New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-07
TERRIBLE Tragedy IN PORT JERVIS.
A MAN SHOT DEAD IN HIS OWN STORE.

A MAN SHOT DEAD IN his OWN STORE
About 81 o'clock on Thursday evening the |
citizens Of Port Jervis startled by the intelligence
that one of the and most respected business men
OF the village Mr. Alexander swnton, had been shot
dead by Warren Fellows peddler who for many years
has trayersed that section OF the country ana whose
reckessness and violence when under the influence OF
Uouor are proyerbal. An eager and excited crowd |
ocked to the scene Of the ARRAY, and found that the
worst reports realized, and that the muuere hau
himself been nearly sent to his final account by son Oh
the murdered Mr.. Swlnton was Ga years OF age
native of Scotland and the head Of the weknoWn urn
Of swntOn & Sons hardware dealers on FrohtSI
He leaves a large family, but has no wire nVlnB
Warren Fellows peddcr Of cigars and other articles
and has driven wagon round this part Of the country
for many years He very generally known throughout
large Of country, and was considered clever
fellow" except when intoxicated, when his turbulence
had led him into many alterations at qnerent times anu
places He is of Vermont about 40 years OF age
and has resided this place from II 20 Is years The cir
cumstances Of the affair are substantially follows Eel
lows went into SwntOn Sons store. and on account OF
some lhGeeen' FS became incensed and without any
further prOyOcatiOn drew revolver ana nreu at MT
swntO1i the sr 6Sn mE wiaton fen to the floor
and expired In about half an hour son OF r FoW
two blows upon the head, producing severe nos iat
| wounds Fellows walked away after the anray, ana
went 10 the Fowler House, where he sank exhausted
from OF blood Physicians were sent Tor, VINO e1'
| tnred and that piece lodged under the skull
Chloroform administered aud the section OF sknu
form Follows perfectly sensible although he processes
o1 sbSe EXCURSION on the day of the murder had
doubtless been drinking freely although me companions
was in quiet and rational state, although the physicians
think his recovery doubtful. A., s.,.
Az soon as convenient after the body OF MT STinton
had been conveyed his home Coroner Isaac Penny I'M
panneled the following Jury; Thomas Holt, hudson hudson
| Henry Marchant, s. A j. COnklng. Jesse NJ. Conner.
John Clark After viewing the body the INQUEST Was aa
until vasfpr nv
where the following among other evidence was gwen
Peter Rufnn sworn: Was present when Mr.. swinton
was shot John swinton showed piece Of zinc and
too large he went to the dS2 70 gs! aa 70
| ton came in with him, aud Warren Fellows followed;
beard Mr. John swinton to Fellows that ne should go
Warren Fellows replied that he did MT ask odds OF
any swinton, never did, nor never would 1 thea
pointed it at James swinton; the first word heard
James swlnton say was that ne DIDN'T want h "a
Of Felowss hand and showed it away from him; John
went outof the back d09r 70 me
te showcase he then told Fellows that he didn't want
him tbere-he should 20 out doors; Fellows said some
thns bnt witness aid not recoec the words at that
time SIR swinton took him by the arm ana snoveu nun
r Of his body and shoot after he shot, James Swnton
took Ratchet and hit Fellows on the head twice. rel.
after got doQI the boy hallooea to me- AID said the
man was shot; believe he meant MT swinton; yss
hack aud saw Mr.. James Swnton holdr1 father In
his arms; Fellows had got YP en and went out doors;
asked James swc.en il should go for the doctor. aud
hal
Alexander swnton was then lying on the counter. Of
dead didn't hear him say any thing afteS ~ Sas
sho myself anu h STrey' naD ant np near
Squire Ponnys office Is for policeman and met Ohcer
Tibbetts coming down. when we got back hr' s"ihton
""' TESTIMONY OF THOMAS H. CAMPBELL
Thomas H. Campbell testified that he knew Alexander
swinon and was present when he shot went into
Mr. swntOn's store about haltpast o'clock; Should
tho door on tho stoop Mr. swinton around
and requested the man to step away from the door told
mann Stem the DOOR draw revolver and cock { as he
stood the door he stepped up to Mr. John Swnton aud
ia sSinton he ever knew" Mr.. John swinton told
him to go out Doors John swlnton told nm he didht
them have anything to DO with such things Fellows
S nc Toppsd h 6cas and 2nc and went
out the back door after he the back then
Int Sd P a sa S s. SSt old
Alexander SwintOn, then told him to go OUT he then
| Swinton Mr. Swinton then took hold OF his right arm
the shoulder and STEPPED With n h h 70 me-
swnton somewhere about the shoulder instantly hred,
aud shot Mr. swinon IA tho lower part Ui tne DOdy M
swinton stepped back against enc counter, ana salu.
| "My God, I'm shOtw James Swlnt0n then picked up
Ratchet and stepped toward Fellows who raised the
voyer him James swinon snatehed the revolver ont
Of FeOwss hand with his left hand and struck Fellows
bsnds on and knees sWnton then kicked him with his
boot Fellows started out in tho street ana went TO
"Im dyng4" Fellows appeared 20 have whisky enough
in him TO mako him ugly think James o s Eno2I
with tho Ratchet testified that his brother reprmanded
three mon for some practice in front Of his house
after which of the pulled out pistol aud cooked
| il, and followed my brother INTO the store; John
| went through, and 1 came in little behind
| them ; he then pointed the pistol at me got past
HIM and was going out the back way wien he
then fired at my father did not have any idea that he
was going 10 fire him; my back toward him 10 the
time | heard the repart OF the pistols turned around
and rushed toward Fellows and wrenohed the pistol out
OF his han struck him either before or after got tho
handed it to Judson Adams do not think Fellows made
| any remarks after he fired.
| ir Van Eten, Dr. Jones' John W. Swinton, Judson r.
Adams and Eli T. Marock examined. after which
he iury returned verdict that Alexander swiuton
came 10 his death from pstol.shot wound from the
hands OF Warren Fellows, aud SAID shot was hred with
out any lust cause prOvocatioD."