The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-10
THE nURDERous MANIAC.
Anteeedents of John q. Nell, who
shot Five Men in Chicago the other
Night.

Nhshts
Troy, N. Y, September S.-Neil, the prin-
opal ir:the Chicago shooting match, was
formerly resident of this city and Grtn
Island, the latter place being the residence OF
his father Hugh Q Mel, IN industrious me.
casnic. Yesterday Mr. Neil was the recip>
i1nt of the telegram from Chicago stating
that his son John had shot five persons III d
asking If he was crszy aud also SIS
TO what disposition should DO made of him.
The father answered the dispatch
saying that he wss poor man and could
not do anything for the wsywsrd son. John
q. Neil Is twenty -four years OF age. aud Is
rather prepossessng looking individual. He
is q molder by trade, and at ono time Yves
employed al the malieable iron works on
Ida hill. A sister Of tho man is q wife of
DIR. Coventry of this city, and another sister
was the first wife of DR.. Cobb, of West
Troy, but she afterwards obtained divorce
on account ol adultery. Neil is not alto
GsSher unknosn TO fame in this city In
June, 1910, no WAS implicated in
shooting adray which took
place 10 the village Of West Troy.
On this occssion no shsdowed James
Dwyer, at present q village trustee, and fred
Two shots at him, QUE OF which took effect,
though not making q dangerous wound. For
this crime he was arrested, and discharged
on the ground that Dwyer WAS mistaken for
another msn,who was keeping company with
Nsil's sister. About the 1st of Juno last
Neil was arrested for producing revolver
thrantnNtnoe 10 ol A aNu
ductor. His contnementin the station house,
however was of short duration, for two days
later his release was effected. 1t was thought
then that the man WAS not in full possession
OF his mind, his associations warranting such
conclusion. About this time be was
employed as clerk in Sugden's rolling
mill store. The pistol he had at the time Of
Inc horse-car trouble was turned over TO
Property Clerk Jennings, and Neil demanded
1t, but tho request was refused. AT this ho
threatened 10 shoot Mr.. Jennings. During
his residence in West Troy, Nell worked for
Charles Goss, learning the machinisrs trade,
and was looked upon ss an eccentric person.
ln Green Island he was regarded in the
same light. After the street car affray he
left the city, and Il is thought he went west
Of that time. Nei's father was seen to-day
at work in the machine.shop of the
Gilbert y Bush company, Green
Island. He said: "My son wal
always quiet and indus triou,
until no was attacked with epileplic fits somC
years ego. He has been absolutely crazy
for two years. From the time no was frs
attaeked-in lS74-he has been gottinl
gradually worse every yesr. His wife wa
MORALLY afraid of him at times, and spell
ago had pistol taken from him. He wsa N
nice a boy as ever YVES, and seemed TO thinl
he never could do enough for his parenta
| His marriage Yves an unfortunate thing, bu
the young lady was by no means to blame
as my son never visited her except VIXEN 10
his right mind, and we Knowing mo- hing o
the attachment, did not notify the lady. II,
worked in many places, but owing K
bis peculiar wsy no ono could keep hin
long, aka