The Washington herald., 1909-03-14

Philadelphia. March 1s.-with his wife
on her knees before him begging him to
stop. John Murphy. twenty-one years
old. 1z3S South BuckneH street. con-
mitted suicide last night by drinking the
contents Of q bottle Of carbolic acid.
The woman. with her tbree-months-Old
baby in her arms. had struggled 10 gain
possession Of the bottle, but her husband
knocked her down.
A little while before he ended his life.
Murphy tainted his wife with the charge
that she had consumption. and that the
baby was also afflicted with the dread
disease. He declared that he believed he.
also. had contracted the plague from her,
and said that If he WIS sure OF IL he
would not live an hour longer
The tragedy started with a marriage
Of cousins Murphy was thu son OF James
Murphy, 1911 AIanton street. and his wife.
Margaret, IS the daughter Of John D0lan.
s21 South TWenty-second street. Mrs.
James Murphy and Mrs Dolan are sis
tiers. making their children first cousins.
A A-E ~ E--A- u Frksa ENAAA5 NSaAAE AAeA-
forbidden the marriage, but the two
eloped TO Camden fourteen months ago
and were married there.
Taunts His Wife.
Last evening Murphy came home 1ag-
ged out and heartsick. He was n a
peevish mood and began quarreling with
his wife as soon as he came in Among
other things. he tainted her with the fact
that she IS not strong physically Mrs.
Murphy is q tall al tracuve blond Of
twenty years OF age.
You've got the con growled Muir
ply, and the baby has 81, too. wouldn't
be surprised il had caught il from you.
either. II ! had thought had. wouldn't
live an hour longer
Tearfully the young wife begged her
husband not 20 be angry with her. but
he would not listen Pulling on his coat
he placed a bottle on the table. A glance
at the bottle showed his wife that IL
( bore he label. "Carbolic acid" and she
spraag forward 10 seize IT,
No. you DON'T exclaimed Murphy.
I That's for me-"
I Then began a struggle for possession OF
I the bottle Though she was handicapped
I By the fact that she had her baby IN her
arms. and was in any event no match for
/ her husband Mrs Murphy fought with
I the strength OF desperation, and would
4 have secured the bottle had not her hus-
band ended the struggle by a blow with
his fist that feIled her TO the floor
ImpIOres Her Husband.
Staggering 10 her knees. the young vie
stretched forth her free hand. and in
I piteous accents begged her husband not
10 drink the poison Ignoring her pleas.
the latter raised the bottle 70 his lips and
emptied IT,
/ Mrs. Murphy's scream attracted the at
| tention Of Mr.. and Mrs Gould. who came
/ home Just 81 that time Running NJ
stairs they soon learned OF the TRAGEDY.
and while Mrs. Could hurried out for a
/ policeman. Gould did what he could 10
/ counteract the effects OF the poison.
Z Mrs Gould returned with Murphy. a
T policeman OF the Twentieth and Federal
I streets station. who sent for the parrol.
and the dying man was hurried TO the
I POlycliniC Hospital He died on the WAY
/ When the police made their 1irst in
+ vestigatiOn OF the case. before the cor
/ oner's deputy arrived. they found Mrs
I Murphy. sitting dazed IN her room. with
Z a slip Of paper crUmpled in her hand.
I When asked what was on the paper she
silently held X out Il was found 10 b.
/ a S-ief note which Murphy had serb
I bled before ending his life, and read.
7 am tired OF il all Love 10 my
/ parents"