The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-12
After The Tragedy Woman Says She Shot
Dresser Because She Loved Him.
RELATIVES TRIED TO SEPARATE THEM
Thoss Of Policeman Wanted 10 Issn Him From
Her ami Sh, cared ThsJ Would Succeed.
Afrsvous Attempt Mads By Her.

New York, May 12.-Philip c. Dresser,
q policeman. was shot and killed by his
wife Catherine, in her apartments yes
terday afternoon. Dresser was a big
man, and had been member or the
police department since 1895. His wife
lis a small under-sized woman, with
blonde hair. and shows signs OF former
beauty Two shots were fired. one taxi
ing effect in the head, directly over the
right ear, and the second entered the
head over the left eye. Dresser died
in hospital an hour and half after
the shooting occurred.
The woman's i0-year-old daughter.
Nellie Costello child by her first
husband. told the following story:
yesterday. shortly after noon, Drei-
ser came into the house and walked in
20 the front room. He saw me there
and sad TO my mother. What is she
doing nerey was sent out OF the room
and went TO nelghbor's. A few hours
later heard some shots fired and ran
into the house | saw my mother kneel-
ing oevr Dreiser's booy. She was KISS
ing him. He was dressed, with the ex-
ception of his coat, hat and collar. he
was, 1 believe, helping my mother 10
tack carpets. That is all know about
IL"
The shots were heard all through the
house. and Immediately after the door
10 Mrs. Fltzgeralds apartments. on
the opposite<side OF the hall from the
APARTMENTS occupied by the woman.
was opened and Mrs. Dresser entered.
She called TO Mrs. Fitzgerald. and said:
1--WE lust shot my husband" She then
rrlshed out OF the house and started
toward the station apparently for the
purpose of giving herself up.
Acting Capt. Lantry and ,pe'.s Detective ,.is $,
10 the scene of the shooting. Lantry
eAw the woman coming toward him.
She told him what she had done. He
ulaced her under arrest and took her
back to the house.
Mrs Dresser told the following story:
81 shot him because loved him. His
folks have done their utmost to sep
arate us and we both loved one an
other and was afraid that his folks
would succeed in separating us and
made up my mind to shoot
The woman was then removed to the
station and placed in cell. charged
with murder. She became hysterical
and continually cried for her husband.
The police made search or the
apartments and found the revolver. The
min had become dislodged when the
shots were fired and fell out. Ii is be-
lieyed that the woman intended to hre
q bullet into her own head III the pin
had not dropped out.
The couple were married last June.
After a few months they separated
and Dresser went TO live with his pa
rents
Recently. the couple met. and the
woman pulled a revolver out OF the
folds of the dress and levelled It al
Dreiser's head. but the cartridge failed
10 discharge. Dresser grabbed the
woman by the wrists and took her e
the station.
The neighbors In the house say that
they always thought the woman was
unmarried They had seen Dreisei
come TO the house several times. but
always thought he was her brother
from hearing the little girl call hin
ssUncle> Phil"
Among the woman's effects were
found several letters. showing that tn,
woman had employed a lawyer to in
stitutep -pceedings for divorce agains
man named Costello. the woman'l
first husband. One letter. signed b,
Boothe. was 20 the effect that proceed
ings could not be instituted unless th'
Moudn cVuiu piotuit fNiuth't z " rio
that Costello was alive. Costello Il
seid TO be In the western part OF thi
state
Detective MacCauley said he had
conversation with Mrs. Dresser. i
which he declares she said
Three months ago Dresser procure
divorce from me On the ground tha
had a husband already living. an
from whom l was not divorced when
married him. He treated me badly
He knew was married when he mar
rltd me. and three months ago he 20
divorce. A month later. after bein
divorced he came back TO me- III h
had remained away he would probabl
be alive now. That's the reason hi
people wanted him and now they ca
have him. I've finished him."
TIobbs--My landlady has both stron