Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-11
virginion Kills His ; Children
With Ball Bat, Ends Own Life
Beaten Wife FIees
Frenzied Attocker

J. B: Matthews, jr, 40, son OF the controversial
antCommunist Investigator, today killed his three
children with baseball bat as they sat around the
breakfast table injured his wife and then took his
life with butcher knife. . l#s'E...,
Fairfax County police said Matthews APP
parently went berserk about am. in his home at
65O5 Highland avenue, Springfield, Va, IA miles
from Washington
The dead are: His twin 1S-year-od children.
Stephen and Sharon, and his daughter Susan IA
His wife Mrs. Helen Matthews admitted for head
injuries and shock at Alexandria Hospital.
Matthews was an aeronautcal engineer for the Fed
era Aviation Agency. Of the Presby-
terrain Church in Springfield
Planned Physical Checkup
Neiehbors said Matthews had been i'll recently. COM
planning Of headaches and trouble They said he had
planned to get complete physical examination
His father who lives in New York. national head
lines in 1858 when he fred after brief tenue stan
director Of the Senate Committee headed by the late Senator
Joseph Mccarthy, Republican Of Wisconsin
Alexandra Hospital reported Stephen and the father
dead on arrival there.
The two daughters died the emergency in the
hospital.
Hospital authorities said the children been repeatedly
beaten about the face and head and had suffered brain damage
Matthews died of his deep throat wound.
Rises From Breakfast
Mai. william Durrer of the Fairfax County poc.
said the family just breakfast
fastmoving drama unfoded
He said Matthews. clad in shirt and trousers. got
from the table without word down the pIaoom
Of the spt-level brick home and got the baseball bat
He said Mrs. Matthews told him her husband walked into
the and feled Stephen with swing OF the bat
What are you dong" Mrs Matthews screamed.
She toward him and he struck her with second swing
of the bat
Flees to NeiEhbOrs
Mrs. Matthews turned and screaming
She the home of Richard C. whitehead an FBI
agent who lives at 6sO7 Highland soDbng and crying
for help
When Mr. Whitehead the lawn the Matthews
home he found the three children lying unconscious the
dining room floor.
Mr. whitehead took the bat away from him,
Maj Durrer said Matthews into kitchen and
his throat with the knife He ran back into the dining
and fell to the floor
Even So Maj Drrer said Matthews had to be physically
sIbdued few minutes later.
Leaps to His Feet
the first policeman arrive
He said the children sprawled around the table and Mat
thews lay in a pool of his own blood.
But the father eaped to his feet and grappled with the
lceman before Anderson knocked him and hand
cuned him. Then the ambulances arrived
On the table lay untouched breakas-orange juice
cereal and scrambled eggs
Matthews reached by telephone in New York, said his
born in Java where the former Methodist clergyman
serving o missionary at the time.
Joseph Brown Matthews jrr graduate Of Lehigh
University held masters degree from George Washington
University in 1913.
i physicist, he served in World War II in the Navy.
Matthews had been aeronautcal engineer with the FAA
for year. assigned to the Development Division
Research and Development at Seventh and
streets S.W.
Previously nd employed the Always Modernza
ton Board.
AT his church. Matthews was director Of the chldrens
choir q He also member Of the Jubi
i laires, Fairfax barbershop quartet.
Besides his parents he leaves brother Roy Matthews and
two sisters Grace Gresham and Mrs Margaret Bd ell
Of Washington, N. j.
:. Stephen seventh grade pupils at Lyn
brook Elementary School Susan freshman at Lee High
: School in Fairfax.
Neighbors reported that Mrs Matthews had quit her job
yesterday secretary Loon School, She formerly had
worked advertising Of the Springfield Independent
Northern Virginia newspaper.