The Detroit times., 1908-08-21
JEAL Oh sly DROVE
SON To CRIME,
SAYS FATHER
PARENT OF PHILIP WEIR, WIFE
MURDERER AND SUICIDE, BE.
LlEvEs SLAYER WAS INSANE
woMAN's PEOPLE DEFEND HER

Relatives OF the victims of Thurs
days double tragedy on Crawford
ave. do not agree as TO the causes
that led to the crime. John Wier OF
No. l2l Hunt-st., father OF Philip
Wier. who committed suicide with
carbolic acid after shooting his wife
dead in the field back OF her sisters
home at No. 800 Crawford-avS., de-
clares that his son was insane from
brooding over his domestic troubles
and that the wife's conduct drove him
10 the crime.
On the other hand, Mrs. Wier's par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Rademacher.
OF No. SO Reid-ave., where she had
been living since her last separation
from her husband, uphold the dead
woman. who, they say, was hard
working, industrious woman whose
life was made miserable by her hus-
bands shiftlessness.
Wier had been married twice De-
fore and Mrs Wier once, though ne1tA-
er ever obtained divorce from their
former eoHpsnions.=Mrs =Wler's nrst
husband was Henry Lenschatt, sofi-ef
Frederick Lenschatt, OF No. Big Lew
erenz-ave., by whom she had two
children, Harry. aged 10. and Mabel,
aged s. Lenschatt is still living.
though the parents OF the dead wom-
an assert that she believed him dead
al the time Of her marriage 10 Wier.
four years ago.
Wier's father admits that mis- son
vas rot divorced from his first anG
second wives and says that Mrs. Wicr
No. 3 was aware OF this. The iatter'S
relatives assert. however, that she be-
lieved there was no legal impediments
in the way of their marriage and that
she did not know they were not law
fully welded until Wier himself
boasted OF the fact when they hrst
started TO quarrel.
During the four years since their
marriage the couple had separted
many times The last time was some
months ago, when Mrs. Wier went 20
i've with her parents and Wier with
his ar the Hunt-st- address.
Until recently he worked as a pol
Usher in a factory In Walkerville. "A
few days ago he lost his job and
since then had been bothering his wife
again. according 10 the woman
friends.
Last Saturday night John Wier says.
Philip saw his wife down town with 4
soldier from Fort Wayne and followed
the two into saloon. Returning
home, Wier cried all night long. ac-
cording to the father. and seemed all
broken up about the incident. He had
been brooding and acting strangely
ever since. it Is said, and when he
went away Tuesday night and die
not return. the family gave up hopes
Of ever seeing him again. They were
not prepared. however. for the news
that ne had murdered his wife.
Wier. II appears, met his wife Tues
day night at Fort and Military-aves.
II tela-her he was going to drown
himself. because she would Motive
with him. He pulled revolver from
his pocket and, holding it before her.
said:
'Ill fix you. too
Mrs MieF-gEahhed the weapon from
him and threw II down, breaking It..
Then she left him.
Thursday. Wier was hired to repair
chimney at No. l0l Crawford-ave.
He completed the job early In the az
ternoon and started up Crawford to-
ward the home OF Mrs. Fred Monroe,
Mrs. Wier's sister at No.3ee -Gfaw-
ford. Mrs. Wier had stopped there on
her way down town and Wier appar-
emily knew OF this.
Out In the street he saw his step
son, Harry, playing, and sent the boy
into Mrs. Monroes house to tell his
mother that he wished to see her.
Before Mrs. Weir had reached her
husband the latter opened the CONVEX.
sttteH.