The San Francisco call., 1906-07-03
.L|A|SON ENDS
IN A TRAGEDY
C. w. Phillips Wounds
Mrs. .SchounSki and
Kills Himself.
Harness : Maker Seized
With a Sudden I'm
pulse to Shoot.


a harness maker. shot and dangerously
wounded his companion, Mrs. Tessie
Schounski, in the rooms that the couple
were occupying in the home of Mrs.
Matte Discover at COS Ninth street, a
few minutes after IL o'clock this morn
ing, and then killed himself.
No motive is known for the crime,
the only theory being that of the wo-
man, who is at the Receiving Hospital.
She says that Phillips was subject at
times to temporary fits of mental aber-
ration and that while thus afflicted
he shot her.
Mrs Schounski is the wife of C.
Schounski an Alaskan miner. Her
husband left last November for the
northern gold fields, and since that
time the woman had been living with
her sister, Mrs. Ralph L. Kallock of 645
Hayes street. San Francisco. At the
time of the fire she in company with
Phillips came to Oakland. Two weeks
later they took room with Mrs. Dill
sover.
This morning Mrs. schounsh ap-
peared late for breakfast. but Phillips.
who complained that he did not feel
well, remained in bed. After break
fast the woman returned TO the room,
and as she entered the door was shot
twice by her companion, one bullet en-
tering her right breast and the other,
blowing through her cheek. was i'm
bedded in the left side Of her mouth.
She clutched the wainscoting and
cried, Charlie, what did you shoot me
for?"
FALLS DEAD At HER FEET.
Satisfied that he had killed the wo-
man. Phillips then turned the weapon
on himself and pressing the barrel of
fsDh NIL
blew out his brains. He fell, with his
head resting at her feet
From the womans statement while
lying on. the cot at the Receiving Hos
pital this afternoon, 1t seems that Phil
lips awoke this morning in the best OF
spirits While she was at breakfast
he occupied the time shaving and had
Just completed the task as Mrs. Schoun-
ski entered the room. Without saying
a word he rose from his seat by the
window. where he was shaving, walked
to the closet. and taking the revolver
began firing.
Mrs. Robert Murphy. who occupies
the adjoining room, and Mrs. Discover
heard the shots and entered the hall
way at once. Mrs. Discover saw the
Injured woman leaning against the
door. but not until She had looked into
the room did she see Phillips lying in
a pool of blood at her feet.
Mrs. Dilsoyer says that when the
couple came to her house they told her
they were brother and sister, and that
they should like to occupy rooms until
they could return to San Francisco
Phillips, who gave his name as Charles
Bowen, said he was q harness maker
He worked for a short time in Olsons
market at Ninth and Washington
streets Three weeks ago he lost his
position and then grew despondent
READY TO GO TO PORTLAND.
Late last week the pair notified Mrs,
Discover that they intended going to
Portland. where the woman formerly
lived, expecting to leave on Wednes-
day. In fact, they had purchased the
tickets and were apparently happy over
the prospects OF a trip north.
The other roomers in the house say
that the young people had not quar-
relied during their stay at the place,
that Phillips was a constant attendant
on the woman while she was confined
in the house with an injured foot.
In searching about the room after the
tragedy this morning the police officers
found a small vial Of morphine in
Phillips clothing and are inclined to-
ward the theory that he was a drug
hend.
From letters and papers in the dead
mans possession ii appears that Mrs
Schounski was formerly known as
Tessa williams This name appears
on a certificate of membership in the
American Association of Pen Artists
At the time she received the certificate
she was resident of Coburgh, Ore.
In a letter to Mrs. Schounski from
her mother the daughter is advised to
let her husband support her. From this
II is judged that the injured woman
had trouble with her husband, but
never had stated anything of the mat
ter 10 the other roomers in the Ninth
street house other letters in the pos
session of the police officials indicate
that the husband in Alaska saw his
wife but once in two years, and that
when they were together they did not
live happily.
Charles Phillips was "a years Of age
and Mrs. Schounski eight years older
The woman was operated on this
afternoon at the Receiving Hospital
and late tonight had a fair chance OF
recovery.