The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-07
SHOT DEAD BY HER FATHER.
THE TRAGEDY ~ 4 FARM House UP
ON IHE POCHUNK MOUNTAIN.


run-"pve KIiIed Eliza, I'm Crazy, wnd"
The Alleged Murderer's Contradictions.
U,NpuRGH. n. j., June 6.-At u p. NJ.
yesterday Frederick Grill man Of CO. shot and
Instantly killed his daughter. Mrs. Eliza Bah
c,,k on the pochunk Mountain. 81 miles from
hero. In April last young William Babcock.
,,c husband Of the dead woman. moved TO the
farm Of stephen Smith. situated on tho noun
tain. The farm comprises about 200 acres. half
NJ which is under cultivation. Tho whole OF It
IS very rough and farming is hard work there.
Babcock worked the farm on shares. His fam
,ly consisted OF himself and wife and two little
children the oldest boy OF four years. the other
baby girl Just a year old. Mrs. Babcock's
parents Frederick Grill and his wife. lived with
them. and George Babcock. Williams brother
worked for him by the month.
Frederick Grill is well known throughout this |
region. For eeveral years no lived in the vcin- |
Iyot Vernon. six miles from here. At one time |
he was dcvout Methodist exhorter and class |
leader. conspicuous in all local meetings Of the |
denomination; but. AS the story goes, fifteen |
years ago he said that he couldn't make any
money by serving the Lord. and no would
thenceiorth serve the devil. Whether this be
true or not. the man certainly changed de-
cdedly He was sort Of n lawyer aud
after this change he entered more vigor-
known as shrewd pettifogger. who
was ready for any sort OF work that had money
in II. He has the reputation OF having been the
cause of more neiRhborhood duarres and local
lawsuits than any man In the country but his
health failed. and ho lost what practice he had.
He became confirmed dyspeptic. and his dis
ease rendered him very irritable. For several
years he has done little or nothing. living on
tirely upon the charity OF his son-in-law. He
was worry nervous and very eccentric His tall.
gaunt figure pale face. fringed with gray whis-
kers and gray hair. were well known hero. He
always WORE even in the heat OF summer. an
old patched overcoat. and a worsted tippet
wrapped around his neck and covering his
mouth.
Yesterday afternoon the old man was about
the house as usual. William and George Bah
cock were at work In the field. and the little boy
was with them. Mrs. Babcock was in the kitch-
en-. washing clothes and the mother Mrs. Grill
was In the same room helping her. The baby
was playing on the floor. Mr., Grill came into
tie room carrying half bushel measure; 49,
The children are spelling this" he said. Il
want It r'ken care Of. III put 1t up stairs.
Mrs Bahcock told him to put II in the back
kitchen. The old man made some peevish re-
mark, and then took the measure up stairs.
Sna pn1 IN The Sse ses R anG
then resumed her work. She stood leaning over
pail rnsinr clothes partially behind n barrel
which he Ind been using. Her right side was
toward her father. who stood in the middle OF
the room talking angrily. An old shotgun rest
ed on hooks over a door Just behind him. His
wife was busy in another part Of the room with
he baby. which was crying. suddenly the
elder Mrs. Grill heard the report OF a gun, and.
turning around she saw her husband but not
her daughter.
He dld not answer, Then, stepping forward.
the mother G saw % her daughter, lying on the iloor
teh.pf the barrel the blood flowing from
Ny GodfThat have YOU done, Fred ?" she
screamed. What did yon shoot the poor girl
forl What will hecome Of the chidren?"',
I've killed Eliza" he answered, L am
crazy wild don't know what did. You must
take good care Of the children"
u can't leave her lying here in the blood"
said Mrs. Grill. You have shot her. and you
must help me carry her away from here"
Then the two took the dead woman and car
ried her 70 the middle Of the room. Then they
mosquito netting. The Old man covered the
face to keep the children from being frightened
at the blood. as he said. Then he started out OF
doors. saying that he would tell William and
then give himself up 70 the authorities Going
10 the fird, he said 10 George Babcock:
Elizas had it; you'd better go in and take
care ol her. III 60 for the doctor"
William Immediately started for the house,
with the little boy. As William Babcock rushed
into the house he nearly stumbled over the body
almost prostrated by the shock.
Her father shot her" was all the mother
Then the young man aroused himself. Bid
ding George hasten for physician. he un-
hteled a morse from the plough IN the Held,
harnessed il to wagon, and drove at full speed
10 the village and 70 the office OF j. Is. Hender-
Shot the Justice Of the Peace
want you % arrest father" he said. " He
just ce Hendershott Immediately started out
with him., They mad not gone 100 yards before
they met Frederick Grill. who. walking up to
ne ihshaersho! agi1 ana graspng him neryouslS by
committed murder In the first degree. and
have come 10 give myself up"
hope Ii amt as bad as that. Fred" said the
Yes, 1t is; I killed her. and I meant to.
nave llved IN he'll eight years. and now have
put an end 10 IT, and mean to"
BY this time crowd had collected. for the old
man had stopped several times between his
and story had attracted attention. He had stop
pea at the house Of Widow Fenner. near his
nome and told her that Eliza had died in a fit.
hhd asked her to 10 UP aud lay her
out" At c. X. Seotts and Joseph Burroughss
ne raoI5dd told the same sstory. and then when he
q NJ, X kimball leading lawyer here. Mr..
hlm9tl was not in and 50 the OLD man went TO
w Justices. large throng had gathered
WIEN ne gave himself up ana some one said.
ne mans crazy"
No I'm not crazy" was tho answer; /
knew what was about and meant to do it,
There was no officer present. so Justice Hen
dershou deputizrd William Kent 10 take charge
o. Grill while he the Justice went TO the house
j. p Grouse and J. b. PELLET examined the
body. There was little 20 be done. 1t was plain
what had been done. The gun. Rn old flint lock
musket had been converted into percussion
heavily loaded with No. shot. The muzzle Of
tAe gun was not five feet from the woman's
head when the old man pulled the trigger and
,he entire charge lodged IN the right SIDE OF tho
mead Just above the ear. shHtterng the bone OF
The face and head and causing instant DEATH
Ihe face was powder-hurned.
The testimony ot Mrs. Grill and William
BAbcock was taken. and within an hour from
the time when Grill surrendered himself n
verdict had been rendered accusing Frederick
Crill Of wlliuy and Intentionally numbering
his daughter. Eliza Bah'ock
In the mean time Grill under the charge Of
Kent had been pacing the barroom and plaza
Of the hotel cXclnlmlng and grOaning. A
throng gathered around him. and some women
and men shook their fists in his face. and il
looked little like lynch law. But the old man
was taken into the barroom and u big
Drink Of whisky was administered. which
Quoted lis nerves for the time. and
when Justice Hendershott returned from
Tue Inquest Grill made statement in a
very cool and quiet manner He seemed to
nave thought over the subject quietly and
when the Justice asked him whether he wished
" say anything, cautioning him not to say any
uing that might crlminate himself Crlll said:
Between the hours Of and 2 O'Clock this
afternoon took down my gun from the hooks
snetre II usually hangs. for the purpose OF going
wthr cornii"ld to shoot squirrels or crows.
while mad the gun In my hands whether