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Monroe
Phillips & The Brunswick Massacre
In light of recent events (seven found dead in a mobile home and two more in
critical condition on 29 August 2009) I wanted to point out that this is not the
first time that such a horrible "massacre" has happened in Brunswick's history.
On Saturday 6 March 1915 in the middle of downtown Brunswick, Monroe
Phillips decided he had had enough. Pressure was mounting from
business deals gone wrong and what he deemed as an attack on his character by
people wishing to see him fail. Monroe grabbed his shot gun and
decided to see the man who pushed him over the edge. Phillips
started with the man who was immediately attacking him, Col. Dunwody, and
ran into his office and just randomly shot at those inside the office. He
then decided to kill his own lawyer, Albert Fendig, who as luck would
have it, was out of office that day. These actions, unfortunately, did not
appease the wrath of Phillips so he walked out onto the streets of
downtown Brunswick and just started shooting at everyone in his path.
The result, 8 dead including Phillips, many more wounded physically
and mentally. Families destroyed and the peace of Brunswick destroyed as
well. The horrible deaths that occurred sometime late Friday 28 August
2009 in north Glynn County was not the first time that such a heinous crime was
committed. The motives may have been different but the end results were
the same.
It was a quiet Saturday morning, children were
playing in the streets and alleyways, residents were strolling along the
streets conducting their Saturday business, men were in the barber shop
getting a shave and a hair cut, and local business men were in their
offices conducting last minute business tasks before Sunday.
No one could have foreseen what was about to happen,
an action such as this never crossed the minds of the peaceful citizens
of Brunswick. By the end of the day, 32 people were wounded 5 were
dead, and three more were not expected to live.
Monroe Phillips was born on 18 May 1856
in Bibb Co., Georgia to parents Henry Haywood and
Martha Catherine (Durden) Phillips. According
to news accounts he was over 6 feet tall and weighed in at about 210
pounds, more or less. He came from a large family, one of eight
children, a family that mainly settled around Twiggs and Bibb County.
Monroe
became involved in timber and real estate, owning properties in his home
town, and later moving to Brunswick where he started conducting real
estate deals and other
transactions. He married sometime before 1884 to Ophelia
Rebecca Durden, daughter of Wiley Jomney and
Levonia (Cowart) Durden. To this union were born three children who
survived to adulthood: Ida Belle born 1884; William Rabun
“Rabe” born 1890; and Millard Jenkins Taylor Phillips born
about 1901.
The scene opens at Col. Harry Franklin
Dunwody’s office (today known as the Dunwody Building on the corner
of Newcastle & Gloucester Streets), the man on
the top of the list of those who had wronged Phillips. Without a
thought, without a pause, Phillips pointed his shot gun at
Dunwody’s head and pulled the trigger, killing the man instantly. A
client, Albert M. Way, tried to duck for cover, but Phillips
unloaded the second barrel, hitting Way in the face leaving him
hanging on for life. The only person spared in the office was secretary
Ila Lee.
As Phillips went down the stairs to exit the
Dunwody Building, he reloaded his shotgun in time to pull the trigger
yet again and shot off-duty police officer L.C. Padgett in the
chest, causing him a slow and painful death, making 2 casualties in a
matter of minutes. Judge Eustace C. Butts was standing right
behind Padgett and was wounded in the leg; he and passersby
carried a dying Padgett to a nearby drug store. By this time
numerous people were on the streets and coming out of businesses
wondering what was happening.
His ire fueled, Phillips was on an unchecked
rampage through downtown Brunswick. He fired random shots aiming first
at Kaiser’s, a woman’s boutique, causing women to panic, run for their
lives, some even fainted on the spot. No one was hurt. He reloaded
again, now on to his next planned assassination.
Albert Fendig, born on 27 October 1870 in
Jasper Co., Indiana; first generation born in America, was an aspiring
businessman whose descendants still live here today. Fendig was
the next target, and as his luck would have it, he was away on
business. Phillips was met by William King Boston, whose
life was spared because, according to Phillips, Boston was
always a good friend.
Outside of Fendig’s office Phillips
decided to head towards Branch’s Drugstore where the dying Padgett
was taken. On his way over, he gunned down streetcar conductor
George W. Asbell as he was running to help Padgett, leaving
his vehicle in the road.
From there Phillips became indiscriminate in
his targets, shooting randomly, his first victim being undertaker
William Hackett who was riddled with buckshot. Then twenty-year old
Gunnar Tolnas was shot down from his bicycle, dying several days
later from the wound in his back.
Standing on the corner, Phillips aimed towards
the Brunswick Bank and Trust Company hitting several people, one woman,
Annie J. Slater, was saved by her corset staye that deflected a
stray buck shot. Herbert Miller was shot in the chest, but was
unharmed; however, he was left with a memento, a nickel with a piece of
number 12 buckshot imbedded in it.
Ernest McDonald had recently gotten over a
horrible bout of pneumonia, it wasn’t expected for him to live, but he
overcame and on that fateful day decided to go for a shave and hair
cut. As he stepped out of the barber shop, lather still covering his
face, he was shot down in the street, he struggled for life that night
and was expected to survive, but his body was still weakened from the
bout of pneumonia, he did not live.
Soon, the police were on the scene, having a shoot
out with Phillips in the middle of Newcastle Street. Rookie
officer Rex Deaver, with only 60 days on the force, wounded
Phillips before being shot himself. He died on the way to the
hospital.
While all the mayhem was unfolding, Butts and
a young man named Ralph Joseph Minehan ran to the United Supply
Company and purchased a shot gun and a 32-caliber pistol with
ammunition. Together they slipped in the back door of the drug store,
and while Phillips was shooting at Deaver, they took aim,
Minehan firing off about five shots and Butts firing the
shot gun, hitting Phillips in the kidneys, Monroe died
within minutes. The massacre was over; it had lasted only ten minutes.
And then, pandemonium. Who was dead, who was dying,
who was just hurt, who needed medical attention fastest, and how would
they get everyone to the hospital several blocks away?
Confederate Veteran L.J. Leavy, Sr. was
transported to the hospital but walked in under his own power with a
wound in his right soldier. Albert Way sat idly by while those
more seriously wounded were tended to; he lost his eye as a result of
his wounds. Among the wounded was Dr. R.L. Fox, who dressed his
wounds and started tending to the rest. Fox was hit in the neck
by small shot that was never removed. It was assumed that this buckshot
contributed to his death years later.
So what caused this rampage, this psychotic break in
one man’s life? According to sources at the time Phillips was
never a very stable man; he had very peculiar habits and an explosive
temper. He was always under the impression that people were out to get
him, to cause him harm or ruin his life. He was diagnosed by a
psychiatrist from Milledgeville as a “paranoiac of the most vicious
kind”. It was obvious to those around him that he was just a powder-keg
waiting to explode.
Many wondered why he was not treated before he got
worse, this is hind sight though, I’m sure there were many more who
thought nothing of his aggressive and unusual behavior. There weren’t
any organizations back then to help a man such as this, no medications,
nothing to inform the public that a person with this type of attitude
could be a danger to society and himself.
The very next week, the epidemic of random violent
acts started. Henry Beatenbaugh of Waycross shot and killed
W.H. Hunter in Dickinson’s Store at Waycross, Ware County, Georgia.
Not only did he kill Hunter, but he wounded Sam Brady,
then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. What spurred this
violence that was slated to end the lives of more than Mr. Hunter?
An argument at work over a monkey wrench, unfortunately the news article
was cut out of the paper, the outcome of this is not known by me.
It didn’t end there, the fuse was lit for many more
imbalanced people to step forward and release their pent up rages and
delusions of revenge using the Brunswick Massacre as their excuse.
Ten days after Phillips’ rage a Macon youth,
badly affected by the Brunswick tragedy, opened fire inside a store
trying to kill his sweetheart and later killing himself. Twenty one
year old George Cheatham was suspicious of his brother Rufus’
attentions towards 16 year old Lucile Pinholser, and decided
that, like Monroe Phillips, he would just go out and kill
everyone involved in his twisted love triangle, and anyone who was in
the way.
He entered the store of D.F. Pinholser around
1 o’clock in the afternoon and opened fire on Lucile and her two
younger brothers, Sherwood aged 4 years and Raymond aged 2
years. His own brother running out the store and escaping injury.
George left the store and about a hundred yards away in a gulley, he
turned the gun on himself and fired, death was instantaneous his body
was discovered an hour later. The young Pinholser children all
escaped mortal wounds, as George loaded his shot gun with bird
shot.
George Cheatham’s father stated that his son
had been worried over the Monroe Phillips shooting and would
constantly talk about it so much so, that his father thought his son was
mentally unbalanced. R.S. Cheatham, the father, stated that his
son always complained about his head, possibly early signs of
schizophrenia. George had lost his job days earlier, then the
tragedy in Brunswick, and his suspicions of his brother combined to a
boiling point.
These terrorist acts that we see today in our
schools, shopping malls, etc., are not a new occurrence. Even long ago,
when they happened, one random act of violence spurred other outbursts.
The reasons behind the latter outbursts were always attributed to the
first act. Monroe Phillips’ rage gave others the match to light
their own fire.
News Articles
The Brunswick News; Sunday 7 March 1915; Pg. 1 all
FRIGHTFUL TRAGEDY ENACTED HERE WITH HORRIBLE RESULTS—MONROE PHILLIPS KILLS FIVE
AND WOUNDS MANY—WITH DOUBLE-BARREL SHOT-GUN HE SHOOTS AT ALL IN HIS SIGHT—Load
of Shot Fired by E.C. Butts Ends Life of the Man Who Was Author of the Wholesale
Slaughter of Prominent Brunswick People—HON. H.F. DUNWODY WAS THE FIRST VICTIM
TO FALL—L.C. Padgett, Geo. Asbell, William A. Hackett and R.N. Deaver Then
Brought Down in the Order Named—Three of Wounded Men Reported to Be in Serious
Condition Last Night—Brunswick Thrown in Reign of Terror by Awful Tragedy.
THE
DEAD—H.F. Dunwody, Lawyer; Wm. A. Hackett, Undertaker; George
W. Asbell, former police officer; R.N. Deaver, policeman; L.C.
Padgett, ex-policeman; Monroe Phillips, real estate and timber
dealer.
THE
INJURED—Those whose injuries are considered serious are: Ernest McDonald,
butcher, shot in stomach and leg broken by buckshot.
Gunner Tolnas, bank collector, shot through back and lungs.
Albert M. Way, real estate dealer, shot in face, eye and
tongue.
L.J. Leavy, county officer, shot in back and in chest.
S. Levison, merchant, shot in face.
Others who were struck by stray buckshot and more or less wounded
were:
R.L. Fox, physician; Geo. M. Smith, cashier Brunswick
Bank and Trust Company; E.C. Butts, lawyer, who finally killed
Phillips; Tom Ford, Southern Railway engineer; S.A. Ellard,
insurance agent; P.H. Crumpler, farmer; Isaac Cohen, collector;
A.H. Boyle, member city council; H.M. Frank, physician; Claude
Walker, bank clerk; W.H. Berrie, Jr., clerk; B.T. Brown,
carpenter; Alex. Lorentzson, clerk; H. Jennings, barber; T.B.
Burns, wheelwright; R. Skipper, barrelmaker; W.J. Way,
insurance agent; Herbert Smith, auto dealer.
Within the twinkling of an eye, in a community full of peace and
happiness, under skies as beautifully blue as those which hung above the homes
of our first ancestors, Brunswick’s hospital here pressed into service yesterday
morning, while Brunswick’s undertaking establishments were converted into
veritable morgues. Within ten minutes, from the time Monroe Phillips,
well known about the city, a man of ill-temper and burly form, merged into the
law offices of Hon. H.F. Dunwody shortly after 10:30 o’clock yesterday
morning, thirty-two Brunswickians felt the force of bullets from an
old-fashioned 10-bore Parker shotgun. Col. Dunwody was evidently
murdered at his desk; he was found a few minutes afterwards in a reclining
position in a desk chair, a head full of buckshot into his left cheek had
literally destroyed the [illegible], penetrating the brain just below the left
ear, causing death instantly.
Coming down the stairs, after encountering Mr. A.M. Way, and
emptying a load of buckshot inot his face, the blood-crazed man, with gun in
position, after warning passersby to scatter, again emptied his gun; this time
laying low C.L. Padgett, former policeman. On he went like some crazed
demon, shooting as he advanced with the wide world for his target, caring little
who he murdered or why. Asbell, a man of undaunted courage, unknowingly
pursuing his own way, feel into his pathway, a load of buckshot in the back of
his head, brought him to earth. William Hackett, well-beloved and who,
in his time, has tenderly prepared many Brunswickians for their last sad trip;
crossing the street [illegible] trying to get out of reach, was the next
victim. [The rest of paragraph is illegible] before an automobile could reach
the hospital.
In the meantime the avenging spirit was busy, but the man who had
inflicted death so calmly was doomed to meet that article by the same instrument
in which he was dispensing it. Eustace Butts, and it was a nervy act,
after having been shot in the leg, armed himself with a shotgun, entered the
rear door of Branch’s pharmacy, and while Phillips was in the act of
killing others, a well aimed shot from Butts’ gun did its work.
Phillips lingered for eight or ten minutes. In his conscious moments
remorse did not seize him, and he begged that those who had shot him finish
their work. While all this was transpiring, it must be remembered that
twenty-five or thirty other people, some of them perhaps fatally, had been the
victims of this trusty gun; from the spent bullet, which did little damage to
the shot at close range, penetrating the vitals, damage was inflicted right and
left.
SCENES EXCITING
The scene in the heart of the city where business traffic is large
immediately following and during the shooting beggars description; people were
hurrying and scurrying for shelter; in two minutes perhaps after the last man
was killed there was not a person on the street, and yet within a few minutes
after Phillips had been felled, pandemonium and excitement vied with each
other. The news scattered quickly; all of the murdered men were well known, and
a scene of general confusion and bewilderment followed.
Those who were seriously wounded were rushed to the city hospital;
every physician in the city was summoned there, and every ward in the big
building had one or more patients within its gloomy confines. Just here it must
be said that too much praise cannot be given to the doctors and the hospital
management for the promptness, the discipline and the splendid order and
regularity in which the suffering was relieved and the gruesome work was done of
administering to the afflicted.
PHILLIPS HAD THREATENED
The frightful drama staged so horribly here today has a background
extending for several years. Just where it had its beginning cannot really be
stated. It is known, however, that Monroe Phillips, a sort of financial
plunger, real estate operator and more or less of a business man, has been
involved in much litigation since his residence in Brunswick. He was over
bearing in his manner, did not make friends easily, was morose and ugly in his
disposition, and has been suffering from imaginary wrong perpetrated upon him by
leading Brunswick business men. For instance he had stated openly that
Albert Fendig, wealthy real estate man, banker, etc., was due him $25,000 as
commission on a big real estate transaction, in which he and Mr. Fendig
had figured. Likewise, he claimed that R.E. Briesenick, prominent
capitalist, was due him sums of money. His hatred extended to the lawyers, who
brought suit and represented clients against him. The direct trouble is due to
the sale of a lighter to Savannah parties, consummated several days ago by
Phillips. The Savannah people wanted a clean title to the property; there
were liens against it, represented by Brunswick attorneys, Mr. Dunwody
among them, and a conference was fixed for 10:30 o’clock yesterday morning in
Mr. Dunwody’s office. It seems, however, that before filing this engagement
Mr. Phillips visited his own lawyer, Judge D.W. Krauss, and was
told that Mr. Dunwody, representing local creditors, whom Phillips
hated, were insisting that liens against the property be wiped out. It is known
that Phillips invited at least one of those claimants to go with him to
the Dunwody office; this was refused and still suffering from bad temper,
Phillips bolted into Dunwody’s office to adjust the matter in his
own way.
While some people think that Phillips had a regular list of
six or eight people marked for death, others believe that after murdering
Col. Dunwody and perhaps mortally wounding Mr. Way, and after having
strode through the Fendig offices, seeking Mr. Fendig, he
concluded to shoot until he was shot to death.
Phillips is said to have believed that he had been prevented
from obtaining commissions on a large real estate deal by several prominent
men. He is said to have threatened their lives and to have made a list of six
men he intended to kill. Little attention was paid to his threats.
A
RECENT DEAL
A few days ago he sold a lighter to a man named Quinlan of
Savannah, who paid $75 to bind the deal. The purchaser arrived yesterday for
the lighter, but found it had been attached by a number of creditors. The
lighter belonged to Phillips’ wife, to whom he had paid the $75.
Mr. Dunwody was attorney for most of the creditors. Shortly
before Phillips came to his office Mrs. Phillips called the lawyer
over the telephone and urged him to dismiss the attachments. J.S. Brailey
was in the office at the time and said he heard Mr. Dunwody say to
Mrs. Phillips, “You just want to keep that $75.”
Accompanied by her husband, Mrs. Phillips is said to have
gone to the office of a lawyer who had been representing them. Soon after
Phillips, carrying a double barrel shotgun went to Mr. Dunwody’s
office at Newcastle and Gloucester streets.
He was met by Mr. Dunwody’s stenographer, who, when he asked
if Mr. Dunwody was in, told him he was busy and would see him later.
Phillips brushed her aside and entered the office.
Mr. Dunwody was seated in a chair at his desk talking to
Mr. A.M. Way. Without warning he raised the shotgun, loaded with buckshot,
and fired point blank at the lawyer, who was almost instantly killed. He then
fired at Mr. Way, who fell to the floor mortally wounded with one eye
almost shot out.
There were many persons on the street and in Branch’s drug store
directly beneath the office. Hearing the shooting they rushed to the street.
Padgett and Mr. Butts went to the foot of the stairs leading from
the second story to the street. Just then Phillips appeared at the head
of the stairs. He had reloaded the gun and fired at the group at the foot of
the steps. Padgett fell fatally wounded and Butts was shot
through the right leg.
There was a hasty break for safety on the part of other persons near
the stairs. Butts and others lifted Padgett, who was dying in
their arms, and carried him into the drug store. He died a few minutes later.
SHOOTS AT RANDOM
Phillips calmly walked down the stairs, placing a shell in
the empty barrel. He walked into the office of Albert Fendig & Co. and
said to have been on the list he intended to kill. Mr. Fendig was not in
the office, but he was met in the office by W.K. Boston. “I am not going
to kill you; you have been my friend,” he said to him.
Just before he entered the office he fired a shot across the street,
where a number of ladies were shopping in Kaiser’s store. None was struck by
the bullets, but some fainted. Pandemonium reigned in the store and there was a
rush rear exits.
After he left Fendig’s office Phillips started toward
Branch’s drug store, next door. Asbell walked out of the store. Without
[page 7] a word of warning Phillips fired, killing him instantly.
BUTTS SECURES GUN
In the meantime Butts had gone to the hardware store of the
United Supply Company and asked for a shotgun. He said he realized Phillips
could not be stopped until he was wounded and he requested the clerk to give him
number three shot so he would not kill him. The clerk, however, gave him
buckshot. It was not until sometime after Phillips had been killed that
Butts learned he had not used the smaller shot.
When he entered the drug store through a side door Phillips
was firing through the front door. Butts endeavored to get in position
to try to shoot the shotgun out of his hands, but failed. Phillips was
reloading for another shot when Butts fired, Phillips sank to the
floor shot through the kidneys. He lived a few minutes.
“Well, you’ve just about got me; finish it up,” he said.
R.J. Minehan also figured in the shooting of Phillips,
and that one of the shots fired from his revolver struck him was shown when a
32-caliber pistol ball was removed from his body. Mr. Minehan secured
the 32-caliber pistol from the United Supply Company at the same time Mr.
Butts secured the shotgun and they returned to the drug store together.
Mr. Minehan walked in the drug store ahead of Mr. Butts and fired
five times at Mr. Phillips while he was engaged in the duel with Officer
Deaver. It was a few seconds after Mr. Minehan had emptied the
chamber of the revolver when Mr. Butts fired.
As soon as it was known that Phillips had been killed people
left their places of business and rushed to the scene to aid the wounded. Fully
sixteen shots had been fired by Phillips.
Every vehicle in sight was pressed into service to take the wounded
to the hospital and their homes and remove the dead. Every physician in the
city went to the hospital to attend the wounded. Dr. Fox dressed his own
wound as soon as he reached there, then turned his attention to others more
seriously wounded.
THE
DEAD
Hon. H.F. Dunwody was born in Marietta October 1, 1863, and
was 52 years of age. He was reared and spent his young boyhood in McIntosh
county. At the conclusion of his high school period there he entered the
University of Georgia and was gradauated in 1884 with the degree of bachelor of
art. He was admitted to the bar in 1885, and immediately began his practice in
Brunswick, at one time being a member of the law firm of Atkinson & Dunwody,
being composed of Mr. Dunwody and Judge Samuel C. Atkinson, now of
the supreme court of Georgia. Mr. Dunwody held many positions of honor
and trust in this community. He was solicitor of the old county court from 1888
to 1890; served several terms in both houses of the Georgia legislature and in
both branches of them gained distinction. At one time in a contest for the
presidency of the state senate he was defeated by a single vote by Hon.
Robert L. Berner, the well known Georgian. He was mayor of the city of
Brunswick for two terms, and unquestionably made Brunswick one of her best chief
executives.
He was married on June 21, 1897 to Miss Scotia Walter [sic]
of Savannah and they have two children, McDonald, 19 years, and Mary
Scotia, 13 years.
Harry Dunwody was probably the best known citizen in South
Georgia; he was a lawyer of ability, enjoyed a large clientele and his public
life and his private life were beyond reproach. He was a staunch Brunswickian
and in his untimely taking away Brunswick loses one of her first citizens.
Because of the remote residence of one of his brothers, Dr. J.A.
Dunwody, once of Brunswick, now residing in Colorado, and who will attend
the funeral, arrangements have not been perfected. It will probably take place
on Tuesday and it is not definitely known whether the interment will take place
in Brunswick or in Savannah.
William A. Hackett came to Brunswick in 1869, and therefore
has been a continuous resident of this city for 46 years. During all of these
years he has been engaged in the undertaking business, and by his uniform
courtesy, high character and splendid ability he made friends wherever his
mission of sorrow called him. He was prominent in secret order work, and was
never happier than when taking part in these weekly meetings. He was especially
fond of the Knights of Pythias work, was a charter member of Rathbone lodge and
enjoys the unique distinction of having occupied every chair in the lodge.
George Asbell was born and practically raised in Brunswick.
There were two strong characteristics in the life of this unfortunate who went
down in yesterday’s tragedy—he was honest and he was brave, and for practically
all of his life from young manhood he has been connected with the Brunswick
police department. At the time of his death, however, he was a motorman in the
service of the City and Suburban Railway Company. He was a good citizen and had
a host of friends, who are grieved at his untimely death.
R.N. Deaver, 23 years old, born and practically raised on St.
Simons island, removed to Brunswick several years ago, and on January 6 was
elected a member of the Brunswick police department. He has therefore had but
sixty days of service in this work, but it was demonstrated yesterday that his
election was no mistake when he met death as only an officer should meet it,
bravely and unflinchingly.
C.L. Padgett has resided in Brunswick for several years, and
for a long time was employed as motorman on the City and Suburban. He spent a
year on the local police department, but left that service on January first to
engage in other business. He was about twenty-seven years of age and was
unmarried.
Monroe Phillips came to Brunswick from near Macon six or
seven years ago. He was reported to have brought considerable money with him to
this city; engaged extensively in real estate manipulations and was regarded as
a good trader. Phillips was not without his friends and many of them
were fond of him. However, he seems to have been suffering with business
reverses for two or three years and was a victim of his own imagination that
many people were conspiring to bring about his financial ruin. He leaves a most
estimable wife, who has a large circle of friends, and who are deeply
sympathizing with her in the serious trouble that has come into her life. Two
sons and one daughter survive. His remains will be shipped to the old family
home at Reids, near Macon, this morning for interment.
STATEMENT MADE BY MRS. MONROE PHILLIPS
Mrs. Monroe Phillips wife of the man who was the author of
yesterday’s tragedy, made a statement to a close friend last night. She is
quoted as having said that while in Savannah a few days ago she sold a lighter;
that $75 cash was paid upon it; that she was supposed to collect the rest of it
when she made title and delivered the property. In the meantime she said that
Mr. Dunwody had advised that certain claims had been filed against the
property and that title could not be made until they were satisfied.
She said she called Mr. Dunwody over the telephone yesterday
morning and told him she was unable to get the proceeds from the lighter sale,
and that she had an engagement to meet Judge D.W. Krauss, her husband and
Mr. Dunwody in Judge Krauss’ office later in the morning, and
asked if Mr. Dunwody would be there; that Mr. Dunwody was caustic
in his reply, practically insulting her, by saying that she was aiding her
husband in an effort to cheat the Savannah people out of $75.
Mrs. Phillips then said that she went straight to Judge
Krauss’ office, met her husband there and told him what Mr. Dunwody
had said to her. That Mr. Phillips then left the office of Judge
Krauss and remarked that he would go and “see Mr. Dunwody. This is
said to be the last time Mrs. Phillips saw her husband.
She state further to this friend that when Mr. Phillips left
home yesterday morning he carried no weapon, was not in an ill humor and that in
telling him what had occurred between she and Mr. Dunwody, she had no
idea that it would bring about any trouble.
MRS.
ILA LEE TALKS OF AWFUL TRAGEDY
Miss Ila Lee, stenographer for Hon. H.F. Dunwody, who
was in an outer office when Mr. Dunwody was killed, made a statement last
night as to what occurred in the offices.
Miss Lee stated that shortly after she arrived at the office,
that Mr. Dunwody had a conversation over the telephone with Mrs.
Phillips. She then took a dictation from Mr. Dunwody and went into
the outer office to write a letter and found a note from Mr. A.M. Way,
asking Mr. Dunwody to call Mr. Way. This was done and Mr. Way
arrived in Mr. Dunwody’s office in a few minutes.
Miss Lee when Mr. Way arrived was in the outer office,
and did not see Mr. Way enter Mr. Dunwody’s office through another
door. She was in the outer office working on a typewriter when Mr. Phillips
entered her office and asked if Mr. Dunwody was in. She replies that he
was, but that he was busy just at that time. She said that Mr. Phillips
then went to the folding door, threw it open, leveled his gun and fired.
Miss Lee then went into the library and phoned to Mr. J.S. Dunwody,
brother of the deceased. Phillips, she thinks, walked out of the office,
but a few seconds returned and fired again. Miss Lee, after she was sure
Phillips had left the office, returned to the outer office. Mr. Way
was then leaning against the folding door, calling for assistance. Miss Lee
saw Mr. Dunwody seated in the chair at his desk, and realized at once
that he was dead.
TWO
OF INJURED REPORTED TO BE BADLY WOUNDED—Gunner Tolnas and Ernest McDonald Were
Lingering Between Life and Death at Late Hour last night.
At an early hour this morning The News made inquiry at the city
hospital as to the condition of the patients being treated at that institution,
and, while the exact condition of them all could not be stated, still it was
said that two of the men were in a very serious condition.
Gunner Tolnas was reported to be in a most serious condition,
and physicians stated that it would be today before it could be ascertained
definitely just the full extent of the wounds. This young man was struck by
several buckshot.
Ernest McDonald was also reported to be in a serious
condition, and but little hope was entertained for his recovery, though he
revived slightly at midnight and seemed to be resting easier. Mr. McDonald
has just recovered from a long siege of illness. He too was struck by several
buckshot. His condition is thought to be fatal.
A.M. Way was reported to be resting easier after an operation
performed by Dr. Chisholm of Savannah. It was necessary to remove his
right eye. He stood the operation well. While Mr. Way was seriously
wounded, his condition is not considered as serious as the others.
S. Levison is also in bad shape. He received a serious wound
in the neck and was struck by other buckshots. However, he was reported to be
resting easy last night.
L.J. Leavy, who was also placed in the hospital, his injury
being a buckshot wound to the right shoulder. After he was dressed he was
removed to his home and was reported to be resting easy last night. His
advanced age, however, together with his recent long illness, are against him.
The report in circulation last night that Alderman A.H. Boyle
was in a serious condition, but information last night was to the effect that
his injuries, while painful, were not serious.
Jerre Wilcher, who was also reported to have been seriously
wounded, is in the city hospital, and is resting easy.
MANY
WERE SAVED BY SMALL SHOT—Had All Shells Been Loaded With Buckshot Many Would
Have Been Killed.
When Monroe Phillips, in gathering a pocketful of shells
yesterday morning and started out on his rampage, picked up a half dozen shells
loaded with small shot, he saved the lives of two or three other citizens,
though he doubtless did not realize it at the time.
It developed after the shooting that Phillips was firing both
buckshot and small shot, and a number of citizens were struck by the latter.
Among these was Dr. R.L. Fox. A few of these small shot struck him in
the neck and as he was not a great distance it is more than probable that had
the shell been loaded with buckshot he would have been killed or seriously
injured.
There were a number of other citizens who felt small shot [rest of
paragraph illegible].
Pg. 8 col. 4
MRS.
H.F. DUNWODY WAS AWAY ON PLEASURE TRIP
When her husband was shot to death by Monroe Phillips
yesterday morning, Mrs. H.F. Dunwody was on a pleasure trip with a party
of friends to Fernandina. She left the city about two hours before the tragedy,
and was en route to Fernandina when the shooting occurred. The tug Inca was at
once chartered and left shortly after noon. The party had reached their
destination, but Mrs. Dunwody and others returned on the Inca, arriving
in the city shortly after 6 o’clock.
MANY
AT MEETING AT CITY HALL YESTERDAY MORNING
The meeting held at the city hall yesterday morning for the purpose
of discussing better marketing conditions of Glynn county products, was largely
attended demonstrating that the people of the county are interested in this
matter.
The meeting was in progress when the awful tragedy occurred and
consequently the work was not completed.
HUNDREDS OF TELEGRAMS RECEIVED HERE YESTERDAY
Brunswick’s two telegraph offices were kept busy yesterday from the
minute of the awful tragedy until well after midnight. Telegrams of condolence
to bereaved families in the city were received from all sections of the country.
Press dispatches sent out during the day amounted to some five or
six thousand words. Georgia papers called for special stories on the awful
affair, while the Associated Press used a half dozen stories during the day.
Both of the offices rendered good service in handling the unusual rush.
The
Atlanta Constitution Journal (Atlanta, Georgia) Sunday 7 March
1915 pg. 1 col. 4 & pg. 4 col. 3
5 SLAIN, 32 WOUNDED, BY MAN
CRAZED BY BELIEF HE HAD BEEN VICTIMIZED—Monroe Phillips,
Declaring He Had Been Robbed of $25,000, Started Out to Kill Six
Whom He Had on List.—THREE OF THE WOUNDED IN BRUNSWICK TRAGEDY
ARE EXPECTED TO DIE—Harry F. Dunwoody, Wm. M. Hackett, E.M.
Deaver, L.C. Padgett and Geo. W. Asbell Were Killed—Slayer
Thought Unbalanced by Financial Reverses.
Brunswick, GA.,
March 6—(Special) Claiming that prominent Brunswick business men
had stolen $25,000 from him and declaring he had a list of six
whom he intended to murder, Monroe Phillips, a real
estate and timber dealer, armed with a automatic shotgun, ran
amuck for half an hour in the business district here today,
killed five citizens, wounded thirty-two and was himself shot
dead.
Of the wounded Gunner Tolnas, a bank
collector, A.M. Way and Ernest McDonald probably
will die.
THE DEAD:
HARRY F. DUNWOODY, prominent attorney
WILLIAM M. HACKETT, undertaker.
R.M. DEAVER, former policeman.
GEORGE W. ASBELL, motorman.
MONROE PHILLIPS, real estate and timber
dealer.
Among the more
seriously wounded are:
Ernest McDonald
Albert M. Way, real estate dealer.
L.J. Levy, Sr.
Sigmund Levison, merchant.
Gunner Tolnas, bank clerk.
Dr. R.L. Fox.
W.H. Berry, merchant.
Others wounded
are George H. Smith, cashier of the Brunswick Bank and
Trust company; Tom Ford engineer of the Southern railway;
W.O. Holt, an electrician; R.G. Jackson, an
insurance agent; Isaac Cohen, a collector; Jerry
Wilcher; T.H. Crumpler, a farmer; S.A. Ellardy,
employed by the Southern Express company.
CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY
The cause of
the shooting is gradually leaking out. The drama staged so
horribly has a background extending for several years. Recently
he has been suffering from the delusion that local people had
wronged him.
It is known that Phillips had been involved
in much litigation since his residence in Brunswick. A few days
ago he sold a lighter to Savannah parties and the purchase money
was tied up in attachments. Colonel Dunwoody represented
some of the claimants and an hour before the shooting
Phillips and Dunwoody discussed the matter over the
phone.
Phillips then took his shotgun and went out
for trouble. He had claimed to friends that prominent Brunswick
business men had stolen $25,000 from him, and he had a list of
six whom he intended to murder today.
WANTED TO SLAY OTHERS
After he had
killed two men he walked into the office of Albert Fendig
with the expressed purpose of murdering him, and also sought
R.E. Briesnick and others.
It was at the busiest hour of the day that
Phillips, carrying his shotgun walked into the office of
Colonel Dunwoody, on the second floor of a building in the
center of the business district. He fired two barrels into the
lawyer’s head, killing him instantly. Phillips then shot
Albert M. Way, who was in Dunwoody’s office.
The slayer walked down the stairs to the street
where several citizens, attracted by the shots, had gathered,
Phillips fired into the crowd, killing Padgett. He
then began shooting into a crowd of men who collected on the
opposite side of the street, wounding several citizens and
killing Asbell. Pedestrians began running to places of
shelter.
Phillips reloaded his gun as he walked to the
corner of Newcastle and Gloucester streets, and took up his
station in front of a drug store, where he began shooting at
every person who appeared on the street. Several persons
standing blocks away from the drug store were struck by stray
shots. Mr. Hackett was killed as he stepped from a
building onto the street.
Presently Policeman Deaver came running up to
the scene and began shooting at Phillips, who turned his
gun upon the officer and shot him dead. A bullet from the
policeman’s revolver, however, wounded Phillips.
PHILLIPS KILLED BY BUTTS
Mr. Butts,
who had been struck by a shot from Phillips’ gun, rushed
to a hardware store and, obtaining a pistol, began firing at the
crazed timber dealer. A bullet from the lawyer’s pistol finally
struck Phillips and he fell to the sidewalk, dying within
a few minutes.
When the shooting ended ambulances and automobiles
hurried the more seriously wounded to the hospital and all the
physicians in the city were called out to attend to them.
Phillips had been a resident of Brunswick
about twelve years and had been involved in considerable
litigation in local courts. It was stated he recently lost
considerable money in real estate transactions and had had
dealings with Mr. Dunwoody. He owned several tracts of
land near Macon.
Mr. Dunwoody was one of the most prominent
citizens of Brunswick. He at one time was mayor and also had
served in the Georgia legislature as a representative and a
state senator. He was a nephew of Justice S.C. Atkinson
of the state supreme court.
DUNWOODY WELL KNOWN IN
ATLANTA
Harry
Dunwoody was well known in Atlanta, having many relatives
here of prominence. He was a cousin of Judge Spencer R.
Atkinson who was informed Saturday by telegram of the
tragedy. He was born in 1863 and at one time practiced law in
Judge Atkinson’s law offices at Brunswick.
Fifteen years ago he served both as a member of the
house of representatives and the state senate. When Governor
Brown was the state’s executive he declined a place as judge
of the superior court of the Brunswick circuit to fill a
vacancy.
He married a daughter of George Walker one of
Savannah’s leading citizens. Other daughters married Reuben
R. Arnold and Hollins N. Randolph prominent Atlanta
attorneys.
PHILLIPS FROM MACON
Macon, Ga.
March 6—Monroe Phillips was formerly of Macon moving to
Brunswick recently. He owns considerable land near Macon.
TRAGEDY SHOCKS WAYCROSS
Waycross, Ga.
March 6—(Special) Friends of Col. H.F. Dunwoody, the
Brunswick attorney killed today by Monroe Phillips, were
shocked to learn of his tragic death. He was popular and well
liked here.
L.C. Padgett, former policeman also a victim
of Phillips, was a cousin of Police Captain A.P.
Padgett of Waycross.
The
Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Monday 8 March 1915; pg.
1 col. 5 & pg. 5 cols. 4 & 5
GLOOM OF TRAGEDY WRAPS
BRUNSWICK; SEVENTH VICTIM DIES—Ernest McDonald, Popular Young
Packer, Dies—Believed Gunner Tolnas and Others Will Recover.
Brunswick, Ga.
March 7—(Special.) Shrouded in gloom, Brunswick realized this
morning the awful extent of yesterday’s frightful tragedy in
which seven human lives were snuffed out in as many minutes.
Terror-stricken and under great excitement, the
awfulness of the horrible affair did not dawn upon the people of
this city until today, when hearses, winding their way through
public streets and avenues, carried to their last resting places
those of Brunswick’s dead who lost their lives only a few hours
before.
ERNEST McDONALD DIES
In twenty-five
other homes there suffer victims of the ruthless bullets, and in
the city hospital one other death occurred this morning, that of
Ernest McDonald, 25 years of age, well known and
popular. McDonald was an innocent bystander. He had
emerged from a barber shop, happy because only recently he had
been spared from a serious attack of pneumonia, in which he put
up a brave fight, lingered between life and death for weeks,
finally emerged a victor only to lay down his life at the crack
of Monroe Phillips’ gun. There was hope during the early
hours of the morning that McDonald might rally and all
that physicians and nursed could do was done to save him, but
all in vain, and shortly before 11 o’clock this morning he
passed away, leaving a young widow and two children, a boy and
girl.
Another patient at the city hospital, Gunner
Tolnas, the 21-year-old bank collector, who was shot while
riding his bicycle is still lingering and tonight physicians
announced that there appeared to be a little improvement and
some hope is now entertained for his recovery.
L.J. LEVY IS BETTER
L.J. Levy,
Sr., the aged confederate veteran who received one ugly
wound just under the shoulder and another in the chest, was
reported to be resting easy. Unless complications set in he
will recover.
Sigmund Levison, another of the seriously
injured, shows improvement.
A.H. Boyle, a member of city council,
received a bad wound in the chest. He jumped into an auto
immediately after he was shot and went to his home. It was
hours afterwards before it was known that Mr. Boyle had
even been wounded. His condition is not considered serious.
All of the other twenty or more people who were more
or less injured were reported to be improving today.
The body of young Officer Deaver was interred
this afternoon at his old home at Frederick [Frederica, St.
Simons Island].
William A. Hackett, the aged undertaker, was
buried in Oak Grove cemetery at 3 o’clock and his funeral was
attended by the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows and the
American Mechanics. He was a charter member of Rathbone lodge,
K. of P., and as a tribute of respect to him no hearse was used,
but members of his lodge carried the coffin bearing the remains
from his residence to the cemetery.
The funeral of George W. Asbell took place at
3 o’clock this afternoon his remains being interred in Palmetto
cemetery.
The body of L.C. Padgett was forwarded to his
former home some distance from the city for interment.
FUNERAL OF COLONEL DUNWOODY
Pending the
arrival of a brother from Colorado, arrangements for the funeral
of Colonel H.J. Dunwoody were not completed tonight. The
interment however will probably be tomorrow afternoon. Among
the kinsmen who arrived today to attend Mr. Dunwoody’s
funeral were Justice Samuel C. Atkinson of the Georgia
supreme court and Hon. Spencer P. Atkinson member of the
house from Fulton county uncles of the deceased. Reuben
Arnold and Hollis Randolph of Atlanta brothers-in-law
and others.
The body of Monroe Phillips author of the
city’s terrible tragedy will be buried here tomorrow afternoon.
It was intended to forward the body to Reids near Macon but the
arrangements were changed today.
The only new development in the tragedy today or
interest was the fact that an examination of Phillips
body showed that although the load of buckshot from the gun of
E.C. Butts brought him to the floor in Branch’s drug
store as he was preparing to reload his gun and fire that he
also was struck by three or four 32 caliber pistol balls. As
all police officers firing at him were shooting 38 caliber
pistols it was not known at first who had fired upon him with
the 32 revolver.
Ralph Minehan a young real estate dealer who
had seen Phillips shoot down three men had rushed to a
nearby hardware store secured a revolver and returned to the
drug store, entering by a side door and fired upon the blood
crazed man just a few seconds before Mr. Butts sent him
down with a load of buckshot.
ATLANTAN IN FUSILLADE
Blood flowing
from a wound in the cheek inflicted by a flying shot from the
gun of the maniacal author of Brunswick’s revolting tragedy,
S.A. Ellard division special agent of the Southern railway
[illegible] offices in Atlanta stood behind the barricade of a
post on the scene of the conflict and joined in the fusillade
that slew the madman.
Ellard in Brunswick on business had just
emerged from the barber shop on Newcastle street when he heard
the sound of the first gunshot in the Dunwoody office
upstairs. As he gazed upward seeking to locate its source he
heard other shots and presently saw the figure of Phillips
emerge from the stairway to the sidewalk.
The Atlanta man was standing in the crowd that had
gathered and into which McDonald [Phillips?] poured the
contents of his gun [illegible] and wounding innocent
bystanders. A number of buck shot lodged in Ellard’s
face. When Phillips backed down the street loading and
firing his gun Ellard ducked behind a telephone post
whipped on his revolver and joined in the fusillade that was
being rained upon the madman.
The immediate cause of the shooting it appears
though Phillips had planned to sooner or later arose over
a telephone conversation between Col. Dunwoody and
Mrs. Phillips early yesterday morning. Mr. Dunwoody
represented clients who had attached the proceeds from the sale
of a lighter several days ago, and Mrs. Phillips called
him over the phone to endeavor to settle the matter.
Mrs. Phillips later told her husband that
Mr. Dunwoody had insulted her by saying you and your husband
are trying to beat these people out of this. Phillips
[illegible] securing his shotgun and at least 50[?] cartridges
he started out to slay all whom he claimed had wronged him in
the past. Among these were Albert Fendig, prominent real
estate dealer and banker; A.M. Way who was badly injured,
R.F. Briesenick and others.
Hundreds of Brunswick citizens gathered around the
scene of the terrible tragedy today.
In almost every building for two blocks signs of
Phillips shooting was in evidence buckshot landing here and
there in show windows in door fronts and in telegraph poles
behind which many people sought safety.
McDONALD HAS RELATIVES HERE
Ernest
McDonald of 100 Albemarle street Brunswick was the sixth
victim of Monroe Phillips’ gun. Mr. McDonald
dying at 10:30 o’clock Sunday morning. Mr. McDonald was
31 years of age, and leaves a wife and two children. He also
leaves four brothers and one sister. He was in the meat packing
business with his father William N. McDonald and had a
number of relatives in Atlanta. Among them are his uncles
James McDonald, of the superior court; Frank McDonald
and Edward D. McDonald wholesale fruit and produce
dealers, his aunts, Mrs. Etta M. Fraser of 180 North
Jackson street, Mrs. Anna A. Parkhurst, of 1 Dickson
place, and their families.
Ernest McDonald was passing along the street
when Phillips began his shooting, and he was shot three
times. He was hurried to his home and given medical attention.
Mr. McDonald had only recovered from a severe attack of
pneumonia a couple of weeks, and was still convalescing having
not yet returned to his business. Edward D. McDonald,
wholesale fruit and produce dealer of 43 South Broad street, was
in Savannah on business connected with the Travelers Protective
association, and hurried to Brunswick, arriving there about an
hour before his nephew died. Ernest McDonald is to be
buried Monday in Brunswick.
The Brunswick News; Tuesday 9 March 1915; Pg. 1 col. 1
MCDONALD DIES FROM HIS WOUND; OTHERS IMPROVE—Gunner Tolnas and
A.M. Way Thought to Be Almost Out of Danger—SUNDAY A DAY OF FUNERALS—Last
Funeral, That of the Tragedy’s Principal, Will Take Place Today—City is Normal
Again
Brunswick is gradually recovering from the terrific shock of
Saturday’s tragedy and the casual observer of yesterday would never have thought
that such a bloody event had occurred only a few days before.
All of the funerals occurred in accordance with the information
given The News of Sunday morning, except that of Monroe Phillips, which
was to have occurred at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and which was postponed
until 10 o’clock this morning. All of the funerals were marked by large
concourses of people and by a wealth of floral remembrances, assuring the vital
interest on the part of the people in the city.
ERNEST McDONALD DIES—The saddest event transpiring was the death of Ernest
McDonald, which occurred at the city hospital Sunday morning. Little hope
had been held out for Mr. McDonald all along, due to the fact that he had
only recently recovered from a severe attack of pneumonia. He was a popular
young man, well known and of sterling character; he is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. W.A. McDonald, was engaged with the former in the meat packing
business and is survived also by a wife, two children and several brothers and
sisters. His untimely death caused universal sorrow, and the funeral from the
Presbyterian church yesterday afternoon was largely attended.
It will be recalled that Mr. McDonald received several
bullets, one of which broke a leg and the other penetrating the lungs, the
latter inflicting mortal wounds and was responsible for his death.
INJURED IMPROVING—Those who were seriously wounded were A.M. Way and
Gunner Tolnas. However, all during yesterday they were reported as being in
satisfactory condition, though still in danger. Mr. Tolnas was suffering
internally, while Mr. Way’s wounds, all of which were confined to his
face, were very painful and more or less dangerous. At a late hour last night
it was stated at the city hospital that both of these gentlemen were thought to
be out of danger and that unless some grave complications set in they had
already started on the road to recovery. This will be gratifying news, for both
of them were desperately wounded.
Sigmund Levison, who is also at the hospital, while suffering
considerable pain, is doing splendidly and is yielding to the treatment as
rapidly as could be expected. Mr. Levison received a portion of a load
of birdshot in the neck and face, but at no time was his condition critical.
Jere Wilcher, who received two or three buck shot in the back
of the neck, was so improved yesterday that later in the day he was permitted to
his home in New Town, from whence it was reported that he was doing well.
L.J. Leavy, Sr., who was perhaps more seriously wounded than
any of the others who received casual injuries, suffered a good deal during the
day. Dr. H.M. Branham, his physician, however, thinks he will recover
speedily and that it will not be necessary to remove the bullet.
Two or three of the others who were injured are still confined to
their homes, among them Alderman A.H. Boyle and Isaac Cohen. Both
of these gentlemen, however, were reported to be improving.
Pg. 1 col. 2
DR.
G.W. BLANTON STOOD IN DOOR AND SAW SHOOTING—HE SAYS PHILLIPS WOULD SHOOT ONLY
ONE BARREL AND THEN RELOAD HIS BIG TEN-GAUGE SHOTGUN
Dr. G.W. Blanton, city hospital surgeon, who has, of course,
been one of the busiest men in Brunswick since Saturday morning, was one of the
closes men to Monroe Phillips when he did all of the shooting Saturday
morning, and he saw him fire many shots.
“I was in my office in the Kress building when the shooting
started,” said Dr. Blanton yesterday to a News representative. “At
first, I thought it was an automobile tire and paid little attention to it.
Then I heard two more shots. I started down the steps leading to Newcastle
street and was met by C.H. Sheldon, who warned me not to go on the
sidewalk, stating that Phillips was shooting everybody in town. I came
on down to the foot of the stairs, and, looking down the street, saw him
leveling his big, ugly-looking gun. I stepped back and as I did I heard a
report of the gun. I heard Phillips saying, “I’ll get you, you ——.’ I
stood in the doorway and saw Officer Barnes, at Wood-Bailey’s corner,
firing at Phillips. After he had fired, I should say about two shots,
Phillips swung toward him, “I see you, — you,’ and, leveling the gun at him,
fired. Barnes darted around the corner. Then Phillips shot three
or four times in every direction.”
Dr. Blanton says he stood in the doorway and he thought that
possibly after Phillips had fired both barrels he and others could run up
an overpower him before he could re-load his gun. “But every time he would only
shoot once,” continued the physician. “He would shoot once, break his gun and
place one shell, therefore it would have been impossible for him to have been
overpowered. After shooting until he had practically cleared the streets I saw
him go into Branch’s drug store. Then I stepped out on the sidewalk. It was
then young Deaver arrived on the scene, and it is my belief that the
officer was shot while crossing Gloucester street. I saw him endeavoring to
shoot through Branch’s window, and he looked to me as though he was then
wounded. He fired two or three times, then I heard a loud report from
Phillips’ gun and the brave young officer tumbled over on the sidewalk. It
was just a second later when I heard three or four pistol shots and then one
report of a shot-gun and the firing ceased.”
Pg. 1 col. 3
WANTED TO ASK PHILLIPS WHO WAS SHOOTING—TELEGRAPH OPERATOR WAS IN FEW FEET OF
HIM AND DID NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS ON RAMPAGE
O.C. Gilbert, operator at the office of the Postal Telegraph
Company, was probably nearer to Monroe Phillips while he was on his
murderous rampage Saturday morning than any other man, and it was not realized
by the operator even at the time that Phillips was doing all the shooting
but rather he though that he had secured the shotgun and was after a murderer.
Gilbert was in the office, which adjoins the office of
Albert Fendig & Co. He heard the shots upstairs but did not leave the
office at the time. Later, after Padgett had been killed and after
Phillips had gone into the office of Mr. Fendig, Gilbert came
to the door. The rapid-firing had temporarily ceased then. When he reached the
door Phillips was standing not over ten feet from him and was in the act
of loading his gun. Mr. Gilbert stated yesterday that he was sure that
Phillips had joined in a chase for the murderer. In a second Officer
Barnes opened fire from up the street. The operator said he then thought
that some one, hidden, was trying to shoot Phillips. He did not know
Phillips at the time. “I was just about to ask Phillips who was
doing all the shooting when he turned towards me. I jumped back in the office
and heard the discharge of a gun, and I have learned later that it was this shot
that struck T.B. Burns. I then rushed in the back of the office and
remained there until the shooting was over. When I went into Branch’s drug
store and learned that it was the big man who was doing the shooting, I was not
only surprised but frightened to death. In a second I would have addressed him,
and even after I rushed to the rear of our office I thought he was one of the
men who was trying to shoot or apprehend the murderer.”
[Spanning columns 4 & 5 is a photo of Eustace C. Butts with the following
caption—AH]
EUSTACE C. BUTTS—Mr. Butts was in the midst of Saturday’s tragedy.
He realized that Monroe Phillips was blood-crazed, ready to shoot anybody
who appeared in sight, and the quick work of Mr. Butts, who fired in an
effort to shoot Phillips’ gun out of his hands, unquestionably saved the
lives of a number of people.
Pg. 1 col. 4
NO
MEETING HELD BY CITY COUNCIL—SOLONS ADJOURNED OUT OF RESPECT TO H.F. DUNWODY,
FORMER MAYOR
Brunswick’s city council met last night and, after passing
resolutions deploring his death, adjourned out of respect to the late Hon.
H.F. Dunwody, at one time mayor of the city. During the short meeting,
however, resolutions were also passed on the death of young R.N. Deaver,
who also lost his life in Saturday’s tragedy in the discharge of his duty.
The two resolutions passed by council follow:
Whereas, on Saturday, March 6, 1915, in a tragedy, during which a
number of estimable citizens were wounded and several killed, including Hon.
H.F. Dunwody, who served this city with conspicuous ability for two terms as
the mayor.
Therefore be it resolved by the mayor and council of the city of
Brunswick, that the meeting adjourn in respect to his memory and the flags of
the city buildings be half masted until after the funeral services.
RESOLUTION BY MAYOR HOPKINS—Whereas, in the discharge of his duty as a
police officer of the city of Brunswick, R.N. Deaver, a policeman of the
city, did bravely risk and nobly sacrifice his life in an effort to protect our
citizens from the unfortunate tragedy that took place on Newcastle street on
last Saturday morning, the 6th day of March, 1915, and although a young man of
only twenty-one years of age and only a few weeks in the service of the city,
for greater fidelity[?] but [illegible] than he lay down his life in the
discharge of his duty.
Therefore, be it resolved, by the mayor and aldermen of the city of
Brunswick in council assembled, that the [my copy is illegible—AH].
The
Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Tuesday 9 March 1915;
pg. 5 col. 1
DUNWOODY FUNERAL HELD AT
BRUNSWICK—Last Sad Rites Over the Remains of Prominent Attorney,
One of Phillips’ Victims.
Brunswick, Ga.
March 8—(Special)—Better tidings came tonight from the bedside
of those in the city hospital victims of Monroe Phillips’
bloody work of Saturday morning.
Gunner Tolnas the young bank collector who
has been making a brave fight for life holding on through Sunday
and Sunday night by a mere string was reported slightly improved
tonight. Although his condition is still critical physicians
stated that he had about an even chance to recover.
WAY WILL LOSE AN EYE
A.M. Way
who was shot in Attorney Dunwoody’s office is considered
almost out of danger though it is positive that he will lose his
right eye. Mr. Chisholm the Savannah specialist who came
to the city in response to a summons from the Way family
has returned to Savannah without completing the operation
stating that Mr. Way was too weak to stand it at
present. He will return to the city later in the week.
L.J. Levy, Sr. was reported a little improved
though on account of his advanced age the full extent of his
injury has not yet been determined.
None of the twenty others who were struck by buck
shot are in a serious condition.
Brunswick has not yet fully recovered from the
terrible tragedy and but little business was carried on in the
city today. Crowds continued to gather around Branch’s drug
store where the shooting occurred and discuss the tragedy.
Those who have studied the shooting are now positive
that Rex Deaver the young police officer who engaged in
the duel with Phillips and lost his life was mortally
wounded before he reached the front of the drug store or before
he ever fired a shot. As he came running across the street it
is now believed Phillips fired upon him but Deaver
did not stop going right into Phillips’ big ten gauge
gun. Another load fired at him sent him to the side walk. The
young officer however held the bloodthirsty man in the drug
store for at least three minutes and by so doing unquestionably
saved the lives of many people.
FUNERAL OF HARRY DUNWOODY
The funeral
services of Harry F. Dunwoody were held this afternoon at
10 o’clock at the residence and the body was forwarded to
Savannah where interment will take place tomorrow at noon in
Bonaventure cemetery. The remains were accompanied only by
relatives and the funeral tomorrow will be private.
To attend the funeral and burial of Harry F.
Dunwoody a number of prominent people of Atlanta relatives
of the slain man left the city Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Dunwoody had many relatives in Atlanta.
Mr. Reuben Arnold wife of the well known attorney is a
sister of Mrs. Dunwoody who was Miss Scotia Walker
of Savannah another sister of Mrs. Dunwoody is Mrs.
Hollins Randolph wife of the prominent attorney. R.G.
Dunwoody the druggist of 780 Piedmont avenue is also a
brother to the dead man.
He was also a cousin of Judge Spencer Atkinson
and Judge Samuel C. Atkinson of the supreme court. He
was one of the best known men in south Georgia. Years ago he
represented Glynn county in the state legislature and also in
the senate. He was born in Meriwether county in 1863.
The
Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Wednesday 10 March 1915;
pg. 7 col. 5
EIGHTH VICTIM DIES IN
BRUNSWICK TRAGEDY—Gunner Tolnas, Bank Clerk, Dies of Wounds
Inflicted by Monroe Phillips.
Brunswick, Ga.,
March 9—Gunner Tolnas, a bank clerk, among those shot by
Monroe Phillips, who ran amuck in the business district
here last Saturday, died of his wounds today. Tolnas’
death was the eighth in connection with the tragedy.
Phillips was shot down by a citizen after he had killed five
persons and wounded thirty-two others.
Tolnas, 21 years of age, was collector for
the Brunswick Bank and Trust company. He was across the street
Saturday morning when Monroe Phillips was on his rampage,
and was struck as he was making for the drug store of Hatcher &
Josy. He was hit by five buckshot and fell to the ground right
under the feet of L.J. Leavy, who was wounded by the same
load. Tolnas was one of the most popular young men in
the city. His younger brother, Paul, only a short time
ago lost his life in an accident here at the plant of the Yaryan
Naval Stores company.
All except five of those wounded in Saturday’s
tragedy are now able to be out, and these five are reported much
improved.
Monroe Phillips was buried here this morning.
The Brunswick News;
Thursday 21 June 1917; Pg. 1 col. 6
WIDOW OF MONROE PHILLIPS WEDS SAMUEL J. BRADY
Mrs. Ophelia R. Phillips, of Thalman, and
Samuel J. Brady, of Allapaha, were married Monday evening at the rectory of St.
Patrick's church by Rev. J. O'Hara. After the ceremony Mr. and
Mrs. Brady left
for Lakeland and Tampa, Fla. On their return they will reside at Thalman.--Savannah
News.
The bride is an excellent woman and has many
friends in Brunswick and elsewhere. She is the widow of the late Monroe
Phillips, who is well remembered in Brunswick. The groom has been in the
mercantile business near Thalman for some time, and is a man of excellent
character.
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