Year: 1869

An Insane Son Kills His Father-Particu.


lnrs Of the Criuse-IIIst0ry Of the Family.


Philadelphia was shocked yesterday by the report
that Marshall Key Evans had killed his father
Thomas L. Evans, at their residence No. 306 South
Tenth street. in ut of insanity. In addition to the
full particulars given below from the Ecentng Tele
graph Of yesterday, 1t may be remarked that as po
liceman Freeman came to the house, immediately
after the shooting, the wounded, PROSTATE and
dying father remarked, "Dont harm my boy for
he didn't know what he was doing:"-


Tie family, with the exception OF Marshall, had
sat down to breakfast, ana while partaking OF the
meal they had entered into a general discussion OF
the conduct and behavior OF Marshall for some time
past and what had better be done under the cIrcum
stances. They had concluded that the father after
breakfast should visit Dr. Vandyke, who. few days
since. had expressed his conviction that the was
ana obtain from him a certificate OF his insanity,
on which he could be removed to the asylum.
to which many think Marshall had been Q listener,
he stepped into the dining room, and as he took
seat at The table, his father babe him good morn
ingn He did not reply to his sautaion, but looked
closely into the faces OF all the family. He ate pretty
heartily, and while thus engaged the father left the
room and ascended to the second floor, where he
changed his gown for q coat, ana procuring his hat
started down the front stairway.


In the meantime Marshall had also arisen and
stepped out into the hail. which led directly from the
dining room to the front door. Here he paced up
and down, and occasionally would stop at tie bot.





landing in the hall Marshall walked towards the
front door, and as his father was stepping into the
vestbue he drew revolver and fired three shots in
rapid succession. The father then rctreaed through
the paror to the han again and back towards the
dining room, and passing the pantry clutched at the
door, and from that fell into Mrs. Becher's
arms. She laid him on the moor. Marshall followed
his father all the way back aud as the body was y.
ing on the floor he bent over 1t, but said nothing
Mrs. Eelcher remarked TO him: Marshall, see what
you've done,n to which he did not answer. The
young ladies' hearing the shots, seeing Marshall
with the pistol N ns hand ran an SCREENING % I'M some out
The alarm quickly given and tue house was soon
full OF neighbors and policemen, one OF the latter
taking Marshall into custody, and shortly after
corted HIM to the Fifth district station and from
there to the central where he is now under confne-
ment Neither at the time OF his arrest or since mas
he seemed the least excited but his lace was deadly
pale. To questions propounded to him he replied,
III don't feel right; you can see II IN my eyes,


the residence and made post mortem examination.


As to the motive which induced the son to shoot
his father there is none known as they were always
on the most Intimate terms-the son remarking for
several days past that his father was the best friend
he had on earth. OF his insanity there does not
seem to he doubt-hs conduct for some time past
being such as TO compel his family to consult DR..
vandyke as to his condition. That gentleman, after
q few days. examination, proclaimed him insane,
twelve years he has been afflicted with iniammaory
rheumatism. which lately has taken chronic form.
and since April or May last has done nothing lie
was married man, and the thought that not only
he, but ms vile, nad become dependent for
the necessares OF life upon others, also preyed upon
his mind They had broken up housekeeping, and
he had gone to live with his father and she with her
friends at Riverside, N. J. They are spoken OF as
very aectionate couple, and they were In the habit
OF frequently visiting each other. Some time since
he conceived an idea that q number OF people had
conspircd TO take his life, and among those he
classed his wife, Though not until yesterday DID
he express any feeling against her to any OF his
family. He had just Then returned from visit to
her. and on entering the house OF bis father he
sought his eldest sister, to whom he said thai he
had been poisoned and, showing blister OH the IN
side Of his upper lip remarked that was the mark
OF poison. He remarked that he had been all night
with his wife, and that at the breakfast table none
OF her folks partook OF anything. lie was the only
Ohc to eat and his wife had Rtven him everything he
mad eaten and that she had administered poison
10 his food He was violent at this time In hs DO.
nupciation OF her, saying that he never attended
to 1--we with her, and drawing an OLD 9rekea kplle