The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-08-01
KILLS. BROTHER, and
THEN COMMITS SUICIDE
Old Quarrel Blamed Men Prominent
in Mississippi Capital and
Rivals in Business.

Jackson, Miss, July 28. Bob
Taylor, aged forty-five, shot and
killed his brother Tom, aged forty
seven, to-day and then blew out his
own brains. The double tragedy
was enacted about 10 o'clock, dur
ing the funeral services at the
Catholic church over the body of
Father Oliver, and only three
blocks away.
That the murder and suicide
were both premeditated is the gen.
eral opinion. Tom Taylor, the
elder of the two brothers who were
also brothers-in-law and proprietors
of rival undertaking establishments,
was in his buggy driving east on
Pearl street to his place of bust.
ness, and was passing Bob's Office
across the street on which is his
residence, when Bob stepped into
the roadway and, without speaking
a word, SO far as known, fired five
loads of buckshot from pump gun
into the body of Tom, the first load
seeming to have struck him in TIE
face.
The horse made bolt, throwing
the dead body of Tom on the paved
street. The fratricide walked into
the rear of his establishment, plac-
ed an automatic pistol to the side
of his head and pulled the trigger.
He died in a few minutes.
New of the tragedy spread rapid.
ly over the city, and a great crowd
gathered In the vicinity. The
tragedy is of the most sensational
that has been experienced in his
city in years. The families and
friends of the two dead men knew
that bad blood existed between
them, but did not look for any such
termination of their differences,
which were of a financial nature,
and which where supposed to have
been settled by the courts seveal
months ago.
Tom and Bob Taylor were sons
of Col. II. M. Taylor, a highly
respected contractor and builder,
undertaken. former mayor and
alderman of Jackson, who left
comfortable fortune to. several
children-Tom and Bob continuing
the undertaking branch of the busi-
ness. In course of time Bob
bought Toms interest, it being
stipulated that Tom was not to en-
gage in the undertaking business
in Jackson again. But he did,
whereupon Bob sued for breach of
contract and the court required
him to repay the money Bob had
paid him for his interest. That
was done, but Tom continued in
the same line. and, being an unusu-
ally popular man, a e-fellow-
well-met with everybody, he got
the most profitable portion of the
business. The idea is that Bob
stood it as long as he could, brood
ed over his troubles and decided to
end them.
Mrs. Robert Taylor was in Sardis,
the old home of herself and her
sister, Mrs. Tom Taylor, when the
tragedy occurred. but arrived here
this afternoon and was met at the
depot by Mrs. Will Taylor, wife
tof an elder brother, and a number
| of friends.
The bodies of the two undertake
ers we're prepared for burial at
their respective establishments,
many friensd lingering about until
late in the day. Tom Taylor was
found to have been hit by at least
four loads of buckshot fired at close
range. The load had struck him
in the face and obIiterated all resem-
blance, the nose being torn away.
All arrangements have been made
for the funerals of the brothers.
Bob Taylor will be buried from
the First Baptist Church tomorrow
afternoon, Tom from the Episcopal
church Thursday morning.