Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-03-08
Well Known Bicycle Man Blows
Out Brother-in-LaW Brains
Following Family Quarrel in
Repair Shop,
Ff--, =
YEAR OLD BABY Is
CENTER OF TRAGEDY
Eighteen-Y Year-0Id Wife Sees
Her Brother Killed and
Becomes Wildly HySterlcaI,
Believing Child Dead,

Thomas lnsley. proprietor OF an
automobile and bicycle repair shop. at
EOS West Gold avenue, last night shot
and instantly killed John Higgins. his
brother-ln-law. twenty-six years old.
following a family quarrel Higgins
was slain at 7:45 o'clock and half
an hour later Insley was occupying a
steel cell In the county jail, with a
formal charge Of murder hanging over
his head.
The shooting was witnessed only by
Insley's eighteen year old wife and
their small baby, one year old Hig-
gins died instantly the entire right
side OF his head being torn away
by heavy charge of buckshot. evi-
greater than five feet.
Immediately after the shooting Mrs.
Insley became wildly hysterical and
was unable to give any accurate story
regarding the affair last night. Insiey
refused TO make any statement what.
ever regarding the tragedy.
According information obtalnable,
however, the murder was the culmina-
ton OF a family quarrel which occur
ed In Insley's shop. Insley and his
wife had quarreled. II IL said, when
Insley attempted TO ehastisa their
year old child. Mrs. Insley objected
her husband abusing the child,
and Insley is said to have then abused
his Wife
Whether Higgins was In the auto
mobile shop while Insley and Mrs.
Insley were quarrelling Is not known.
One story current last night was that
when Insley began to abuse her, Mrs.
Insley either telephoned to. or went
after her brother and told him the
way Insey was treating her.
Apparently Higgins sought to In
terfere in the quarrel, which was by
this time a three eornered affair. Mrs.
lnsley now attempting to prevent SER
ious trouble between her husband
and her brother.
few moments before s o'clock
passers-by on Gold avenue heard tho
sharp crack of gun. evidently fired
In Insley's place. No one paid any
attention to the shot, however, and II
was not until few seconds later.
when Mrs. Insley rushed out OF the
place, calling hysterlcally for Il police
man, that there was indication that
tragedy had occurred.
At the corner of Second street and
Central avenue Mrs. Insley ran up TO
Under Sheriff Fred Heyn and asked
him TO get policeman.
81 am an officer" said Heyn. what
Is the natter
"My God, Tom has Just shot my
brother replied Mrs. Insley. as she
continued to rush down the street.
evidently knowing not where she was
going.
Mr.. Heyn went TO the Insley shop.
The front doors were closed and the
place was In darkness. Policeman
Hynds arrived on the scene shortly
afterward and flashed his searchlight
through the windows.
Lying with his head toward the
west wall, with brains scattered all
about the place was the dead body of
John Higgins. lIeyn then threw his
fnll force against the doors, which
lwung open. He and Hynds entered
he place together. They were greeted
/ ghastly sight. The walls and floor
we're spattered with blood and brains.
rhe entire right side of Higgins skull
vas torn away
Undersheriff Heyn and Policeman
Iynds searched the shop for Insley.
hey finally found him sitting on
Iox behind an automobile. His year
Id baby was clasped tightly to his
reast.
when questioned by the officers
nsley asked time 10 think.
II don't know anything about this.
aid insley. 81 don't know anything
bout it,
We'll your wife says YOU killed her
rother and win have to take YOU
, jail said Heyn
There's plenty OF time; plenty of
me- said lnsley. ~ want TO find
,mo one 20 take care of my baby
rst want 60 find my wife"
Insley then placed the baby I'm
NAH go-oart and accompanied by
Heyn, left the shop
rough the rear door Policemen took
iarge OF Higgins body, which was
ter removed TO strong Brothers
establishment, after the
,ccssary permission had been granted
: Coroner @. $. Craig. The shotgun
Ith which lnsley evidently shot his
'other-in-law was taken In charge
the police.
Accompanied by the officer and q