A Centralia Tragedy: A Logger's Jealous Rage

Chehalis, Feb. 25.—J. A. Phillips, a logger, about 35 years of age, shot and killed his wife, Estella, at Centralia about 4 o'clock this afternoon. After writing a note explaining the cause of the tragedy, he blew out his own brains. Both died within an hour. The affair grew out of Phillips' jealousy of his wife. Phillips had been at the logging camp during the week and returned unexpectedly. Shortly after his arrival, his wife came from town, accompanied by a young man named Jap Bowen. She went into the house, leaving Bowen at the gate. She had scarcely stepped across the threshold before a neighbor heard shots. When first seen, Phillips stood in the doorway with a revolver pointing at Bowen, who was running away. Three more shots were heard, and the neighbors rushed to the house and broke in the door, which was locked. Mrs. Phillips lay gasping in a pool of blood on the floor. She had been shot in the arm and again through the left temple. Phillips was on the bed, holding the revolver in his hand. He had sent a bullet crashing into his brain. On the table lay a note signed by Phillips, which read as follows: 'As I can't leave without my wife, have taken this way to keep her with me. We have no friends to mourn for us, and let this be a lesson to all not to fool with other men's wives. Goodby to what friends I have. Get us into the ground as soon as you can.' Phillips' wife had borne a good reputation, but it is said she had been drinking in a back room of a saloon with Bowen before going home. She had two children, but these Phillips had given away ten days ago, and on that occasion his wife tried to commit suicide with morphine. The couple were stricken with poverty, and the miserable little house in which the tragedy occurred presented a pitiable spectacle when the neighbors broke in.