Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-01
A WEDDING AND A TRAGEDY.
Two Brothers Shot to Death by TheiI
Sisters Husband.

Two Brothers Shot to Death by Their
Sisters Husband.
At Jamestown, near this place, says a
Berenice Pa special of the 29th ult. to
the New York World, Jacob Shelly shot
and killed James and Joseph Morrill,,
brothers, at Shelly's house last night.
The shooting grew out of the marriage of
Shelly to Ida Morrill,, sister of the
brothers. For about two years Miss Nor
rill, who is a tall, handsome blonde, aged
p, and well educated. has been receiving
the attentions of Shelly. She is the daugh-
ter of l.. G. Morrill,, a well-known citizen
OF that place, and mingled in the best
society, rejecting the attentions of Young
men until she met Shelly, who came
here live years ago, and who has
acquired notorious reputation. 1t was
stated that prior to his coming here he
had served tiYe-year term in an Illinois
prison for hOrse-thieving. He is a re-
markably handsome man, and was a IA
vorite among the ladies until his character
became known. He metMiss Morrill, and
an attachment at once sprang up between
them. Her parents paid no attention TO
the matter until it became the gossip of
the village, when they commanded her to
cease encouraging the attentions of Shelly.
she did not promise obedience, but their
meetings became less frequent, and when
she met him it was always in the pres
ence Of third party.
During his drunken sprees Smelly had
repeatedly asserted that he could marry
Miss Morrill, whenever he liked and that
he would do so in spite of the parents.
James Morrill,, her brother, met Shelly on
the street some months ago and asked
him if he said SO. Shelly laughed at him
forn4 ~,
was beaten. This intensified the feeling
in the Morrill, family, and a close watch
was kept on Ida's movements.
yesterday afternoon she was missed
from home, and the unusual and protract-
ed absence at once aroused suspicion.
Her father went to the village in the eve
ming and found that Shelly and Ida had
been married by Justice few hours be-
fore, and that she accompanied Shelly to
his home a short distance out of town.
He returned home and informed the dis
tracted family. Two of the girls brothers,
James and Joseph, determined to see their
sister, and went to Shelly's home, where
they found her in company with Shelly
and his mother. Both BOYS began to
abuse Shelly roundly, and finally James
Morrill, lost control of his temner and
struck Shelly in the face with his
clinched fist. Both men then grapDIed
and fell to the floor. Joseph Morrill,
sprang to his brothers. assistance. and
together they began to beat Shelly viO-
lently. The latter succeeded in breaking
loose from them, and, drawing a revolver,
ordered both to leave the house. They
refused and drew reyolyers, but before
they could use them Shelly fired, the ball
striking James Morrill, in the left side
and penetrating the lung. Upon seeing
his brother fall Joseph fired, the bullet
shattering Shelly's left arm. Shelly re-
turned the fire, the ball entering Joseph's
head.
The shots attracked the attention of the
neighbors, and in few minutes a crowd
rushed into the room and found Shelly
and his wife quarrelling over the
PROSTATE bodies of her brothers.
Shelly surrendered himself. saw
ing he had shot both in self-de-
fense. He was held to await the result.
At noon to-day the report of their death
was received. Shelly's story that he
acted in self-defense is corroborated by
what little evidence can be ELECTED from
his half-crazed wife and his mother. 1t
is claimed, on the other hand, that the
Morrill, boys said that Shelly fired before
either had struck him. Public sentiment
in regard to the affair is divided.