North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-01-25
A Deserter Shoots a Provost Marshal In
Bradford County.

Bradford County.
On Tuesday night, Jan. 10, warrants were
issued by Justice Bogart for the arrest of
Isaac Acla, Margaret Acla. his wife, Betsy
Acla. his mother, and young nan by the
name of Joseph Vargerson, charged upon the
complaint of Owen Finlan, of this place, with
killing bis brother, John Finlan. The war
rant was returned on Tuesday with all but
Isaac Ac!a arrested and brought up for hear
ing. The foilowing are the material facts
and circums tanses as brought out upon ex-
animation:
On Tuesday morning, Owen Finlan, accom-
panied by his brother John Flnan, young
man about eighteen years OF age, went witt
authority frorn the Provost Marshal oc this
District to ths house Of Isaac Acla, in Asy
lun township, to arrest SAID Acla as de-
serter. 1t appeared that Acla had been
drafted but refused TO report. They found
Acla in the Blacksmith shop at work Upon
their going into the shop, Acla warned them
to stand back, that he would not be aiken
alive. The young men drew their revol7ers.
| They exhibited to him their authority for hi.
arrest. There was at this time another per-
son there by the name OF VanierpooI. About
this time Acas mother and wife came to the
! shop--the old woman was very much excited
and used threatening language After con
siderable alteration AcIa alleged that he bad
papers to clear him from arrest, which were
in his chest at his house. 4 part of the
house is occupied by Acla and pa,t by his
mother. AcIa proceeded to his part as If to
hunt for his papers, and was Immediately
| followed by Owen Finlan. He proceeded to
bedroom and commenced to search in
chest, Ovens suspicious were aroused tina:
Ac|a was searching for pistol and immedi
atcly caught hold Of HIM and pulled him
away fIom the chest and began to examine
| it himself At this time the old woman had
come into the bedroom. Owen was clinched
| by Acla aud his Mother and severe st:ug-
| gle took plact, Owen irving all the time I"
use his pistol to shoot Acia. In the struggle
! Owen was severely beaton upon the head and
| face by the old woman with a stick of wood
and kicked and pounded .by Acla SO that h.
was overPOwerad and the pistol taken from
him. 1t appears from the evidence Of thr
man Nanderpool who remained in the from;
room, or the old woman's part. throughuu.
the whole affair, that john Finlan and Ac!a',
| wife follow el Acia and his mother and Owen
into the back room or kitchen that whr,
| the contest was going on between Owen. Ac
Ia, and his mother, he saw John trying to go
to assist Owen, and Aca's wife trying to
prevent him. that, he sron saw John and Ac
las wife in a cinch coming through the door
of he backrnom into the frontroom where l.,
was, that she pushed hm our with apparent
ease and threw him ont of the front door into
the road and shut the door, that Jnhn ir
moment or two broke into the room again
and soon after went out that he did no,
discover that John was hurt about the head
or bleeding that when he came og. Of The
| back room with AcaS wife he had no pistol
in his hand, hat he did not see her strik,
John, Soon after john was put out Owen
got loose aud hurried out to find John, anc
| discovered HIM standing in the road short
| distance from the house that he made in
qury Of. John a bout his pistol and about III,
injuries, as he was bleed,ug profuscly from
wound or wounds in the fjro part Of hi>
head. lie answered that the women that
got his pistol struck him. Soon after he told
Owen that the women that got his piston
struck him with a stove lid. john starred
to go to house about a hall mile eff 10 ge'
his head dressed. Owen soon after followed
| him with his horse and cutter. After john
head was dressed they started for hcme. a
! short time alter John became inseDsble and
continued so until they arrived at home
| Physicians were called Immediately. He
| continued irsensibe nnul about 8 O'Clock y
m, and died. An inquisition was held upon
| the body by Justice ,g4rt and Jury, and
a finding was rendered according to the iacts
At the examination of the Defendants before
| the Justice the two women were committed
to anSwer-the young man Vergerson was
| discharged. Tne man Isaac Aca escaped
and has not been arrested yet. We under
stand that bail has been received fer the two
men in the sum OF $S3,000.-BrQd. Deporter
| The New Draft,