The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-08-10
WHO THE MURDERER Is.

Il
telegraphic columns, is given in the IN
quircr, Of that place.
John z. Reed, Sr., an old citizen OF
this borough, and formerly prothonotary
of this county, are charged with the CON-
mission of this heinous crime. John z.
Reed, Jr, directly after the breaking out
of the Rebellion, visited Canada and
studied law in the Office of a Canadian
barrister. While there he was drafted.
The general impression among all classes
in this community was that he had gone
to Canada to avoid the military service OF
the United States.
Immediately after President Lincoln
issued his proclamation giving delin
quents until certain date to report, his
friends got permission to pay commuta-
ton for bin, and in a short time there
after be returned to this place. Mengel
Reed, in the latter part of June, 1868, in
company with Brinton Lyon, went to Nc
Connellsburg, Fulton county, in time to
join, or as his friends alledge, to be press
ed into the Rebel service. He was cap
tured by our men at the battle of Gettys
burg and confined at Fort Delaware,
where he was found by his friends, and
efforts made to secure his release, which
were successful.
The evidence in favor of his having
gone into the Rebel service voluntarily
was so strong that few persons, if any,
doubted it. This being the case he was
| Cd
ed as such by Union men. For the last
two years he has spent the greater part
of his time in Philadelphia studying med
icine, only returning here at intervals of
several months to spend few days. He
returned here on the Sd of July last, and
he was notified by some of the returned
soldiers to leave in a few hours. The
soldiers, were however, prevailed upon
not to molest him, and be has remained
frem that time until the present.
On last Saturday afternoon, as Jacob
Grouse passed the Mengel House, Mengel
Reed was standing in front of it on the
sidewalk. Mr. Grouse remarked, " How
are you, Johnny ?" and passed on. As
he crossed the alley north of the hotel he
heard Reed call to him to stop and he
would cane him. Grouse halted and told
him that he would not need to 60 any
further to do it than just there. At this
point John =. Reed, Jr., ran in and struck
Grouse. A scuffle ensued, in which
Grouse and Reed were precipitated to the
ground with the advantages in favor of
Reed. The friends Of Reed rallied to the
spot to the number of ten to one, and
readily assisted him to maintain any ad-
vantage that he might have acquired, but
the moment Grouse began to recover then
they were separated.
Grouse told the writer of this article
that he was kicked a number of times by
Reeds friends, and that he was under
the impression that he had been hit once
with cane. While the affair was in
progress, cries appeared to come from all
sides, " Now you've got him, kill him !'
" Kill the - son Of a -"' The
result was heralded as a triumph for the
Reeds. About nine o'clock the same
evening as Schell Reed was passing the
Western Union Telegraph Office, Grouse
mistook him for his brother, John ?.
Reed, Jr, and attacked him. The latter
came to the assistance of his brother, but
finding the quarters decidedly too hot, he
beat hasty retreat, while the other was
let off with very little injury
Here the matter rested until last Tues
day morning. the lst Of August. Grouse
it appears, had given over all idea of any
further difficulty. In conversation that
morning with his wife he expressed his
regrets at what had passed, stating that
if he had to do it over again he would
not do it. He expressed himself as being
very sorry that he had mistaken Schell
Reed for his brother, but, said he, " it is
all over now, there will be no more of it."
He came down the street, and as he pass
ed Mann's corner he met his murderer.
We present the facts elected before the
Coroner's inquest.
A few words passed between them.
Grouse took off his coat and threw it on a
post near by. Reed reached to his side
and presented a pistol. Grouse reached
for and obtained two stones, and for
lOhNu0 lcSdiueu inc movements OF MS
antagonist. In the meantime Reed had
cooked his pistol Grouse hesitating no
onger, threw stone, striking Reed on
he hip, and in moment more Reed aim
I'd and discharged his pistol, and Grouse
ank to the earth and expired in few
minutes. Mengel Reed appears to have
'een on the alert, and hurried to the
Gene of action with stone in his hand.
which he poised to throw in case Grouse
hould attempt to rise.
Holding it in this position several see |
nds and finding that Grouse could not [
ecover, he hurried away. A large crowd G
ssembled at once and demanded the sur /
cnder of the perpetrators of this horrible u
rlme, and they were promptly surren- o
cred to the authorities, and lodged in h
al to await their trial, or to escape, as |!
e learn they have not been put in irons d
Inc half the cul prits confined in the iail
'r the last three years have escaped, and
e cannot oXnect creator afort 70 ro |