Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-05
KILLS GIRL AND SELF
Double Tragedy Is Enacted at
Summer Resort.
JEALOUSY PROBABLE CAUSE
w. A. Childs. Jr.. Aged Twenty,
Stays Miss Catherine Van Wyck.
FAMILIES SOCIAL LEADERS
Couple Had Been Friends Since
Childhood and Were Believed
to Be Engaged.
JEALOUSY PROBABLE CAUSE
FAMILIES SOCIAL LEADERS

NEW YORK September Miss Cath
crime Van Wyck. daughter of Albert Van
Nyck Of No. IuI Jerolemon street, was
shot and killed last night at Quogue, l..
J.. by William \. Chids, jr.. twenty
years old SON of William \. Childs,
a millionaire. formerly Of Enslewood.
y. j.
ounG Childs would have been graduated
in June next from Princeton University.
Ii is said. lie expected to join his father
in Los Angeles. After the shooting of Miss
Van Wyck the young man turned the
revolver upon himself and inflicted
wound from which he died in less than
hour.
The cause of the shooting is shrouded
in mystery. but it is believed TO have
been due TO the young woman's refusal
to agree TO marry the young man and
accompany him To his future home in
California
The pair had been friends since child
hood and at the beach, where they had
spent many summers. this evidence of
affection that had been shown for years,
1t was thought, would ultimately result
III engagement.
There are eye-witnesSeS to the shoot
ing but heard what had passed
between the couple who were alone
al the time The tragedy occurred In
BedC0 Zane, WITHIN a nunuGeu rect VI
the Wyndhurst cottage, owned by the
Van Wycks.
Was Guest at Hotel.
Alfred D. Chflds brother of the young
man who did the shooting, occupies the
cottage Of Miss Alice w. Howell, which
is next door. Childs had been staying at
the Cooper house i'll Quogue. His family
a short time ago sold their Englewood
home and went To California. The
young man has been at college.
Every summer for years the Van
Wyck family has spent the vacation
season III their cottage here. The Childs
family also has been regularly among
the summer colony, usually leasing
cottage.
This season Miss Van Wyck and her
family went to the seashore fairly early
and young Childs took up his residence in
the Cooper house.
Miss Van Wycn and Young Clark left
the cottage of the Van Wycks last even
ing for a little walk in the moonlight.
Girl Screams, Shot Follows.
They had not gone far along Beach
avenue when persons saw the young man
take a revolver from his pocket. Childs
seemed tc be talking excitedly and wav-
ing his arms and the girl was en-
phaticslly shaking her head The
young woman uttered scream and the
next instant Childs had fired. lie hred
again. The girl staggered back and fell.
Persons already were on the way to
the rescue of the young woman. The
corn field OF Seldom Halleck begins about
where the shooting occurred and as half
A dozen men ran toward where the girl
had fallen the young man dashed into
the field. He ran through the corn
short distance and then shot was heard.
In few moments 100 persons were on
the scene E,rastus +. Post, former
member of the assembly and Constable
Person. with host of others, surround
ed the corn field SO that escape was i'm
possible and then the field was entered.
Near the center of II the searchers
came across Childs. He was lying on
his face with his arm outstretched hold
inc tile revolver When they turned him
over there was bullet hole in his fore
head lie was unconscious and breathing