The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-26
PHILLIPS SPURNED BY WIFE,
OCONNOR, SHOT AFTER TRYING
TO KISS HER, WON'T DIE.
Woman Married "a Years Wears Theatre
Costume I'm Court-EiBht shots F1red
Bunch OF Keys saved Husbands Lhe
Says OCOnnor Began the shooting.

man who was shot MONDAY iliBh' w ~
Woolf Phillips in pistol duel over rhil-
lpss elderly wife, is going TO recover,
The bullet missed the jugular VEN ana
made a flesh wound, which Ia not at all
dangerous Eight shots were hreo III
the affair, and the Phillips front hall LOOKS
like dance hall after cowboy RAID MI
and Mrs, Phillips are out on bail -,
The loungers and OIL Gals of the iorkVhle
court saw the arkablespectacley yesterday
of an elderly woman before the bar. dressed
in the searching light Of the morning, In
n frivolous, young girl red theatre gown ana
fancy hat, appearing in defence OF young
man who might have been her son, but
wasn't.
Mrs. Phillips spent the night in jail.
She wouldn't be bailed out, because her
Will" was suffering, and all her thought
was for him. not for the little -whiskered
husband 20 years old who had just punct-
ured viii with a pistol bullet. Once in
the night they told her that the young
man living at Bellevue was deirious.
The poor, dear boy!" she said Did
he call for me?
When they told her that he did, she threw
kisses in the air toward Bellevue. saying:
-rhc dear boyl You know, l am just like
q mother 10 him.
This cradle-and- grave affair is matter
Of siN months standing, according to Phil
lips 1t has appeared, he says, like kind
of infatuation on both sides. Phillips
has made himself disagreeable several
times before, and trouble was about due.
Perhaps that is why both men were armed
and ready to begin shooting when the clash
came on Monday night
Mrs Phillips tottered into court on high
heeled slippers and dropped an elaborate
fur boa wrap from her shoulders az she took
her seat. Phillips already sat close by.
She cast blighting look on him and edged
away to the further side Of her chair. Until
she left the court she refused to look in
his direction again. She doesn't appear
to own the "a years which her husban d
lays to her credit, but her face and her
girlsh clothes don't match.
She told her story of the affair without
, anv hesitation. Alter the argument in the
hall caused by o Conner trying to kiss her
abe admitted the kiss-her husband stood
at the head of the stairs and opened fire,
abe said. O'Connor began to shoot back, and
shc got out of range. When she recovered
the police came. They were found in
O'Connor's office at 1876 Lexington avenue,
where she was taking care OF his wounds
"Take that man away from me. don't
let him come near mel she said as she passed
her husband on the way to the rail. Phil
lips did not testify, but he told his story
THAT man has pursued my wife for six
months he said. he has followed her
everywhere. / took her to several places
this summer, but he'd always find where
we we're and show up"
Mr.. Phillips did not say why he hadn't
, protested before. Perhaps the fact that
6'Connor is six feet tall and he only an
theatre toget her last night he went on.
Il went out myself, but returned first:
They came in very late went to the head
of the stairs. He was making. love to her.
I saw him kiss her. spoke to him about 1t,
and told him what I thought. He said
to her, CT,
said that she would as soon is she got her
stopped her. only put my hand on her
arm, but she yelled:
The old fool is hurting mel
Then o'Connor rushed at me and began
he opened fire. shot back until stopped
As the condition OF their pistols showed.
Phillips fired three shots and O,Connor
emptied his five chambered gun. Phillips 8
abatement that he himself was saved only
by bunch Of keys which DETECTED bullet
was proved by a hole in his clothes and a
dented bunch of keys.
NV wife says that l shot first said
Phillips, @but she couldn't have seen who
shot first. She was in her ROOM
Phillips was held in 81 600 bail for felo.
NOUS assault and Mrs. Phillips in 5000 bail
as a witness. The case was then held over
until Friday, to await the outcome OF o'Con-
nors wound.
When the Magistrate was through with
her Mrs. Phillips drew on her white opera
gloves, adjusted her boa and tripped out
to deposit cash bail. On the way out she
met her husband, in tow Of policeman;
He tried to speak to her, but she pulled
abruptly away from him.
Officer, keep that man away she said.
Phillips didn't try to force any more
attentions on her. Later in the day, his
attorneys, Howe d Hummel, got bail for
him.
There is a financial tangle in the case.
The greater part OF the family savings
are in Mrs Phillips's name. She has in
vested it in real estate, rather against her
with her she used to threaten to keep the
family income O'Connor helped her. to
place some of the Investments. This,
say some of Phillips's friends may have
something to do with the infatuation OF a
handsome young man of 20 for a wife
OF "a.
A. H Hummel, of Phillipss counsel, says
that the trouble has been brewing for some
time Phillips has frequently advised his
attorneys of the situation in the family
and asked what he ought to do about 1t.
The chief Of his troubles seemed to be that
Mrs Phillips appeared to like to be pursued
by O'Connor. He protested, and forbade
O'Connor the house. but O'Connor came,
anyway, and Mrs. Phillips received him:
lie is to be pitied, for she has had him
in great trouble" said Mr.. Hummel.
O'Connor lay all day yesterday at Belle
vuo, and refused to talk about the case.
He sent word to the clerks at his real estate
office 1876 Lexington avenue, to give no
information about him and his affairs.
To a doctor who attended him he said that
he had fired five shots and his opponent
three. II" was shot in front, He wouldn't
say who fired first. His mother and sister,
who live at Twenty third street and Surf
avenue, Coney Island, were with him part
Of the afternoon.
Irs. Phillips drew sigh Of heavenly
relief when she heard that will" was going
TO recover.
Woolf Phillips is brother Of the late
Morris Phillips, one of the founders OF the
Home journal, and is well known in the
publishing business. He made a COM
Portable fortune out Of the Elite Directory
and other looks For several years he has
lived in comparative refinement. He mar