New-York tribune., 1902-04-12
MOTHER SHOOTS HER SON
THEN KILLS IJERSELF-MRS. a. i
TOWER WIFE OF MILLIONAIRE.
fBY TELEGRAPH To THz TR1BUxE.I

tBY TELEGRAPH To THs TR1BUNE-1
Poughkeepsie n Y April 11.-Mrs. Nina Car
penter Tower wife of Albert Edward Tower. a
millionaire living on the Hyde Park Road, shot
and killed her fourteen-year-old son. Albert
Tower at 11:45 o'clock last night, and then
killed herself. She shot her five times, three
bullets entering his abdomen and side. one the
left breast and another his mouth Throwing
aside the 32-calibre pistol with which she killed
her boy Mrs. Tow took up -4o-calibre pls-
toll and after two Intellectual attempts, lodged
a bullet in her brain. Mrs. Tower had been IN
a nervous condition for week Dr. X ~
Tuthll had treated her. but it was not thought
by her physicians or family that her mind was
affected.
- Last night Douglas Taylor, the son OF a
neighbor called at the Tower mansion and was
entertained by Mrs. Tower and her SON. MI
Tay.or and Albert Tower played ping pong un-
til 1920 O'Clock when the former went nome
Mr.. Tower the father had been called down to
the Poughkeepsie Iron Furnace by reason OF
something going wrong there Mrs. Tower
asked him several times over the telephone TO
come home but ne delayed starting until after
Mr. TavIor left the house. There was nobody
there except Mrs. Tower and her son, two MAIDS
and a cook At what time the mother and boy
retired is not known At Ia o'clock the ser
wants were awakened by d fusillade of shots in
AlIert's room They heard gr0an. and then
an exclamation of anguish from Mrs. Tower.
who screamed. "Oh. Albert, Albert Then more
shots followed The frightened servants sent
out to the carriage house for Robert Pavitt the
butler who forced the door to Mrs. Towers
room which was fastened by chain on the in
side The room was brightly lighted. as were
the three. communicating bedrooms. In the
third room he saw Mrs. Towers body lying
crosswise on the bed. She was dead and blood
was streaming from ghastly wound in her
head On the floor of Alberts room. adjoin-
ing lay the body of the boy. also dead The
butler called up DR.. Tuthill and also sent word
to Mr. Tower at the furnace. that Mrs. Tower
was shot Subsequently. Mr. Tower telephoned
to Dr. TuthiIl TO hurry up, and the doctor and
husband arrived at the house at the same time.
about I2:4J o'clock this morning Mr. Tower
started TO go upstairs. but the butler whispered
IN DR.. Tuthfll net to let him. as both Mrs. Tower
and her son were dead The physician advised
Mr.. Tower to remain downstairs, and he did so.
Dr. TuthiIl found that the two had been dead
about an hour. Mrs. Tower was attired in a red
dressing gown and slippers She had evidently
walked into her sons room while he was stoop-
ing and shot him in the mouth. The pistol was
held so close that it scOrched the bed clothing
and the bullet passed through several folds of
the top sheet. When her son struggled TO his
Coroner Harry Seifridge made an Investigation.
and announced tonight that he would return a
verdict that while temporarily insane Mrs-
Tower killed her boy and then herself The
bodies were prepared for burial to-day. The
funeral will be held Monday and will be
private The mother and son will be placed IN
the Tower vault in the Rural Cemetery.
Mrs Tower daughter of Judge B Piatt
CARPENTER of Montana who served one term Us
Governor before the Territory became Il State
He was candidate for Lieutenant Governor IN
the Folger campaign in this State Mr. Tower
and his brother Joseph Trickerman Tower, are
the sons of the late Albert Tower. They divided
between them his fortune of SI,0O0.UO- MIR.
and Mrs J. T Tower arrived here to-day from
their home at Tuxedo. Mr. and Mrs. A. T.
Tower spent the last several summers at New
mort They entertained lavishly on their hand-
some Yacht Erl King, and were well known In
the summer colony there. The tragedy created
a great sensation here.