The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-11
A HoRsE.pocToR DEFENDING HIS HOME,

= fNNsNif III t"stNt hi' hN@ss
A Wilkcsbarre special says: About l
O'Clock Tuesday afternoon the little village
OF Hnnlocks was the scene OF terrible
tragedy, resulting in the almost instant
death OF Samuel McNeal at the hands Of
Franklin Monroe, a resident OF the place,
and the narrow escape OF a second man.
The story OF the tragedy. rs told by Mon
roe and his wife and gathered from those
who were In the immediate neighborhood,
Is as follows:
Shortly before O'Clock Franklin Mon
roe. veterinary surgeon, was at Warner :
hotel, the only establishment OF its KIND IN
the place, attending 10 some horses. lie
was in the yard OF the hotel examining
horse when two men, having the appear
ance OF tramps and evidently much under
the influence Of liquor, came up, accostcd
him and demanded some liquor He told
them that he would get none for them. on
which they became very abusive ana
threatened 10 kick him ont. lie TOOK no
notice OF their menaces, however, and in
few minutes they left and started on IN the
direction Of his house. Shortly after Mon
roe also left the hotel sndwent home. Just
as be was entering the house he saw the
two fellows coming toward him. Stepping
hastily inside he closed the door. The two
fellows, coming up TO the house, called on
Monroe 10 come out, and uttered terrible
threats against his life.
sToNING MoNRoE's HOUSE.
Monroe attempted TO induce them TO he
quiet and 20 their way. but his words only
rendered them more abusive and threaten
ing. Finally they began throwing stones
at the house, breaking the windows and
endangering the property inside, as well as
MOnrOe's family. For a little while Mon
roe stood this bOmbardment, but finally
anger got the better Of him, and Selling
shotgun from the wall, where it had been
hanging loaded for more than year, he
sprang 10 the door. and throwing il open
stepped just outside the portal and
commanded the two assailants 10 cease their
attack and move off. But the two fellows,
maddcned by whiskey, paid no heed 10 his
words, and replying with oaths and threats
sent two or three more stones crashing
through the windows. Enraged beyond
endurance at this wantOn destruction OF
property and the danger Of his wife and
children within. Monroe threw the gun TO
his shoulder, and dwelling it at the nearest
man. who stood some fifteen feet away, he
fired.
RTDDLED WITH SQUIRREL-sHOT.
With cry Of agony the man threw up
his arms and fell backward TO the ground.
ridded with squirrel-shOt from head TO
knee. 4 few means and gasp or two and
all was over. and Monroe stood, gun IN
hand, gazing on the liieless body Of his as
sailanl.
The sound OF the shot and the screaming
OF Mrs. Monroe and her child instantly
attracted all in the neighborhOod 10 the
spot. The inmates and guests Of the War
ner House, among whom were J. c, Wells
and JOHN Bowden, Of Ashley, hurried to
the place. arriving just in time to see the
man breathe his last. II was soon ascer-
tanned that the victim OF the tragedy was
samuel McNeal. 10y trade a blacksmith,
who has worked at various places within
the county. For a time he had black
smith-shop at Nanticoke, but his home is
al Plymouth, where he leaves Il wife and
child. At the time OF the fatal occurrence
he was on his way to shickshnny. in COM
panv with this other man, David Howard,
Of Shickshinny.
MONROE GIVES HIMSELF Up.
For a moment Monroe contemplated
fight. but a seconds thought showed him
the folly OF such a move. and acting under
the advice Of Mr.. Wells be boarded the
next train and came 10 this city to surTen-
der himself to the authorities. On reach
ing the courthouse be sought John Dinch,
and the two held 4 long conversation in
the rooms Of the Bar Association. Accom-
panied by Mr.. Dinch he then went to the
Office OF the sheriff and surrendered him.
self TO Deputy-Sherih Gangehan. After
further consultation with his lawyer he
was conveyed to the county jail and placed
in charge OF Warden Van Loon.