The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-04
POPULAR CITIZEN
 TAXES HIS LIFE
Philip A. Fox in Bad Health
 , ehoots Himself
A WELL KNOWN SALES MAN
Mir. Fox's Wife Heard Fatal shot-De' ceased Was Believed to Have Sufft red from Bright's Di-
 sease-Mind Effected.

Philip A. Fox, salesman for David son Sandman, merchant tailors. committed suicide yesterday afternoon shortly after o'clock by shooting him self through the mouth with 4i-ealibre Colts pistol. He died in few seconds, the bullet having penetrated the base of the brain.
 Dependency was the cause Fox had been in i'll health for some time, and a number of physicians had treated him without being able to aid him much Death seemed only a matter of time, and he hastened the end few weeks, or maybe months.
 Left Note.
 MT. Fox left note which seems to have been written Saturday or early yesterday morning, stating that if death should overtake him he wished the B. P. O.. Ellxs to take charge of his remains, and wished to be buried according to the ancient customs of the Jews" His act was evidently premedltated, as the note indicates.
 The deed was committed on the sofa in the dining room of his residence at ns South Twentieth street, and at the time no one was in the room. He had just finished eating the heartiest meal he had been able to eat In some time, and lay down on the sofa The other people in the house were up stairs with the excep- tion of Mrs. Fox, his wife. who was in their bed room, which Is connected with the dining room by folding doors.
 Wife Hears the Shot.
 Almost AS soon as the shot was fired Mrs Fox screamed and ran into the hall to the foot of the steps, where she met several young men who boarded in the house coming down the steps She told them to go into the room, pointing to tho dining room door. When they went into the room they found MT. Fox lying on the sofa gasping for breath, with the smoking pistol still held in his right hand, He died before any physician could reach him. pr. John Moore was summoned and responded, but was too late.
 coronor Paris was telephoned for and rendered his decision after a short inves- tigation He decided that 1t was suicide. The note was turned over to him, and after reading 1t he handed it back to some of the friends of the deceased.
 EIks Notified.
 The Elks were notified of the request of their brother, and a committee, which in- cluded Exalted Ruler Simmons and sev- eral other prominent members, went to the house and took charge of the remains. They notified Lige Loy and he prepared the remains for burial.
 The pistol was of the kind generally termed "Derringer." It has only one bar rel. and shoots but once. At short range it Is one of the most powerful weapons. It is stated that the deceased had this weapon for a number of years and that yesterday he fired it for the first time.
 The course of the bullet was upwards from the roof of the mouth. It is sup posed that Fox placed the pistol between his teeth and pulled the trigger.
 Was Very Popular.
 The deceased was 48 years old and a native of England. He came to this coun- try a number of years ago from London, and had been in Birmingham several years. He was very popular with trav- cling men, and had a number of friends in the city. He had been employed by Davidson & Sandman for about three years, and was considered one of their best men.
 About five months ago he was taken i'll and since that time had been suffering from what is supposed to have been Brights disease. It seemed to effect his brain to some extent, and recently he had frequently had short lapses of mem- ory. when he could not remember the names of some of the people most close ly associated with him.
 Seemed Unusually Bright.
 Yesterday morning he seemed to be un- usually bright and accompanied Slgmund Margon to the city on the street car. He talked and laughed with a number of friends he met down town, and discussed a suit of clothing which he was wearing. When he reached home he seemed to be- come suddenly silent, and at the dinner table did not speak to any one. Several people noticed at the time that he was eating much more than usual, and after dinner they commented on it Several of those In the house state that as soon as they heard the pistol shot they knew that MT. Fox had shot himself, as they were aware of his physical and mental trouble.
 For some time efforts have been made to get him to take vacation and leave Birmingham for rest, but he refused.
 The funeral will take place from the residence this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.
 The Elks have appointed the following pall-bearers: A. J. Hall, M. l.. Beck. Walter Gardner, Gus Rotholz, E. c.