The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-10-03
Murder in Sussex County, N. J.

Murder in Sussex County, N. J.
John Cruver, of Sandyston township
was brought here on Monday morning b.
constable John Drake, and placed in iht
County Jail, charged with the murdero o.
Allen Skcllioger, Oo Sunday Afternoon
last, iu the eastern part of Sandysbr
to~uship. The facts aud circuu>tane:
attending the murder are substantially IS
folloGs:
A girl named Paugb "a sister OF .All,n
Skclinger's Nife) mate her home a: tie
house OF deceased, and was occasional J
employed there as a domestic. On SUI
dsy morning last she went to the house
Of John CrHvcr, ore or two niles distant
and while there, young nau called and
proposed that she should work for lis
father. The terms he offered being &c.
certable, she said that ii Cruvcr and lis
wife would accompany Der, she would 90
10 Skeliinger's in the afternoon, and get
her clothes, and return with item, and
be ready to go With the you0s mau when
he should call for her. They coDscn ntei
and Cruver, thinking be might procure
some game on the way. took his gun and
dog With him When pear Mr. Skelii.g
er's house, Cruvcr and wife stopped. and
let the girl go ou alone. She went to
tie house, packed up a bundle of wearip z
apparel, and had jast left the house, W hen
Skelliuser saw Cruver and his wife BOT
far from the house lie said that it
~ould Sc improper for the girl to 60 with
Cruyer. whose reputation vas bad, aud
gbose house was a resort fer inmoIai
yeFsops. Mrs s. at once saw the propri-
sty Of restraining her sister, and accord
ly followed her. Coming up With her,
she urged her to stay at boue. CruTer
and bis Eifc tbcp cage forward, and took
g part 10 the conver,stion CTuver soon
became violent, and threate eDinE first to
kick aud afterwards to shoot Mrs. Skel-
linger. Hearing high word.. Allen Skel-
linger, came out Of the house with an liz
fant in his arms, aud walkcd 10 tbe direo-
tion Of Cruver. ard told bin be would
not allow bin to use such language to his
wife at the same time ordering bin to
leave bis premises. Cruver refu-e5 to 20,
and swore that if Mr. s. attempted to
force bin Of. be would shoot him Skel-
lcnger i'm wedistely plased the iDfsDt OF
the grass, and advancing in front of Cru
yer told him to "shoot sBd be dam bed. "
lie had no weapon in bis hands, nor did
be make auy hostile gesture. He advan-
ced like one who bad no fsith in his ad =
Vcrsarys threat, and was simply putting
HIN to the test. But he was terribly de-
ccyed in ihe character of tie desperate
be confronted. Cruver raised his gun,
took sure aim, and free the whole charge
into bis left breast The unfortunate
man pitched forward. and would have
fallen against Cruver. had not the latter
pushed him aside. Whirlirg around,
With his arms wildly fang out. be grasp
cd bis wife, who cauRh; hia in ber arus.
aud let bin gently sink to the ground
And there, giving few gaspe, he died,
not utteriug a word after receiving the
fatal charge. This occurred about 4 o.
clock in the afternoon.
Turning from the bloody scene, Cfu5er
skulked away. About a mile distant. be
entered tbe house Of Martiu Rutsn, and
toli the latter 10 prescuee Of bis two
sons, that be had shot and killed Alien
Skellin2er, being compelled to Go SO 10
self defence. Mr. Rutau could not cred
it the ststencut; but Cruger reiterated it,
and as proof or the fact, showed where
the blood of bis Fictin had spirited upon
bis hands and clothing. Cruver said
further that be intended to 60 back to
Skellinger's--a course which Mr.. Ratan
approved; and By way of making it sure,
be aud bis sons tied him. and accompa-
MED him to the scene of the murder.
In the evening, Messrs. Young end
Hursb, Justices of the Peace, with many
other citizens, repaired to the house oi
the murdered usn, and jury of inquest
being impsneled, testimony was taken,
apd a verdict rendered charging CruTer,
with the CON mission of the murder. He
was placed in the hands Of Constable
Drake, who brought him to Newton and
gave him into the custody of the Sheriff
Cruver is a stoutly built nan of nedi'
un height. and about 30 years of age
Skellinger was about 26 years old-o!
industrious habits, and enjoyed a good
reputation among bis neighbOrs.- SusSea
Register, 20th.