The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-07-08
Reed Broscious, Of Confer, Fires Two Bullets
Into His Wife then Placed the Revolver
at His Own Breast.
BOTH DIED WITHIN HALF HOUR
The Couple Had Been at Reyno1dsvi11e Cele-
brating the Fourth and were Driving Home
After Midnight. Quarrel and Shooting
Occurred in the Orchard at Home Of L. D.
Perkins, Short Distance Above Sherwood.
A MAYNARD WIFE AND JEALOUS HUSBAND


The sensational tragedy in recent years in Jefferson
county occurred at the home Of L. D. Perkins, of Sandy
Valley about o'clock Sunday morning, July 5th when
Reed W. Brocius shot and killed his wife, May and followed
the murder by deliberate suicide.
The double killing is shrouded in mystery which may
be cleared 1t occurred in the dead of night in
an isolated spot and the bodies lay long alone before ply
arrived II there foul play all direct evidence
had vanished and when Coroner j. c. Sayers of Reynolds
ve held his inquest Sunday morning. there but little
evidence aside from the position Of the bodies and the rusty
revolver Broscous hand by which to arrive at verdict
The house OF the Perkins couple stands alone along the
road leading from Reynodsvile to Falls Creek An apple
surrounds the old house and small barn stands be-
tween and wagon road Beneath the trees and
stretching the Pennsylvania Railroad running along the
side Of the is field Of tall timothy part of it just
rnown. In this orchard midway between the house and
barn. o'clock in morning, with apparently but
witness beside Perkins and his wife, the quarrel took place
Brocous and his wife which ended in the death OF
both
The timothy had been piled in small heaps and beside
one of the stacks the fell TO the ground when shot
yard from her. the swooned rose fred yet another
shot into his breast and then fell back the stubbe
half they lay moaning in agony and slowly dying No
one had the courage to them Perkins and his wife
retreang into their house and the other witness fled the
shot. Physicians arrived from Reynodsve in the
early Of the morning. found both cold in death and
departed after throwing few old pieces carpet and bags
the pair Inc came up and beat them the
and examined hem rendered his verdict and
went home and still the murdered and the suicide
with hckened blood caked their breasts on the
ground around them lay the earth while curious sight
up the road and walked around them
Only when the underakers arrived at eleven o'clock
we're sened corpses raised from the grass and placed
lin the funeral car.
Reed Broscous but 20 and his wife "a years of age
The former the OF j. Broscious, Of Stanton
The maiden Of the Irene May Brumbaugh
L
and it there that Broscus met her. She girl
attractive appearance with Of dark chestnut hair and
Brocous is said to have become mad infatuated with her.
One year ago the couple went to Rochester N " and
married returning to Falls Creek and later moving to
Confer little mining town Summerville, where they
lived until week ago. Their married life was rendered
miserable by the waywardnes Of the young wife jealousy
of the husband but though happy Boscous seemed
fascinated by the girl and refused to be separated
from her.
week ago the pail to the home of Mrs. Broscus'
mother Dubois and July Fourth to Reynolds
vile to participate in the celebration They we're seen on
the streets Of town during the day and until eleven o'clock
in the evening believed that both had liquor
and pint flask Of whskey found the man by the
coroner Sunday About midnight Mr. and Mrs. Brocious
started drive towards Falls Creek AT o'clock as they
passing the home Of L. D. Perkins his wife, Mrs
Boscous complained Of illness and asked her husband to
wait until she went to the home OF the Perkins,, whom she
knew, and got cup of coffee.
For what followed there is only the testimony of Mr.
Perkins and his wife, two old people who widely known
ali this section of the country They say that Mrs.
Broscous entered their home given the coffee
That she stayed fifteen twenty minutes and her husband
became impatient He came into the house and asked his
wife to hurry and return to the carriage The re-
fused and Brocous attempted to force her violent
quarrel nsued just outside the door and continued some
tme There is said to have been other witness to the
quarrel man who school mate OF the Brosciors
woman and of whom her husband alleged have been
very Jealous Mrs Perkins claims to have Of her
home and attempted to restore peace did the other man
present To them Broscious replied that all his married
life had been made unhappy by quarreng and curty ad
vsed them not to interfere between and wife.
Immediately after two shots rang out on the night air
and Mrs. Broscious screaming but words shoot p
fell to the ground The witness says he fed at this
point The Perkins took refuge in their home. Broscous
then apparently turned the revolver himself fred
bullet into his breast which struck rib and aceated the
flesh sufficiently to make him fall to the ground 1t the