The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-07

An Old and Respected Citizen Assassinated by
q Rufnan-Thc C0roner's Inqaess-The Yer.


one of Its Oldest and most respected citizens had
been shot dead In his own store. by an intoxicated
rufiian named Warren Fellows 1t was soon found
that the report was true.
Il appears that about half-past eight O'Clock this
rufilan, well known in this section as . cigar and
tobacco peder came to the storehouse OF Alexander
Swinton h Sons, ana for indecent conduct was re-
monstrated with by one OF the firm. He commenced
an alteration, during which Mr.. Alexander Swlnton
was shot and killed and Fellows was nearly killed
by James SwintOn with Ratchet
THE VICTIM.
Mr. Alexander Swnton was the head of the firm
of Swinton 4 sons who occupy the Port Jervis
Foundry banding and keep large hardware con-
Germ. He had been resident OF Port Jeryis for
many years. and was much esteemed In the COM
munity as q quiet, un0ifcnding and peaceable
citizen. He was native oil Scotland sixty
years OF age has wife living, but leaves family
OF five grown sons and daughters to mourn his I'M
timely decease. lie died in about twenty-five min
utes after he was shot.
THE MURDERER.
Warren Fellows is a man who has for many years
borne a bad reputation, having been engaged In a
number Of questionable rows BEFORE He Is pretty
badly wounded, but his physicians say that II in
Examination does not set In he may recover. He is
at the Fowler House at present. Last evening Drs.
Van Etten, Hunt and Lawrence performed an opera
ton on Fellows head, removing pieces OF the frac
tured skull.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Isaac Penney Immediately summoned
jury and held an inquest at the house OF John SWIM
ton on the body OF the deceased. The inquest was
then adjourned until this morning. at niue O'Clock,
when The following testimony was taken:-
TESTIMONY OF PETER RUFFER.
Peter Ruirer test1ed-He resides In Port Jervis,
and was present last evening" when Alexander
SwintOn was shot; he went to Mr.. SwntOn's store
to get some zinc; between eight and nine O'Clock
to cut the zinc with; when he returned his brother
James came IN with him ana Warren Fellows behind
HIM; heard John swinton say to Warren Fellows
that he should go away, that he didn't
rem Fellows replied that ne didn't ask any
odds Of any Swinton, nor ever did nor ever would;
he then saw a revolver in the hands Of Warren Fell
lows who cooked It and pointed IL at james Swim
ton; the first word he heard James Swnton say was
that he did not want hun to point revolver at him;
then James Swhton took hold OF Fellows hand and
showed it away IRON him; John Swlnton went our
Of the back door 10 the storeroon; when he went
out OF tie door the father OF John Swinton stood
leaning against the showcase looking on; he then
told Warren Fellows that he did not want him
therc--he should go out doors; then Fellows said
something, but witness did not recollect the words
and showed him; witness at that time saw Fellows
point his revolver at the lower part OF his body and
and hit Fellows on the head twice. Follows dropped;
witness said TO Charles Hurley "Come let's co."
after he got out doors the boy hallooed to him and
said the man was shot; witness believed he meant
Mr. SwinGon, and went back and Mr.. James
Swinton holding his father in his arms Fellows mad
got UP then and went out doors; witness asked
James Swnton If lie should go for the doctor,
and WAS told on to No so he came back
was then lying on the counter almost dead;
didn't hear him say anything after he was shot; the
squire Penny's Office Is for policeman ana met
officer Tlpbetts coming down; when they got back
Mr.. Swinton was dead; when Fellows shot MI
Cuyip Inf hear nj q pa.
4 revolver was produced which witness said
was IKE the one Fellows had, but he could not say
positively that 1t Is the same.
TESTIMONY OF THOMAS H. CAMPBELL
Thomas IA. Campbell testliied:-Neyer Knew Alex
ander Swinton until last night; was present. last night
when he was shot; went in Mr. Swintons store
took place about nine O'Clock; went into swnton
Il Sons aud inquired OF Mr.. Swinion, the man
who was shot, for John swinton; gentleman stood
then stepped back and got hold OF roll OF zinc and
unrolIed IT. the gentleman said he wanted piece OF
| zinc, and gave Mr.. Swinton the size lie wanted:
Swnton said he would have to get shears to cut IT.
he went cut and was gone not to exceed
Mr. Swnton came in saw gentleman pass the
door, on the stoop; Mt. 'Swinton having returned,
requested the man to step away from the door, and
told him he dld think 1t very nice caper step
up ana DO his business before mans door; iir.
Swinton then proceeded to u1ron the zinc and cut
1t with shears; saw man step In the door. draw
revolver and COCK 1t az he stood in the door; he
| stepped up to MIR. John Swnion and pointed 1t at
.kC
| damned Swinton he ever saw:r Mr.. Swinton told
him to get out DOORS and further told him he dldns
| carry them nor have anything to do with such
| things Fellows said, 'By God, ne used them and he
| carried them;' Mr. Jonn swinon dropped the shears
| and zinc and went cut OF The back doors after lie
| had gone out James swinton asked Fellows to 20
| out DOORS he said ''he would go out when he got
| ready:n the Old gentleman, Alexander SwintOn, then
| told him TO go cat; he tneu made movement for
| ward towards Mr. Alexander Swlnton; Mr.. Swnton
| then took hold of his right arm near the shoulder
|
| turned around on Mr. Sw,nton; TOOK hold OF Mr.
Swin.on somewhere near the shoulder: he then In
| stany fired and shot Mr.. Swnon somewhere IN
| the lower part OF the body; MI Swinton
then stepped BACK against the counter; he then said
| 'My Cod Pm shot," James Swn0n then took
natchet from OIL the counter and stepped forward to
| Fellows; Fellows then drew up his revolver at MIN;
hand and then struck Fellows twice the head with
| the Ratchet; he then fell down on bis hands and
knees; Swlnton then kicked him with mis- boot;
| Fellows then got up and started ior the
| street; the witness then went to the door
to see which way he made, hts escape;
then caught his arm around mis- fathers neck and
| lifted him up: l told nm we had better pick Mr..
Swinton up and lay him On the counter; tie then
asked me 10 hold his father until he mad followed up
Fellows and had retaliation; told him he had bet
| ter let him go anu take care OF his father, as l
thought he was hurt very bad; he then put the re-
vover IN his pocket; we picked up the old gentle
man and laid min on the counters IN picking Mr..
Swnton up TO lay him on the counter discovered
large quantity OF blood under his back; told them
we had better unloosc his clothes aud see where he
was snOt: myself anu announcer party unOuttooeo his
clothes at that time Dr. Jones came in aud he SAID
| there was no help for HIM; we then carried MIN
! through the rear OF the store into an adjoining
house; got him In there and presently DIR. van
| Etten came IN; he SAID Mr.. Swinton was DYING
then started to go home, but DR.. Van Etten said
| must stay there; told him would go home and come
| back Immediately: when came back Mr. swln.on
was dead; did not see any disturbance between Mr..
| Swinton and Nilows previous 10 his entering tnc
store; Fellows appeared TO have whiskey enough IN
him TO make hn ugly think tue revolver shown 70
the jury was the one Fellows used In shooting MIR.
| n.
ty-hve minutes after he was shot; don't think II eS.
ceeded ten minutes from the time Fellows entered
the store until he shot SIR SwinOn.
| TESTIMONY or DIR. VAN ErrEN
| SOL Van Ettea, NJ. D., sworn, says:--knew
| Alexander swinon; was present last night when ne
died: 1t was 8t the residence OF John SwintOn, MS
son; 1t occurred few minutes before nine O'Clock
have examined the body slnce he was dead; nnd
| pistol ball had entered the groin the LEFT side,
about half way between the pubes and the anterior
| superior spinous process of the tliuin, passing
| downward and forward, w0unling the femOra ar
iusI heueaLl lle PuunLrL the artery