New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-31
KILLS WIFE AND PRIEST
Former Police Chief Believes
His Home Was Ruined.
81 AM AT PEACE" He SAYS
Thought Pastor Mice Young
Fellow Until Visits to Wife
Became Too Frequent.

ST Paul. May 3o-P J. Gibbons, the COM
mission man who shot and killed his wire
at their home in South st. Paul last night
and later shot and killed Father H. j.
Walsh, the young pastor of st. Augustine
Roman Catholic Church. talks freely OF MS
deed at the Ramsey County jail, in 81
Paul where he is confined
ITS a peculiar world looking at it from
any ANGLE he said. i've viewed 1t sew
eral ways and don't know much about II
vet I had a wife who didn't care for me,
but liked the companionship of others. She
had children who were my chiidren-the
mother of eight children. She couidn
have cared for them or she wouldn't nave
dishonored them.
II knew of her trea cherry for more than
a year. but said nothing. She suspected l
knew. We lived that way until to-day-for
me- hell on earth: for her. don't know,
and she can't tell. 1t is all over now. am
at peace with myself. Let follow what
may.
when Father Walsh came to South
st. Paul was iubilant. He appeared such
a nice fellow that I went to him and vol
unteered to give what support was in my
power He thanked me and we became
friends Then followed a game of treach-
cry and decet-a game that l was not III
on. yet deeply interested in
IT had invited Father Walsh to my home
and introduced him to my wife and family
When he called a box of cigars was at MS
disposal Mind you. they were not the
brand I smoked, but much better
II first grew suspicious about year ago.
NV wife received a new silk dress by eX-
press The package came to my office, 1
don't remember from where When
asked her who gave 1t to her she told me
the women of church society, because OF
active interest she had taken in their work.
but her explanation did not satisfy me-
"The visits of Father Walsh were becom-
ing too frequent to please me. He ap-
peared at my home afternoons when was
at my office and spent several hours In the
company of Mrs. Gibbons. Sometimes my
children were present, but more often not
said nothing to my Whenever men
toned that thought anything of the fire.
uuent visits. / had planned my little game
which worked so successfully
Gibbons has lived in South st. Paul for
twenty-five years. For long time he was
chief of police. About ten years ago he
went into the commission business. In
which he is said to have been more than
usually successful. He bought the first
load of hogs which ever came to the South
St Paul packing houses About twenty
years ago he married Nellie MCGOWAN.
OF the scores of South st. Paul residents
who discussed the tragedy to-day none be-
Iieved the accusations against Mrs. Glib
bonss character. she was model wife
and mother, good and devCut woman,
was the substance of the opinion.
For three days Gibbons had been an in
mate of drink cure sanatorium at Mime
apols. Yesterday morning his wife called
at the sanatorium and Gibbons insisted on
accompanying her to South st. Paul to at
tend to some business affairs. The sana-
forum physician protested. but 1t was
finally agreed to allow attendant to &C
company Gibbons and his wife.
Gibbons attended to some business at his
office. and requested the attendant to wait
AT a nearby hotel until he procured q rig
at his house TO take the party back to
Minnea polls. The shooting followed shortly
afterward.
1t is said that there had been several
estransem.nts between Gibbons and his
wife and that Father Walsh each time sue
cessfully interviewed as peacemaker.