he could not account for it in any
other way. Both his father and
mother, he said, took deep interest
in his affairs. and keenly felt his de-
feat by Fitzsimmons at Carson City.
the ring after that.
He received letters on Saturday in
forming him that his fathers mind
had become unbalanced, and he
therefore thinks that while suffering
mentally his father committed the
double crime. Corbett said he had
telegraphed TO San Francisco, and
that he would leave for the coast this
evening if the bodies are held until
he can arrive. He says he will send
his brother Joseph home anyway.
AT present he could not say what
will be done about his fight with Nc
Coy. He declared that, if it was nee
essary, he would forfeit the $500 he
had put up. He would not fight
again, he declared. were it not that
he is the chief support of the family.
He says that what he makes here
after will go to help support his
brothers and sisters, just as he gave
funds heretofore. He therefore SAYS
it may be necessary for him to fight
Mccoy In order to obtain money to
support the family. -a,