Sensation was caused in Rushden yesterday (Thursday) by the news of the tragic death of Mr. Louis Franz Phillips, of Wellingborough-road, Rushden, of the well-known drapery firm of Messrs. L. Phillips and Sons, High-street.

  Between 2.30 and 3 p.m. Mr. Phillips was discovered with his throat cut in the bathroom at his residence. Mrs. Phillips and a maid were the only other persons in the house at the time. Mrs. Phillips had gone upstairs, and on coming down again she could not find her husband. Owing to the fact that for the past twelve months Mr. Phillips had suffered from depression and insomnia (being under the care of a doctor), Mrs. Phillips was alarmed. She found that the bathroom door was locked from the inside, and hastily summoned assistance.  Mr. Gray, gardener for Mr. Harris opposite, tried to force the door, a doctor being summoned meantime.  An entry into the bathroom was effected just as the doctor and Mr. Leslie Phillips, younger son of the deceased (who had been at the shop), arrived.

  A shocking sight met their eyes, Mr. Phillips’s throat having been severely cut with a razor.  At the time he was not dead, and everything that medical skill could do to save him was done, but he died at ten minutes past seven in the evening.  Mr. Stanley Phillips, the elder son, who is on holiday in Belgium, was sent for immediately, but unfortunately he is not expected until to-night.

  None of the family had the slightest idea that Mr. Phillips would commit such an act, and the shock of the happening was very intense.  Mr. Phillips was in his normal health in the morning and ate quite a good dinner.

  Besides the widow, two sons, Mr. Stanley Phillips and Mr. Leslie Phillips and one little daughter are left to mourn their loss.

  The deceased gentleman was a well-known figure about the town, and he was a popular sportsman.  He was a member of the old Thursday Cricket Club, the Town Tennis Club, the Town Bowling Club, and the local golf club, among the membership of which he had made many friends.

  For more than 30 years Mr. Phillips had been the head of the Rushden drapery firm bearing his name, though he was a native of Nottingham.  He was 54 years of age.  An inquest has been arranged for to-day.  It is reported that the late Mr. Phillips had expressed an intention of going to Northampton yesterday afternoon with his wife.

The Inquest

  At the inquest to-day a verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane” was recorded.

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23^rd September 1927.

Rushden Residents Sad Death - The Late Mr. Louis Phillips.

Tributes At The Funeral

  Mr. J.T. Parker, Divisional Coroner, conducted an inquest at the Oakley Inn, Rushden, last Friday afternoon on the tragic death (fully reported in last week’s Rushden Echo) of Mr. Louis Franz Phillips, head of the well-known drapery firm of Messrs. Phillips and Sons, High-street, Rushden.

  Leslie Phillips, of The Poplars, Wellingborough-road, Rushden, younger son of the deceased, said his father was 54 and was a draper.  Witness said he last saw his father all right at his home at 1.15 at lunch.  He was eating a good meal.  At 3.30 p,m. witness was called from the shop, the message stating that the bathroom door was locked.  When witness got home the doctor had arrived and the door had been opened.  Witness’s father had been greatly depressed through insomnia for the last two years.  His father had never threatened to take his life as far as witness knew.  There were no messages left by his father.

  Charles Gray, a gardener, of 4 Higham-road, said he was called to The Poplars about 3.15 on Thursday.  He tried to get into the bathroom by the door.  Not being able to do so, witness got in by the window.  Mr. Phillips was sitting in the chair.  Witness unlocked the door and let in the doctor.

  Dr. McCabe said he was called to the house about 3.45 p.m. on Thursday.  The bathroom door was still locked when he got there, and he was let in by Gray.  Deceased was sitting in the chair with self-inflicted wounds in the throat.  He was partly conscious.  He had a razor in his right hand.  There was just a chance of his getting better;  so witness got him to bed.  When witness left he thought Mr. Phillips was rallying.  There was not a vital organ injured, and the wounds were not necessarily fatal.  Witness called again at about 7 p.m., and Mr. Phillips had just died.  The cause was probably more due to shock than haemorrhage – he was not a strong man.  Deceased had been attended for depression at different times.  There had never previously been signs of suicidal tendency.

  The Coroner recorded a verdict that the deceased committed suicide while of unsound mind.

The Funeral

took place on Monday, the Rector (the Rev. P.E. Robson, R.D.) officiating. The family mourners were Mr. Stanley Phillips, Mr. Leslie Phillips (sons), Mr. H. Phillips (brother), Mr. A. Bird (brother-in-law), Mr. Ross Phillips, Mr. Eddie Phillips (nephews), Mr. Schwarz (uncle), Mr. S. Young, and Mr. Bert Sanders (friends).

  The Rushden Chamber of Trade was represented by the president (Mr. J. Roe) and the following members: Messrs. C.A. Hedley, H. Cartwright, W. Tomlinson, J.J. Clark, G. Haigh, C. Bailey, W. Roe, G.W. Battersby, A.G. Larkinson, C.H. Blunsom, E. Warren, J.F. Knight, W.P. Orrell, H.Ellis, J. Nix, and Walton and Mrs. Ward (representing Mr. C.G. Ward, who was indisposed). The Rushden Choral Society (of which Mr. Phillips was a vice-president) was represented by Messrs. A. Wilmott (president), William Wright (conductor), Leonard V. Elliott (secretary), and A Stanley Knight (treasurer).  Others present were Mr. W. L. Beetenson (Bowling Club), Dr. Greenfield, and Messrs. F. W. Burchell (Kettering), S. Spears (Manchester), E. Fowler (of the Rushden staff of Messrs. Phillips), T. W. Cox, C. J. Newton, W. W. Rial, O. A. H. Muxlow, A. Warren, F. S. Knight, C. Putnam, W. H. Pingstone, H. S. Gates, C. Catling, R. Sanders, W. H. Saint, G. E. Dunkley, W. Packwood, sen., C. White, and A. Wright.

  There were wreaths from : The wife and children, Leslie, and Joan; Stanley and Ena; Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Young, Wellingborough; Esme and Betty, Wellingborough; Ross and Elsie; Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Cox; Mr. and Mrs. Peck and family;  Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Archer; Floss and uncle; Nellie and Annie; Fred and family, Margaret, Audrey and John, Bromsgrove; From all at Wilberforce; Mr. and Mrs. Pingstone and family; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Woodward and family; The staff; Mrs. C. W. Penn and Bessie; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Harris; Mr. and Mrs. H. A. York and E. M. Usher; Mr. and Mrs. C. Bailey and Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Denton; Misses Mobbs; Lewis and Laurie Ball, Crawley; L. A. Wing; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Knight; Mr. and Mrs. E. Warren and family; Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Hedley; Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Battersby; Misses Watson; Billy, Jet, and Greg; Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Roberts; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Sanders and family; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Chamberlain and family; Mary and family, Halesowen; Mr. H. Bester and family; Mr. and Mrs. J. Roe; Members of the Rushden Town Bowling Club; Rushden Choral Society; Mr. and Mrs. Bull; Mr. and Mrs. Burchell, Kettering; and Bert, Minnie, and Eddie.

  Mrs. Phillips and family offer their sincere thanks to all who have sent messages of sympathy in their great bereavement, and also for the beautiful wreaths. Will friends please accept this acknowledgment, as it is impossible to reply to each one individually.