Frank M Brown and Benjamin
J Phillips
Kentucky Post, Monday, 26 October 1903, page 1
Fifteen minutes after he had bid a fond goodbye to his wife, Frank Brown, 43, was brought home to her a corpse, a bullet in his breast. Benjamin J Phillips, 52, night watchman on the bridge had also just left his wife when she received word that he was in the Newport jail charged with murder. Both women were wild with grief. Brown, who is well known in Cincinnati and Newport, had been regularly employed on the bridge six months. He was a carpenter who gave up outdoor work so as to be near his home.
Phillips, of 513 Columbia Street, Newport, is a cooper. He had been night watchman several weeks. Friction had arisen between the men and both were told to meet the officers of the bridge at the headquarters at the Newport end of the structure at 5 pm on Saturday. The men encountered each other and after a few quick, sharp words, grappled. A shot was fired and Collector Ed Berry ran in, finding the men struggling for the possession of the weapon.
Berry snatched the pistol, shoved Phillips into another room and supported Brown. "Ed, I'm shot" the latter gasped as he sank into Berry's arms. He died before the arrival of Dr. Shaler Berry and Dr. Virgil Baker. He had been shot directly in the heart.
Phillips, who remained upon the scene until arrested by Officer Benke, claims self-defense. He says he was struck several times by Brown and then whipped out his pistol and fired. He shows three bruises on the face and head to sustain his claim that these injuries were caused before the shot was fired. The wife's father, J A Mitchell of Portsmouth O. arrived Sunday. Brown's death is all the more pathetic on account of the great love his wife bore him and their daughter, Nellie, 12.
Dr. David Brown of Persimmon Grove, Campbell County, is a brother of the slain man. The funeral takes place Tuesday at Portsmouth O.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 5 November 1903, page 5
Coroner M Higgins, Wednesday, in Newport, held an inquest on the death of Frank M Brown, who was killed on the Central Bridge by Policeman Ben Phillips on Oct 24. The jury was composed of John Borches, J A Winter, John J White, George Senior, John Murphy and George Kuechler. The verdict was as follows:
"We find that Frank Brown came to his death by a gunshot wound inflicted by a revolver in the hands of one Benjamin F Phillips, Oct 24, 1903." According to the evidence Brown provoked the quarrel and Phillips shot him. It was also shown that Brown struck the first blow.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 24 February 1904, page 5
The killing of Frank Brown by Ben Phillips occurred in Newport Oct 24. After being out about 10 minutes the jury in the trial of Ben Phillips, charged with the killing of Frank Brown, returned a verdict of not guilty, on the first ballot. The prisoner was overjoyed at the news and his crippled son, who watched the trial eagerly embraced his father over the glad tidings and both thanked the jury.
The arguments in the trial were made by four attorneys Wednesday morning and the case was given to the jury. Howard Benton for Phillips, made a forcible argument on the basis of self defense. The killing occurred Oct 24 on the Central Bridge over a trivial matter. The Secretary had called the men to his office over some talk that collectors were remaining on duty longer than was necessary. The lie was passed and Brown said, "I'll kill you" at the same time striking Phillips, who pulled a revolver. Both men fought for the gun, the ball passing through Brown's heart killing him instantly.